Biomaterials firm Nanollose has scored further patent grants in Canada, South Korea and Japan, in a bid to protect its commercialisation journey through fashion and agriculture.
Based in Western Australia, the firm is attempting to scale production of various fibres, fabrics and other materials made from microbial cellulose. One of Nanollose’s key products in the fashion space is called Nullarbor, a fibre derived using microbes that convert waste products into microbial cellulose, which is then converted into Nullarbor fibres using Nanollose technology.
The Japanese patent covers the production process of Nullarbor, with another patent covering the pulping of microbial cellulose for use in the production of viscose fibres being granted in Canada and South Korea.
Nanollose also produces alternative seed germination and plant growing material called Jelli Grow, with a separate patent covering this in Canada.
Overall, the company has eight registered trademarks, four active patent families, 14 granted patents in various jurisdictions worldwide and a 100 per cent success rate for patent applications to date.
According to Nanollose, these patents secure the firm’s competitive position from feedstock to finished product across several high-influence markets within the fashion and agriculture sectors.
“The jurisdictions selected reflect both established and emerging opportunities in vertical farming and soilless horticulture, as well as regions where we have seen genuine commercial interest in our technology,” Nanollose CEO and MD Andrew Moullin said.
“Combined with the recent patent grants in Canada, South Korea, and Japan, this update demonstrates the continued strengthening of our intellectual property position."
Nanollose added that the global vertical farming industry is valued at around US$6.91 billion, with a CAGR of 24 per cent.
The Company has also received expressions of interest for Biollose samples from prospective customers across the United States, Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Canada and the United Kingdom.