New Products

The Scoop Podcast: From Dairy Waste to Organic Gold, The Rise of BenVireo TerraLux

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:35:19 GMT

BenVireo TerraLux is a new product that checks just about every box for organic growers says Gina Colfer, sustainable solutions agronomy manager at Wilbur-Ellis.

“Our solutions really are focused on helping the grower be more efficient with their ag inputs,” she says. “So we really are focused in trying to find products that help growers farm more holistically and sustainably and efficiently.”

And The Scoop readers agree that BenVireo TerraLux is an example of that as they recently voted it as runner-up in The Scoop’s 19th annual New Product of the Year contest for 2025. Read more about that here.

As Colfer explains, BenVireo TerraLux gives organic growers looking for high-efficiency nitrogen solutions across a wide range of crops (specialty vegetables, nuts, fruit, and row crops). It’s a novel form of organic nitrogen consisting of 50% ammonium and 50% nitrate, which is biologically derived from a true waste stream—dairy lagoon effluent.

It’s filtered down to 1 micron; neutral pH (~7.0); low salt index, so it can be applied via drip irrigation, micro-sprinklers, foliar applications, and drone applications.

According to Colfer, four factors distinguish this product from traditional organic fertilizers:

Immediate Plant Availability: Unlike most organic nitrogen sources that require time to mineralize in the soil, BenVireo TerraLux provides 100% plant-available nitrogen. It bypasses the “guessing game” of soil mineralization, allowing for precise “spoon-feeding” during peak demand.
No Biofilm or Clogging: With a 0:1 carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, the product contains no carbon to feed microbial biofilm. This prevents the common issue of clogged drip tapes and tanks associated with organic liquids.
Improved Handling & Odor: BenVireo TerraLux has a mild, non-offensive ammonia scent and is significantly easier to handle and is a selling point.
Sustainability Profile: It transforms a problematic waste stream (dairy effluent) into a high-value input. The process also creates a secondary byproduct—a 4-4-2 dry crumble fertilizer—ensuring nearly total utilization of the raw material.

The Scoop Podcast: How Carbon Markets Have Changed

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 17:23:21 GMT

Farmer-facing carbon market opportunities have grown in the past six years—going from buzz-worthy to more than two dozen programs available.

Now, a new phase of carbon enrollment has emerged.

“The carbon markets are maturing. The next phase is product-based carbon programs,” says Thad England, director of U.S. strategic accounts with Groundwork BioAg.

Groundwork BioAg has a portfolio of mycorrhizal inoculants branded Rootella, and application of those products—available in dry and liquid formulations—enables growers to be enrolled in Rootella Carbon.

“Crop markets are tough. Revenue streams on the farm aren’t getting wider,” England says. “When I started my career, I wanted to help the largest amount of growers possible. I can some seed, chemical, and fertilizer and help them grow a good crop, but I can’t help them necessarily on a revenue stream standpoint, until now. This is a dawn of a new market for growers.”

Since 2023, the company established Rootella Carbon, which is a four-year enrollment where growers apply a Rootella product, and measurements of soil carbon are taken every year.

“The application cost is going to be roughly in that $10 per acre range. So it’s a four year commitment to spend about 10 bucks an acre,” he says. “What they can expect is a one to four ton sequestration per year. That’s a wide range. So an average, I’m going to be conservative and say that’s one ton which would be a VCU–verified carbon unit, also known as a carbon credit–and that ton is worth about $40.”

The Rootella Carbon program is structured for the company to revenue-share carbon credit sales, and the company covers all measurement expenses.

England says product-based programs provide growers an entry point into a carbon program without requiring a production practice change such as no-till. Instead, they are adding a product application, such as a soil amendment.

“It’s giving an option where a grower who has done a great job doing what they do, but they may not be eligible for other programs right now because of their current practices,” he says.

In all, Rootella products have grown from being applied on 20,000 acres just a few years ago to now being applied on more than 400,000 acres. Groundwork BioAg uses a network or partners and dealers to market their products.

Could Government Efficiency Efforts Break the Dam in EPA’s Pesticide Approval Backlog?

Mon, 12 May 2025 16:09:43 GMT

Earlier this month, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin announced the next phase of organizational improvements for the agency. For agriculture, the focus went to 130 science positions that were being reallocated.

