Kraig to expand US mulberry tree capacity
26/01/2017
Over the coming months, the company said it will compete the first phase of the expansion by preparing the land and planting 2,000 mulberry trees. They will provide a continuous supply of fresh mulberry leaves, which are an important part of the diet of the transgenic silkworms responsible for spinning recombinant spider silk.
The expansion will serve to support the production of Kraig’s Dragon Silk. It is expecting to see an improvement in materials performance, as well as a 30% reduction in production costs through the use of locally-sourced mulberry.
“Signing this lease and opening this new facility brings with it a new era for Kraig Labs and silk production in the US,” said Jon Rice, Kraig chief operating officer. “Establishing domestic mulberry production has long been a key piece of our growth plan.”
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