A development from the Weizmann Institute prevents environmental pollution by a molecule that breaks down the pesticides, before they reach the ground water.
Yeshum, the research and development company of the Hebrew University, signed a licensing agreement with Melodea for the continued development and commercialization of a new method for producing microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from paper mill waste. The MCC is processed to create rigid composite sponges for many and varied applications in the composite materials industry as a biological substitute for synthetic sponges.
The technology was developed by Prof. Oded Shusiov and Dr. Shaul Lapidot, from the Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in the Faculty of Agriculture of the Hebrew University and the founders of Malodea, in collaboration with Tord Gustavsson, a Swedish expert in composite materials.
At the same time, the Holman company, a leading manufacturer in the field of wood-based industries, signed an investment and sublicensing agreement with Meludaa, which makes Holman one of the main holders of Meludaa. The MCC is produced from wood pulp, and is considered an innovative, environmentally friendly and sustainable substitute for a variety of materials, including plastic and metal. MCC is transparent, strong, economical and safer than the synthetic options.
During the production of paper, approximately 30% of the total fiber is not used but is washed and stored as waste. In Europe alone, industry produces 11 million tons of waste every year. The scientists discovered that fibers from the paper pulp are an excellent source for the production of MCC, and they also developed a method to process the MCC into industrial sponges. These MCC sponges are very porous and lightweight. The properties of the new sponges are equivalent to the best synthetic sponges produced today. The development process now focuses on the use of these biological sponges as a core material in sandwich structures as well as in other areas of use.
Yaacov Michlin, CEO of Amision, said "We are very pleased with the signing of the agreement that brings together innovative technology from the academy, a group of Israeli entrepreneurs and an important industrial body. This is a leading combination in its field, and we believe that it may bring new environmentally friendly products to the market."
"The Melodea Group brings with it groundbreaking technology and an extraordinary entrepreneurial spirit. This is a fascinating combination in our eyes. We anticipate that their products will have a global impact and a large market," said Sven Weird, VP of Technology at Holman Group.
"We are proud that the Holman company is joining us and believe that their investment is an expression of confidence in Melodea's technology. Holman has proven experience of over 400 years, and she brings extraordinary added value to Meludaa," said Prof. Oded Shusiov, one of the founders of Meludaa and a member of the board. "Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is one of the most promising materials currently being developed. The range of applications for MCC is vast, and this material may make synthetic plastic products a distant memory. Our group not only developed a way to cost-effectively produce MCC from paper industry waste, but also invented a method to process this promising material into a sponge used in the composites industry as a core material in sandwich structures to provide strength, weight reduction, good energy dissipation and insulation.”
A new Israeli development prevents environmental pollution by a molecule that breaks down pesticides before they reach the groundwater
The ever-increasing demand for food in the world correspondingly increases the use of pesticides for crops. However, one of the risks arising from this is that pesticides, which have a high survivability, can remain in the soil for many years and contaminate the groundwater.
A new technology from the Israeli company Catalyst AgTech, developed by the Weizmann Institute, uses an additive that breaks down the pesticide into non-polluting substances, before it reaches the depth of the groundwater. The technology, which was developed at the Weizmann Institute by Prof. Brian Berkowitz and Dr. Yishai Dror from the Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research, is designed to prevent toxic pesticides, which have a high survivability, from seeping into the groundwater and causing environmental pollution.
The patent is based on a self-destruction mechanism using active and environmentally friendly substances (porphyrins and their derivatives, such as B12), which act as catalysts and transport electrons and thus actually cause the toxic chemicals to break down into harmless components in the soil, after they have completed their role. The decomposition of the materials takes place in the deep, oxygen-deprived layer, below the layer where the roots of the plants are found, where a reaction occurs with the catalyst, which breaks down the pesticide, neutralizes the toxic substances in it and prevents it from permeating deep into the soil.
Yeda Company, a research and development company that serves as the commercial arm of the Weizmann Institute and as the owner of the intellectual property created at the institute, recently signed, after several months of negotiations, a commercialization agreement with the Catalyst AgTech company, which recently joined the Moft technology incubator, owned by the Trendlines Group. The agreement gives the company an exclusive license to develop and commercialize the technology, using a know-how patent registered in Europe and the US.
Shalom Nachshon, entrepreneur and CEO of Catalyst Agtech and with an extensive background in the field of development, believes that this is a groundbreaking technology with broad environmental significance and that the company's activity within the incubator will allow it to reach very broad markets in a short time.
"At the moment, there is no alternative way of extermination that is as effective as the materials used today. At the same time, pesticides such as atrazine, which was banned for use in Europe several years ago due to the potential for it to reach the groundwater and is very common today in the use of corn and wheat crops in the USA and Canada, survive for many years in the soil and may cause serious environmental damage if they seep into the soil.
Adding the catalyst to the pesticide activates a self-destruction mechanism that actually breaks down the pesticides into non-polluting substances while maintaining the effectiveness of the substance on the crop.
"Hamma Moft, which focuses on Israeli start-up companies in the field of food agriculture and agritech, is, from our point of view, the natural place for this type of development, as well as for establishing investor relations and opening the door to international markets." So far, successful experiments with the technology have been carried out under laboratory conditions and now Catalyst AgTech continues towards confirming the findings under field conditions and finding the appropriate pairings between additional pesticides and the catalyst that creates the reaction. Amir Nyberg CEO of Yeda:
"We are very happy about the cooperation with Hamma Moft, as this kind of agreement is the realization of a vision of a knowledge company that was established by the Weizmann Institute with the aim of commercializing the developments of the scientists at the institute and in fact turning the research into a viable marketable development. Even in the above case, like many cases in the past, such as the "Copaxon" example, this is a real breakthrough that can change world order. The Yeda Company will continue to bridge the gap between the institute's scientists and entrepreneurs in Israel and the world while finding the business road without obstacles and while managing the risks."