With EPA’s authority over reviewing the science of pesticides, and a current backlog of 504 new chemicals in review plus 12,000 pesticide reviews that are overdue compared to their expected timelines, the industry has been watching a ballooning backlog.

“We’ve been trying to get more resources to help to reduce the backlog, and we’ve been advocating for Administrator Zeldin to provide additional resources,” says Terry Kippley, president and CEO of the Council of Producers and Distributors of Agrotechnology. “And so we’re still waiting on some details, but they have announced that there’s 130 scientists that could be moving over into the chemicals division and the chemicals division is the division that growers care about and agribusiness cares about because it includes the Office of Pesticide Programs [OPP], and they’re responsible for getting the tools out into the field.”

Two core causes of the backlog:

There have been two key factors adding up to the slowdown and now backlog of pesticide processing, regulations and approval.

1. Underfunding and interagency performance.

Specific to the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), Congress has underfunded its activities. Registrants agreed to a fee structure helping pay for the services provided by EPA, known as PRIA 5, which increased industry fees by 30%.

Congress has continually funded the EPA at low levels, and the OPP significantly below the $166 million asked for in appropriation.

“For many reasons every year they’ve only been giving approximately 80% of that number,” Kippley says. “From the farmer perspective, if you have a deal with a local co-op, and you say I’m going to give you 30% more money. But then you find out that you’re only getting about 80% of that agreed upon number. That’s a problem.”

Kippley says right now, for OPP, it adds up to being short about $32 million.

“We’d like to have them allocate that additional $32 million dollars, so that in the end OPP has the resources to consistently deliver and execute these timelines, so that everybody has certainty.”

2. The COVID-19 pandemic brought an unexpected workload

During the COVID-19 pandemic, disruptions added up in addition to EPA being responsible for testing and approving hand sanitizer products.

“I’ve had nearly a 30-year career dealing with regulated products, and I can say we’ve had certainty out of EPA in the past,” Kippley says. “Maybe wasn’t always perfect, but until COVID it was really operating in a way that we could do business, and they have just received so much more work with so many fewer resources. It’s really a difficult situation to manage.”

Will DOGE be the answer to the two issues that have amassed this backlog?

It has yet to be seen. One retiree from EPA is skeptical that even with an influx of 130 scientists transferred into the OPP, any benefits in terms of approvals won’t be seen for 18 months.

“If they allocate all of the transfers to new registrations — and ignore the FIFRA renewals — and if they are creative, by the time the Trump administration is over, things could be caught up,” they say.

One reason is the recent wave of early retirements, which currently employs 550 total scientists and 100 of those taking the early out package, which went into effect on May 5.

What Agronomists And Farmers Need to Know About Endangered Species Act in 2025

Wed, 07 May 2025 11:00:00 GMT

With the final herbicide rule and final insecticide rule announced by EPA, farmers and applicators will be phasing in new considerations with every new product label and FIFRA re-registration.

“Don’t panic,” says independent crop consultant Steve Hoffman with In-Depth Agronomy. “This is going to be a gradual phase in, and I know it’s definitely adding complexity.”

Independent consultants James Todd and Hoffman have been following the development of these rules, working with federal agencies to schedule about what everyone should know and how this year is pivotal to the future of pesticide use.

“Every new pesticide that gets registered through EPA, and every current pesticide that gets re registered has to come into compliance with new language on the label, Todd says. “Each pesticide is going to be unique and unique to also different endangered species. So the requirement in one part of the country might look different in another part of the country.”

The rules are the result of the EPA taking action to enforce its regulatory authority for the Endangered Species Act. Although the law is 50 years old, in recent years federal courts have announced rulings limiting pesticide use relative to ESA.

“Those lawsuits resulted in a judge somewhere saying, ‘Okay, you have not met this requirement, and we’re going to cancel this pesticide,’” Hoffman explains. “That’s where agriculture was at—we could have just lost any pesticide label instantly. So agriculture has the burden on our back to show that we care about endangered species, and we can do something. This is an opportunity. We just need to see this opportunity to make sure it stays a positive.”

Since the final herbicide rule, EPA issued a label for BASF’s Liberty Ultra, which could be looked to as a model for how these regulations will be applied to products. There hasn’t been a label for an insecticide yet issued , but many expect those labels to mirror how the herbicide rule was applied.

