To date, preventing livestock epidemics has largely involved administering a “prophylactic” mix of vaccines, antibiotics or other antimicrobial chemicals. The excessive use of these pharmaceuticals (sometimes as a ploy to boost growth rates) risks creating even more lethal pathogens. Many food companies have made public commitments to reducing the amount of meat raised using antibiotics in their supply chains. NovoBind, a Canadian AgTech company, is developing precision biologics to protect cattle, shrimp or companion animals against bacteria, viruses and parasites. These pathogens cost the animal sector $22 billion. NovoBind precision biologics combine the science of nanocapsuling – engineering very small-scale, heat-resistant containers – with research into immunology borrowed from human biotech. The content of these nanocapsules can come from unexpected places such as, for example, the powerful natural immune systems of llamas.
Source: AgFunder
