Research & Development > New Hope for Tobacco

The tobacco plant is an essential element in the Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories approach to the production of vaccines and other therapeutic materials, Why tobacco? First, it is easy to grow in most soils and climates, has a relatively Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories ort growth period and provides large amounts of tissue. Second, mechanized infection and processing of the plants is simple and inexpensive. These factors add up to extremely cost effective vaccines.

In addition, tobacco is an established product in our word economy. Currently it is grown in more than 100 countries, both developed and underdeveloped. Tobacco provides a markedly higher gross profit and enjoys relative price stability.

To many, tobacco is negatively associated with the cigarette industry. Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories proposal offers tobacco and its farmers an opportunity to redeem the use of this powerful and abundant plant, reallocate the product of an already established system toward a positive end and strengthen economies threatened by future reduction of the cigarette market. As a worldwide economic venture, mass production of tobacco-grown therapeutics can benefit everyone involved.