“Growers should go out and take a look at the Liberty Ultra label, because that’s the framework,” Todd says. “There are certain mitigations practices that you can do to earn points—erosion and runoff—and spray drift, and there are PULAs (geographic limitations.) Everyboyd has something that they need to do or be aware of that they need to do. Even if you’re not applying Liberty Ultra this year, look at its label and become familiar with what steps are going to be required.”

While the final herbicide rule and the final insecticide rule require evaluating the product and field, consulting the EPA website, and keeping record of your workplan, Hoffman and Todd have been engaging with other consultants, farmers, and federal agencies in the development of the rules to take into current production practices.

Last year, Hoffman hosted a two-day tour in Wisconsin with multiple federal agencies to discuss farmer practices, production considerations related to the upcoming regulations. The National Alliance of Crop Consultants is repeating the idea this coming year in Virginia and North Carolina.

Hear more in The Scoop podcast:

Industry News: Growers Enhances Loyalty Program With AI, Kugler's New Starter and Nufarm's Herbicide On The Way

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 19:17:46 GMT

Growers Enhances Loyalty Program With AI
For 2025, Growers is expanding its customer loyalty program to combine the power of AI-driven insights with fully tailored loyalty initiatives.

At the core of the program is Axiom, an advanced AI technology engine developed by Agmatix, Growers’ sister company under ICL Group. Axiom by Agmatix analyzes customer behaviors and product performance data to provide predictive insights, real-time recommendations, critical alerts and tailored incentives for members. Using technology, it can adapt to seasonality, geography and farmer profiles, which enables retailers and manufacturers to optimize offerings and tailor them to their individual customers.

The Growers Loyalty Program can also create fully digitized, personalized loyalty models, such as loyalty points to spend on products at preferential rates, which incentivize cross-segment purchasing and help retailers craft tailored incentives for the farmers they serve.

The closed-loop rewards model ties loyalty points to future purchases from the same retailer and manufacturer, strengthens customer relationships and improves ROI for all participants. The AI platform also has the ability to predict customer behavior, based on historical purchase patterns, and to provide retailers with critical alerts to factors like customer churn and new sales opportunities.

Kugler Introduces New Starter
Kugler Company is launching K-Carb ProStart, a high-ortho, low-salt starter. Designed to give crops a strong start to the growing season, this all-in-one in-furrow application includes a micro nutrient package with fulvic for effective carbon management, optimal nutrient uptake and soil vitality.

According to Kugler, the product’s low-salt formulation makes it a soil-friendly solution. It can also be used as a foliar application.

K-Carb ProStart’s Main Takeaways:

Complete nutrient package for early plant development.
Carbon management to enhance soil health and nutrient absorption.
High-ortho, low-salt formula is gentle on the soil while maintaining maximum effectiveness.
One-pass application designed for efficiency

Nufarm Herbicide Receives 24(c) Registration in Colorado
Scorch EXT Herbicide from Nufarm has received 24(c) registration in Colorado for broadleaf weed control in fallow and eco-fallow fields. A herbicide premix powered by Nufarm’s proprietary Duplosan technology, Scorch EXT was developed in response to the increasing threat of kochia, including biotypes resistant to glyphosate, dicamba, 2,4-D and/or fluroxypyr in groups 2, 5, 9 and 14.

Scorch EXT features a combination of dichlorprop-p, dicamba and 2,4-D. According to Nufarm, recent university and third-party research with the product has demonstrated very consistent control of kochia. In addition to kochia, it is also able to control Russian thistle, common lambsquarters, Canada thistle, Palmer amaranth, wild mustard and tansy mustard.

The product is also registered to the 24(c) labels in Kansas, Colorado and Montana. Scorch EXT is approved for IVM applications, including general farmstead and non-crop areas including rights-of-way, fence rows and industrial sites. It is currently pending EPA registration for additional crop uses.

New Product of the Year Runner Up: RhizoSorb from Phospholutions

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 20:07:05 GMT

Launched in 2024, RhizoSorb from Phospholutions puts an emphasis on phosphorus sustainability from start to finish. It’s stood out in its first year on the market, and readers of The Scoop have voted it as the New Product of the Year runner-up for 2024.

“RhizoSorb is the first major step in 60 years to make phosphate more efficient from a mine to end use perspective,” says Craig Dick, Phospholutions’ vice president of sales and marketing. “Phosphate rock is finite, and the ability to stretch a unit of phosphorus further in the soil has a significant impact to both manufacturers and farmers.”

