Critical Need
Forests are shrinking by billions of trees each year. Meanwhile, demand for forest products is ever increasing. This growing imbalance between supply and demand is exacerbated by inefficiencies in cultivation, harvest, and processing of whole trees. Many tree-sourced goods only exist in low amounts within the plant and require energy-intensive extraction and refining. Especially in these cases, the natural benefits that mature, growing trees provide are sacrificed for a small amount of hard-won product. Despite impracticalities, trees continue to be the sole and unchallenged source of numerous products because a viable alternative doesn’t exist.

Technology Vision
Using concepts in plant cell culture, materials science, and tissue engineering, FORAY will make sourcing of wood-derived goods practical, efficient, and robust. Key to FORAY’s approach is targeted production when and where it’s needed. Using new cultivation strategies, FORAY will generate forest goods selectively in controllable and accessible formats. FORAY’s technology will vastly improve yields of a desired product relative to total harvested plant material, and its tunability will minimize downstream processing. 

Potential for Impact
Trees are assets. They play an important role in fueling global economies, supporting social well-being, and stabilizing Earth’s climate. Mature forests reportedly absorb 2 gigatons of carbon annually, and scientists predict that preserving and expanding our forested lands could enable the capture of up to 205 additional gigatons of carbon. FORAY will produce tree-free alternatives and superior supplies for traditionally tree-sourced goods–with improved yields, reduced processing requirements, and the capacity for on-site production anywhere in the world. FORAY’s first target products, processed cellulosic products and wood oils, will feed into numerous industries, with applications ranging from food and medical products to cosmetics and bioplastics.

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FORAY bioscience