The technologies (plural) used over the years, were never commercially viable.
Now is no different.
Does an NDA mean you know how much silk they made after the latest delivery? Why can they succeed with a pilot, make lab tested genetic adjustments for different climates, and not be able to repeat the successful pilot?
Why would a contractor who went through the pilot, sign a contract. I would say he has to disagree with the proposition that he will never be able to do what he has done professionally for 20+ years.
These are the differences that I know of, and require explaining if yours is a well reasoned conclusion. So far you have gone silent after the points have been made.