Benanova, Inc. was awarded a highly competitive Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II grant. The project will develop and commercialize proprietary biomass-derived compositions for the efficient delivery of agricultural actives.
To increase productivity and meet the higher demand for food crops, large amounts of crop protection chemicals are utilized. Intensive use of agrochemicals creates environmental threats potentially causing climate change. To address these challenges we are developing innovative, delivery technology that holds promise to provide novel and improved solutions with a strong potential to increase efficiency of farming with the same or fewer inputs while protecting the environment.
Because of the work completed in the Phase II effort, technical risk will be reduced and technology readiness level will go up accelerating commercial development. Dr. Anka Veleva is the Principal Investigator of the Phase II project.
About Benanova, Inc.
Benanova, Inc. is a research and development company headquartered in the Research Triangle Park (RTP) area in the state of North Carolina. The company commercializes novel cost efficient environmentally friendly particle systems made of natural materials that can leverage functional properties of bioactive agents. In response to COVID-19 Benanova has accelerated the development of finishing technologies for specialty and performance textiles. For more information, visit www.benanova.com.
About the NSF’s Small Business Programs
America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $1.75 million to support research and development (R&D), helping de-risk technology for commercial success. America’s Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $8.1 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. For more information, visit seedfund.nsf.gov.