RhizoSorb 8-39-0 is a dry fertilizer that serves as a replacement for conventional phosphates and increases the availability and efficiency of on-farm use.

“It has the same handling characteristics as MAP or DAP but is twice as efficient and therefore costs less per acre for the grower,” Dick says. “We’re applying slightly less per acre but seeing the same amount of phosphorus be taken up by the plant. That’s while reducing the grower’s cost per acre for phosphorus by 15% on average.”

Because it can be used in the same way as MAP or DAP, RhizoSorb doesn’t require a change in application for users.

“If the grower broadcasts his phosphorus fertilizer, he can still broadcast RhizoSorb. If he’s a strip tiller, he can just replace his MAP with our product,” Dick says. “It’s a very easy swap for not only the grower, but for the retailers and how they’re used to handling products. They don’t need additional equipment to coat a product. It’s seamless.”

A Long Time Coming
While the product’s launch came just as farmers were looking to cut back expenses, the research behind the technology has been in the works for some time — originally developed 30 years ago by a Penn State professor.

“Our CEO, Hunter Swisher, was an undergraduate in that professor’s class, and he licensed the patent for the technology,” Dick says. “Over the last nine years, we’ve raised over $38 million and done nearly 600 trials.”

Spending less per acre while increasing the absorption of phosphorus has translated into strong commercial success for RhizoSorb and also provides unique efficiencies for retailers.

“As we’ve thought about the grower and manufacturer, we thought just as much about the retailer. They’re the linchpin to making this all work,” Dick says. “When they compare RhizoSorb to MAP, they can achieve a 20% higher margin than with the higher volume of MAP, and they’re still able to pass on a 10% savings to the grower. Then, they’re handling 33% less product in their warehouse.”

He adds that as phosphorus continues to be the least efficient of the three macro nutrients used to grow our food, there’s more work to be done to bring RhizoSorb to farmers.

“Our goal is to make phosphate more efficient, and that comes with making it more cost effective,” Dick says. “We want to further expand our market reach and continue to work on finding the right retailers and distributors to partner with and bring this to market in a very thoughtful way.”

Your Next Read: New Product of The Year 2024: Loveland’s Awaken FlowBoost

New Product of the Year 2024: Loveland's Awaken FlowBoost

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 14:51:44 GMT

We asked, you answered. With more than 1,300 votes tabulated, Awaken FlowBoost from Loveland Products has officially been named the winner of The Scoop’s 18th annual New Product of the Year contest.

Awaken FlowBoost marks a new path for Loveland’s seed treatment products, adding a talc/graphite replacement to the company’s portfolio.

“People are getting away from talc and graphite for a lot of different reasons, which is ultimately why we went with a corn-based product,” says Rian Bernhardt, Loveland’s crop protection marketing manager. “We just recognized it as a growing market space and an opportunity for us to bring something to our growers that’s unique, and from an agronomic standpoint, makes a lot of sense for them.”

Awaken FlowBoost’s benefits are two-fold:

Seed singulation and flowability. The product is applied at plant and maintains a 99% effective use rate as seeds are flowing through the planter, which is comparable to a standard 80/20 talc/graphite mix.
A micronutrient package (5% phosphate, 1% iron, 3% manganese, 2.5% molybdenum, 10.5% zinc) helps mitigate the stresses that come with planting early in cold, wet soils.

Bernhardt says these advantages brought growers improved yield, test weight and moisture across all geographies during the product’s first official year on the market.

“The trials that we have seen range anywhere from 4- to 6- to 8-bu. differences,” Bernhardt says.

Casey McDaniel, vice president of Loveland Products, adds that quicker emergence was also a common result, due to the product’s micronutrient package.

“Not everybody has the opportunity to put an in-furrow starter or two-by-two applications. This allows them to get some micronutrients on that seed and in that furrow where it’s most effective,” McDaniel says. “They saw a quicker emergence when it’s most important — in that first 20 to 30 days.”

The addition of micronutrients is what Loveland believes sets Awaken FlowBoost apart and is contributing to its popularity.

“The uniqueness of the product got a lot of people’s attention,” Bernhardt explains. “I think that is what’s ultimately driving its success.”

During Awaken FlowBoost’s first year on the market, it far exceeded what the Loveland team had initially expected in overall sales.

“We had to go into production a couple of extra times,” McDaniel says. “This isn’t a space we had historically played in, and you’ll generally get some skeptics the first time around. But we did our homework and thoroughly tested the product.”

