Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta

This episode explores the innovative efforts at the Donald Danforth Centre to develop virus-resistant cassava for sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the science, regulatory hurdles, and social impact of biotech solutions in agriculture.

In this episode, Kevin Folta interviews Brigitte Weston, the director of product development at Gates Ag One, about their mission to accelerate crop technology development for smallholder farmers in Africa and South Asia. They discuss the organization's approach to innovation, regulatory challenges, and how they foster public-private partnerships to improve food security.

Oncolytic viruses may offer a new way to tackle solid tumors by targeting cancer cells and activating the immune system. Dr. Eric Poma explains how Calidi Biotherapeutics is engineering a vaccinia-based virus to evade immune clearance, reach tumors, and deliver an immune-stimulating payload. He and Kevin Folta discuss the approach’s potential for cancers such as lung cancer, melanoma, renal cancer, and head and neck cancers.

This episode explores the fascinating history and science behind GLP1 receptor agonists, their development from animal venom to life-changing diabetes and obesity treatments, and the importance of basic research in medical breakthroughs.

In this episode, Dr. Alexia Groff discusses her groundbreaking research on expressing mammalian myoglobin in plants using chloroplast transformation. We explore the implications for food production, biosecurity, and future applications in meat substitutes and nutritional enhancement. Chloroplast inheritance reduces gene flow risk, enhancing biosafety. Heterologous expression in plants can produce functional animal proteins.

This episode explores the cutting-edge advancements in ALS diagnostics and treatment, highlighting how AI and digital health are transforming patient care and research. Guest Indo Navar shares her journey from Silicon Valley entrepreneurship to pioneering innovative solutions for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.

In this episode, Kevin Folta interviews Dr. Erik Ingelsson about innovative RNA-based therapies for obesity, focusing on the potential of silencing RNA and gene editing to target visceral fat and improve metabolic health.

The debate continues on organic vs conventional farming. Cameron and Kevin give their views on this growing subject!

In this episode, Kevin Folta interviews Dr. Colette Delawalla about the threats to scientific integrity posed by recent political and administrative changes. They discuss the importance of federal funding, the impact of proposed policies, and how the scientific community can respond to defend science and democracy. You Can Help Change the Federal Government views!!

Celebrating 500 episodes of Talking Biotech, Kevin Folta interviews Dr. Scott Angle, University of Florida Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, to explore the future of agriculture, AI innovations, and Florida's agricultural landscape. Discover insights on technology, workforce development, and sustainable farming practices.