USDA Grants Amfora Exemption for Its Patented, Gene-Edited, Ultra-High Protein Soy, Accelerating Path to Market
23 Abril 2024 - 7:15AM
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) has granted Amfora, Inc. an exemption
for its gene-edited, ultra-high protein soybeans.
The exemption is a determination by the USDA’s APHIS that
Amfora’s soybeans are not subject to the regulations in 7 CFR Part
340 and can be marketed without undergoing further review by USDA.
The decision accelerates the path to commercialization for Amfora’s
ultra-high protein soybeans.
The ruling opens the door for Amfora's gene-edited soybeans to
provide a scalable, low-cost, high-density protein source. It comes
as there is an urgent need for sustainable protein production that
can address the growing global demand while reducing the
environmental impact associated with the production of traditional
animal protein sources. The company expects to apply this patented
technology to other food and feed crops including peas and other
legumes, and grains including rice and wheat. The company
anticipates that these crops would also receive similar exemptions
from the USDA.
“This regulatory decision will accelerate our ability to scale
the sustainable production of protein from soybeans," said Lloyd
Kunimoto, CEO of Amfora. "Our ultra-high protein crops will enable
manufacturers to meet the rapidly growing demand for plant-based
proteins at lower costs while taking meaningful steps to address
climate change and food insecurity."
The decision marks a significant step forward in Amfora's
efforts to enhance the nutritional density of food and feed crops,
specifically by increasing the protein content of soybeans to meet
the growing global demand for sustainable protein sources. The
company's ultra-high protein soybeans contain approximately 25
percent more protein than conventional soybeans, making them an
ideal plant-based ingredient for meat alternatives, aquaculture
feed, and other protein-rich foods. In addition to supporting
Amfora’s development of ultra-high protein soy, the technology can
be used to reverse decades of decline in protein content of
commodity soybeans.
To increase the protein content of its soybeans, Amfora’s
patented process uses CRISPR gene editing to upregulate the
activity of a specific gene. The upregulated activity increases the
protein level and decreases the carbohydrate level in the soybeans.
The process does not introduce any foreign DNA into the soybean and
increases protein content. Patents covering this method to increase
protein content in soybean and other crops have been broadly filed
in the United States and internationally.
Amfora's ultra-high protein soybeans are poised to make a
significant impact on global food security and nutrition. By
increasing the protein content of soybeans, Amfora offers a more
complete source of nutrition, and supporting the health and
wellness of populations worldwide. At the same time, the reduced
need for fertilizers and the lower environmental toll of producing
these gene-edited crops align with global efforts to combat climate
change and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
About AmforaAmfora is a biotechnology company
that is harnessing biology to sustainably nourish the world’s
population and enhance wellness. Amfora's mission is to meet the
growing global demand for foods that are high in protein by
enhancing the nutritional density of food and feed crops, while
reducing the cost of food and the environmental toll on the planet.
More information can be found at www.amforainc.com.
Contact:Daniel LevineLevine Media
Groupdanny@levinemediagroup.com(510) 280-5405