Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc (KBLB)

[arachnodude]

Not a good outlook for the "Goo Guys:" Interesting read, though.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jun/13/petri-dish-leather-and-silk-spun-from-sugar-could-future-fashion-be-grown-in-a-lab

Companies around the world are developing lab-grown alternatives to leather, silk and even diamonds, but there are questions about their sustainability claims

as lab-grown materials come to market, it is vital to ask the right questions – otherwise they will wind up perpetuating the problems they were meant to solve.

A few years ago, a textile called Microsilk started getting attention in the industry. Developed by Bolt Threads (which also produce Mylo, a vegan leather), it is brewed in a lab using a technique called precision fermentation. Genetically modified yeast cells are mixed with sugar and water, and this mixture is left to ferment in large tanks until it becomes a liquid protein that can be extracted, spun then woven into a textile.

Like silk, the fabric is a protein, and it shares some physical properties with real silk: it is lightweight, smooth and biodegradable. Between 2016 and 2019 the company that makes Microsilk received a $700m evaluation; made two dresses in collaboration with Stella McCartney; and released a tie and beanie under its own label.

But currently there are no Microsilk products on the market. This is because subtle changes in temperature and pH levels can upset the fermentation process, which makes it difficult to produce at scale.

Even if these issues can be ironed out, Marenzi has concerns about the ingredients used to brew the silk. The main input is sugar, which typically comes from corn, which is generally grown as a genetically modified monocrop.

In an ideal world, the inputs required to brew the protein – which are known as feedstocks – would not come from industrial agricultural systems where monocultures and the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are prevalent and pose a threat to biodiversity. Tara St James, the senior director of sustainability at Canadian outerwear brand Moose Knuckles, points out it’s worth considering whether feedstocks could be put to better use, like energy or food.