Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, a leading developer of spider silk based fibres, has completed the planting of the first 2,000 mulberry trees at its Texas location. The company is now in the process of assessing its needs for additional mulberry trees and will make a decision regarding additional plantings later this year.

This facility and these trees will be used to supply the company’s US recombinant spider silk operations with fresh mulberry leaves. The company expects to begin harvesting these leaves in the third or fourth quarter of this year.

“We’ve invested a tremendous amount of effort over the last thirty days preparing the new Texas facility and planting these first 2,000 trees,” said COO Jon Rice. “Those long days and a handful of fire ant bites have rewarded us, with what we expect, will be the capacity to support all of our US silk production without the need of expensive artificial diet. We’re looking forward to our first harvest this fall.”

US Army contract

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories received a contract worth of up to US$ 1 million from the US Army, for the development of high performance fibres for protective apparel applications, in summer 2016. Under the fully funded base effort, valued at US$ 99,962, the company was contracted to deliver ballistic shoot packs constructed from its proprietary Dragon Silk material for performance testing.

These shoot packs will be tested and evaluated for critical soldier protective applications including ballistic impact. If awarded, the option phase will significantly expand this work with the US Army, according to the company.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, a fully reporting biotechnology company is a leading developer of genetically engineered spider silk based fibre technologies.

The company says its genetic engineering research has succeeded in developing a practical and cost-effective technology for producing recombinant spider silk based fibres on an industrial scale. Kraig Biocraft Laboratories is moving rapidly to commercialize its spider silk technology, which it believes will have a significant impact on the global textiles industry.

At the same time, the company are continuing to work in cooperation with leading laboratories to create new stronger and more flexible spider silk based fibres with potentially broad applications for consumers and industry in the multi-billion-dollar marketplace for textiles and performance polymers.

www.kraiglabs.com