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Science isn’t the only hurdle. Optics matter. Public trust in
edible biologics will depend on framing, education, and
cultural adaptation.

Some patients may balk at the idea of “genetically modified
lettuce,” especially given the baggage associated with
GMOs in the food system. Others may question how a
leafy plant can replace a $30,000 injectable biologic. Still
others may struggle with the shift in identity—from patient
to consumer, from prescription to produce.

This is where storytelling matters. Patients need to
understand not just the biology, but the why behind the
shift:

• That this isn’t about cheapening care, but
democratizing it
• That the plant is a delivery system, not a salad bar
• That the safety, quality, and efficacy standards
remain—and in some cases, exceed—those of
traditional platforms

Building that trust will take time. But just as patients have
embraced pills, injections, and mRNA vaccines, they can
come to embrace plant-based biologics—especially when
the outcomes speak for themselves.

Innovation at the Intersection: What Comes Next

The real excitement lies not just in scaling what we have,
but in imagining what comes next. The edible biologic is a
starting point—a launchpad for entirely new classes of
therapies and manufacturing models.

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