As for 2025, Loveland has 10 new products that are headed to the U.S., and an expansion of the Awaken FlowBoost lineup could be on the horizon as well.

“We definitely see room for expansion with this product line, specifically from a seed treatment standpoint,” Bernhardt says. “It’s a cool concept that will just get better from here.”

Your Next Read: New Product of the Year Runner Up: RhizoSorb from Phospholutions

Industry News: Data Shows Yield Advantages from Biologicals, Meristem Improves Product Formulation

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 17:19:03 GMT

Trials Show Biologicals Could Boost Row Crop Yields This Year
A recent news release from Locus Agriculture says third-party trials have confirmed productivity boosts in key crops such as corn, soybeans, cotton and wheat using the company’s foliar, inoculant and box-applied biologicals treatments.

The products tested include:

Bombigro
This is a foliar-applied biological product that enhances photosynthesis and crop vigor. By applying Bombigro, trials found a yield increase of 10 bu/acre in corn, 3.4 bu/acre in soybeans, 5 bu/acre in wheat, 71.6 lb/acre in cotton and 2,495 lb/acre in potatoes.
Rhizolizer Prime Soybean Inoculant System
This is an all-liquid solution for seed treaters. It is designed to maximize nitrogen fixation and yield potential in soybeans.
Inocuprime
This product promotes the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules in soybeans and peanuts.
Rhizolizer Duo
These hopper box-applied biologicals are tailored for wheat, cereals and perennial grasses. Multi-year contract research organization trials on Rhizolizer Duo for wheat and cereals show an average 4.6-bushel per acre yield increase.

Meristem Improves Excavator AMS Formulation
Meristem Crop Performance has announced the next formulation improvement of Excavator AMS powered by Cyclestrike.

Cyclestrike is a consortium of microbes held with the liquid-ready Bio-Capsule technology, which keeps biologicals separate and alive until the point of application. The combination of Excavator and Cyclestrike creates an all-in-one blend of water conditioning agent and
surfactants that aids in fertility/nutrient release and residue breakdown.

“Excavator is a great product, and as Meristem has improved it, so have the results,” says Nick Fries, of Summit View Ag. “Cyclestrike is a simple process: Unscrew your jug cap, screw the Cyclestrike capsule on, push a button down and release the microbes into the Excavator AMS.”

Meristem shares these product benefits:

Take up to $50 out of traditional P & K spend
Replace a tillage pass
Reduce cost of adjuvants in burndown applications
Fast residue breakdown
More room on the spray trailer

The use rate for Excavator/Cyclestrike is 32 oz per acre with a minimum 10 gal of water.

Chris Thrasher, Meristem’s director of innovation and product management adds Cyclestrike will be co-packed with another Meristem product, BioUp, to neutralize the negative effect chlorine in city water has on biologicals of any kind.

Four Industry Veterans Join Vive Crop Protection
Vive Crop Protection is expanding its commercial team with the additions of:

Art Graves, Northeast technical sales agronomist

Graves brings several years of experience from Corteva and T&S Crop Service. He will focus on providing tailored agronomic recommendations, conducting on-farm trials, and delivering technical training.
Darren Bodine, Midwest territory sales manager

With 27 years of experience, Bodine was most recently with Valent USA. Based in Monticello, IL, he will be covering Illinois, Wisconsin, Southern Indiana, and Kentucky.
John Rouse, Mid-Atlantic territory sales manager

Rouse brings a background from Ag Nutrients, Miller Chemical, Providence Ag, Meherrin Ag and Harvey Fertilizer & Gas. He is a certified crop adviser and will be covering North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Eastern Tennessee.
Mark Reinert, Southern Plains territory sales manager

Reinert has been in the ag industry for nearly 30 years. He will focus on southern Colorado and Kansas.

“Bringing this level of talent and experience to our team marks an exciting step forward for Vive,” says Dave Rummel, vice president of sales and business development. “Each individual brings a unique set of skills and expertise that will strengthen our ability to expand our reach and deepen connections with our customers.”

Industry News: Hybrid Fungicide Receives California Registration, Kalo Announces New Leadership

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 17:45:12 GMT

Regev Hybrid Fungicide Receives California Registration
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation has approved the use of Regev hybrid fungicide in the state.

