Page 186 - Binder2
P. 186

•  Vertical farms with stacked trays, LED light
                       cycles, and AI-managed nutrient flow
                   •  Field plots for seed-based crops like rice (in low-
                       risk, geographically controlled settings)


               These environments are designed not just for plant health—
               but for biopharmaceutical-grade consistency. Growth
               conditions are optimized to ensure reproducible protein
               expression levels, minimal contamination, and efficient
               harvesting cycles.

               Where traditional bioreactors require aseptic conditions and
               stainless steel, plant bioreactors run on sunlight and
               biosecurity protocols.



               Step 3: Harvest, Stabilization, and Formulation


               Once the plants reach maturity and have accumulated
               sufficient therapeutic protein in their tissues, they’re
               harvested and processed into deliverable formats.


               The process varies by species and target product:

                   •  Leafy biomass (lettuce) is typically lyophilized
                       (freeze-dried) to remove water and stabilize the
                       protein within the plant matrix. The dried material
                       is ground into a fine powder and encapsulated in
                       standard oral delivery forms—tablets, capsules, or
                       sachets.
                   •  Aquatic biomass (duckweed) is harvested with
                       minimal processing, often dried and milled directly
                       for incorporation into low-volume, high-protein-
                       dose formats.



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