NANOLLOSE (ASX:NC6)
The biomaterial tech company has become well-known for its tree-friendly, trademarked Nullarbor fibre technology, which is working to help ensure sustainability in the fashion industry by turning liquid waste into rayon fibre with minimal environmental impact.
However, the large addressable agricultural market is also presenting NC6 with the opportunity to pursue additional revenue channels.
In September NC6 announced the introduction of its dry rehydratable microbial cellulose material Biollose, the key ingredient in its horticultural products, including MicroGel for commercial microgreen production, and Jelli Grow for home-user microgreen kits. Biollose, MicroJell and Jelli Grow are all trademarked.
Executive chairman Dr Wayne Best told * most of the products currently on the market for seed germination were mineral-based and did not absorb much water or were biodegrade, with many also leaving unpleasant residues of grit.
“Biollose can be rehydrated at point of use, swelling over 100 times its weight and volume, so it dramatically reduces the cost and carbon footprint of shipping and handling,” he said.
“The large amount of water Biollose absorbs when rehydrated also reduces the need for constant watering.”
He said Biollose was biobased, so 100 per cent biodegradable, left no grit and was made from food ingredients, so was non-toxic.
Best said Nanollose had always had an interest in the horticultural space through its early formulation of Jelli Grow.
“Unfortunately, that formulation was 99 per cent water and so shipping and handling was a barrier to commercial uptake,” he said.
“We had been seeking a dry powder formulation for some time without success but then, by chance, some work we were doing on vegan-leather provided the technology we needed and Biollose was born.”
Best said Biollose complemented the company’s work with Nullarbor fibre technology and used the same microbial cellulose raw material.
“It’s a great opportunity to leverage the technologies and relationships we have for our existing microbial cellulose supply chain for another rapidly growing market,” he says.
“It’s also a technically simpler product than our fibre and doesn’t require complex third party processing.
NC6 has supplied vertical farming business Greenspace.com, founded by serial entrepreneur Peter Fox, which is building small community-based farms based in CBD locations.
The company supplies live plants to nearby hotels, restaurants and businesses.
The global vertical farming market size was valued at $US5.1 billion in 2022 and is forecast to be worth $US39.9 billion by 2032.
https://www. theaustralian.com.au/business/*/these-asx-agtech-stocks-are-sowing-the-seeds-for-climate-change-survival/news-story/4891b6c92c515776d753e3cb51a6c03b
