WeedOut is going green, green with cash, and green with weeds.
The Israel-based company completed its Series A funding, bringing in $8.1M to further develop its green solution to herbicide-resistant weeds.
WeedWhat? Drawing inspiration from insect sterilization techniques introduced in the 1940s, WeedOut has developed a proprietary sterile weed pollen that develops nonviable seeds, thus preventing a new generation of resistant weeds.
They are the first to try the sterilization technique in plants.
Target: WeedOut announced Palmer amaranth as their first target. Palmer amaranth is considered a major nuisance in the US, invading fields of corn, cotton, soybeans, and sugar beets. The weed has been a growing concern for farmers as standard herbicides no longer control it.
Soundbite: “Evolution is always smarter. The weeds learn ways to evade the effects of the herbicides. But WeedOUT is applying an entirely new, green approach that targets the reproductive system of resistant weeds and will provide a sustainable, long-term solution.” Efrat Lidor Nili, co-founder and co-CEO of WeedOut.
Who’s In: Investors include some big names such as Bunge Ventures, Fulcrum Global Capital and Clay Capital. WeedOut has also received grant funds from the Israeli Innovation Authority.
Short Corn Packs a Punch
Dynamite comes in small packages—which can be true with new seed technology. What’s...
Congress to EPA: What’s Your BEEF with Meat Packers?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering new regulations that take aim at meat and poultry processors.
And some members of Congress have a BEEF with the EPA’s proposals.
The proposed rules: In late January, the EPA released the details of its proposed “Clean Water Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Meat and Poultry Products Point source category.”
Huh?
Basically, the EPA formally published its proposals to combat wastewater contaminants that come from slaughterhouses.
Okay… that makes more sense.
At the heart of the rules proposal is a concern from environmental groups about nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants that originate from slaughterhouses. In some cases, the wastewater goes directly into waterways. In other cases, the water goes to municipal wastewater treatment facilities.
But not everyone is on board with the EPA’s suggestions…
Congress responds: Last week, two U.S. representatives—Eric Burlison (MO) and Ron Estes (KS)—pushed back against the EPA and introduced the “Banning EPA’s Encroachment of Facilities (BEEF) Act.” If passed and signed by President Biden, the law would prohibit the EPA from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the rule.
According to the lawmakers, the proposed rules place undue burden on small processors—costs that can be absorbed by larger companies.
Soundbite: “The… proposed regulation isn’t just an attack on family-run small businesses, it’s an attack on rural communities,” said Burlison. “These meat and poultry processors are the lifeblood of our communities. The BEEF Act… lets these hardworking Americans do what they do best, produce safe, affordable food for our families.”
University of Illinois Makes Big Mooves in Milk Production
Pump it up: Scientists led by Matt Wheeler at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are...