AgraFilms Inc, spun out of the University of Wisconsin - Madison, develops amoebic biocontrol solutions for crops and food storage to improve efficiency and safety. The firm's solution eliminates biofilm-enmeshed bacteria that can cause major plant diseases through biological treatments that imitate the predator prey relationship of amebae and biofilm entrapped bacteria. This solution provides a sustainable approach that eliminates toxic run-off or bioaccumulation in plant products. One of the primary applications for this solution is in potatoes, where potato soft rot can cause significant losses of up to 20% of the globally harvested potatoes and standard treatment measures are ineffective. Through the use of pathogen specific strains of amoebae, "dicty," the farmers are able to maximize crop yield while minimizing storage loss and improve safety and profitability.