Summit Agro says Regev is the first hybrid fungicide, as it brings together the disease fighting power of botanical and conventional chemistries. Specifically, the product combines Tea Tree Extract (FRAC BM01) with difenoconazole (FRAC 3) - providing California growers disease control from nine mechanisms of activity.

“Regev provides the trifecta of disease protection, which is preventative, curative and anti-sporulant control” said Eric Tedford, Summit Agro R&D manager.

In California, Regev will be particularly beneficial to grape and almond growers. Other labeled crops include brassica leafy vegetables, fruiting vegetables and berries.

The full list of Regev fungicide’s approved crops and diseases treated can be found here .

Kalo Announces New Director of Sales
Kalo has named Jonathan Barrett as their new director of sales, which took effect on January 6.

Barrett comes from agricultural roots, having worked as a crop advisor, crop protection and seed salesman, marketing lead and most recently the global head of soybean strategy and portfolio at Syngenta.

“Jon’s experience and proven record in the agricultural sector make him an excellent fit for our team. We look forward to the contributions he will bring to our organization,” said Chuck Champion, president at KALO.

Industry News: Lallemand's New Seed Treatment, Meristem Adds A Dealer

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 15:20:00 GMT

Lallemand Introduces LalRise Shine DS Seed Treatment
LalRise Shine DS has launched in the United States, a new seed treatment from Lallemand Plant Care for corn and dry bean growers.

Designed to improve root vigor and nutrient availability, this product combines the performance of Pizazz seed finisher with Lallemand’s proprietary plant growth-promoting microbe (PGPM).

According to Lallemand, LalRise Shine DS offers up to a 28% increase in phosphorus availability in the rhizosphere and boosts root mass growth by up to 20%.

This dry seed treatment can be used on all types of operations. For example:

Commercial seed treaters can coat seeds using a dry powder mill.
For on-farm applications, top dress directly into the centre fill or hopper box or apply on seeds before transferring into the planter.

Merschman Seeds Selects Meristem Crop Performance
Merschman Seeds, of West Point, Iowa has entered into a dealer agreement with Meristem Crop Performance. In the new engagement, Merschman Seeds will now carry Meristem’s product portfolio of biologicals, plant growth regulators, micronutrients, adjuvants, and nitrogen inhibitors to crop producers across their service territory.

Founded in 1954 by Bill and Bernice Merschman, this year marks Merschman’s 71st year of serving farmers. The company’s service territory now reaches 400 miles in every direction from West Point.

“We’ve always been focused on being an innovative company, and we spent a lot of time evaluating different biological providers and it’s clear to us that Meristem is consistently providing high quality biologicals through a seed fluency delivery system that’s effective and easy for farmers to use,” says CEO Joe Merschman.

AMF Bionutrient Supplier Enhanced Nature Announces Company Launch
Enhanced Nature (EN), a newly formed U.S. company, today announced that it has begun operations to supply AMF (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) bionutrients to partners worldwide.

EN’s partners include:

Symbiotic Sciences, which has been manufacturing concentrated AMF for over 15 years
Aditya Malhotra, CEO
Tom Laurita, board chair
Rob Gibson, vice president of business development and sales.

The company says now is the right time to launch due to the growth in recognition and demand for AMF-based bionutrients.

“Enhanced Nature is already seeing tremendous demand everywhere for AMF sourced from a reliable and high quality manufacturer,” said Gibson. “Both distribution partners and end-users are looking for the next generation of effective high ROI biologicals, and AMF definitely fits that description. I’m really excited about this team and opportunity.”

Livestock and mRNA Vaccines: What You Need To Know

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 01:56:42 GMT

As misinformation regarding the use of mRNA vaccines in livestock filter through social media, there are facts begging to be set straight.

Recently, a claim was made saying producers are required to inject livestock with mRNA vaccines.

According to USDA spokesperson, Marissa Perry says, “There is no requirement or mandate that producers vaccinate their livestock for any disease. It is a personal and business decision left up to the producer and will remain that way,” in response to the claim, Associated Press shared in an article .

National Pork Board’s Director of Consumer Public Relations, Jason Menke echoed the statement to AP, noting that the decision to use vaccines and other medical treatments to protect animal health and well-being are made by the farmer under the direction of the herd veterinarian.

To further explain mRNA vaccines and shed light on controversies, Dr. Kevin Folta, a molecular biologist and professor at the University of Florida, shares his viewpoint and experience with the technology.

What are mRNA Vaccines?

First introduced to the population through the COVID-19 vaccines, mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccines have been in development for decades, says Folta in a recent AgriTalk segment.

He adds that the technology’s potential in human health makes it a likely candidate to have a place in animal health as well. However, “the technology is being maligned in social media, and is now shaping decisions at the level of state legislature,” Folta says. This leads to the growing importance that producers and consumers become more educated on the topic.

What Folta believes began in January of this year, based on claims with very little data, certain advocates against mRNA vaccines are concerned that mRNA vaccines are in use and development in livestock. Additionally, these vaccines may then be present in the food these animals provide.

Why mRNA Vaccines Are Not Present in Food

“It’s not in your food. It’s a vaccine for the animal that, just like any vaccine, protects the animal from disease,” Folta says.

Current mRNA vaccines being used in swine are injected into the muscle, Folta explains, which causes the development of the immune response protein to then stimulate the body to work against the virus.

“In the absence of the virus, it’s kind of like giving the virus or giving the body a ‘wanted’ poster that says, ‘when this individual comes along, and this virus comes along, work against it,’ and it’s all gone within hours,” he adds.

The mRNA never leaves the cells from where it was injected. RNA is a very unstable molecule that must be kept cold, buffered and in solvent, to remain viable, Folta explains.

Additionally, any licensed vaccine comes with a minimum time before that animal can enter the food chain, also known as the “withdrawal time,” says Alan Young, professor in the Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences at South Dakota State University and founder of protein platform (non-mRNA) vaccine company Medgene.

The Animal’s Genes Are Not Altered

While mRNA vaccines include genetic code, Folta says the use of a mRNA vaccines does not alter the animal’s genes in any way.

“This [mRNA] is an intermediate between the gene itself and the products that the gene encodes. So, it’s like having a blueprint and a house. The mRNA is like the construction worker. It takes the blueprint and manufactures the house. In the case of the cell, it takes the DNA blueprint and then takes a little bit of that information to build part of the final structure. The mRNA is just that intermediate, it does not change the genes. It doesn’t change the DNA itself,” he explains.

What are the Benefits of mRNA Vaccines?

More flexibility and faster response to new disease, Folta describes as reasons why mRNA vaccines are becoming more popular.

Traditional vaccines require large amounts of a virus to be raised and purified before being injected to elicit an immune response, he adds. Meanwhile, mRNA encourages the body to make a little piece of protein to elicit the desired immune response.

“It’s much cleaner, much easier. If you’re moving parts in this machine, to make this product that induces an immune response, it’s so good in so many ways,” Folta says.

In pork production specifically, researchers are working with mRNA vaccines that will work this way against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), which is a viral disease that causes economic loss totals around $664 million per year in the U.S. (Holtkamp et al., 2013).

Additionally, the use of mRNA technology adds another tool to the toolbox, which may be helpful in combating diseases, such as African swine fever (ASF), avian influenza and other food-animal diseases.
“This stands to be a revolutionary technology if we don’t get in the way,” Folta adds.

Are There Risks to mRNA Vaccines?

Folta says everything has some sort of risk, but it’s important to weigh the benefits against the risk.
As seen with the COVID-19 vaccines, in rare cases, people experienced side effects from the vaccine. However, Folta is encouraged by the initial results in livestock.

“If you look in animals where these [vaccines] have been used, there have been no unusual effects noted. Everything potentially has risk, but it’s monitored, and especially in large animal populations, we can look very carefully at that for surveillance,” he explains.

mRNA Enters State Legislation

While some consumers spread misinformation about the use of mRNA vaccines, the ideas have also crept into state legislation.

The Missouri House Bill 1169 , with a special hearing set for Apr. 19 on the matter, aims to require a label be used on meat from animals treated with an mRNA vaccine, identifying the “potential gene therapy product.”
This bill falsely claims that mRNA vaccines would modify the genes of the organism, Folta explains.

mRNA vaccines are simply another modality that can protect animal health, which results in healthy animals producing the best and safest food products, Folta says, and provides producers with more options to help combat disease.

“To have affordable food, we need to have continual innovation in the animal, medical, veterinary space and mRNA vaccines are safe and an effective way to treat the animal that does not change the final product,” he adds.

The COVID-19 pandemic simply “broke the seal” to the development of these new modalities that will change the way human and animal diseases will be treated in the years to come.

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