Every now and then, a plant patent catches our eye. Sometimes it's for mundane reasons--like the length requiring a special high-capacity stapler--and sometimes it's for a particularly unusual... not plant.
There is a whole class category for plant patents that are technically not plants: fungi. Mushrooms are grouped under U.S. Patent Class (USPC) 394. But what about algae, which is grouped into multiple kingdoms of life? That, apparently, belongs to USPC 395, which is "Miscellaneous".
Earlier in 2022, Blue Ocean Barns was granted a patent for a new Asparagopsis taxiformis variety called 'Brominata'. That alone makes it stand out, as algae are not a commonly patented plant (or whatever kingdom of life).
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| PP34,607: Asparagopsis taxiformis 'Brominata' |
Plant patent no PP34,607 is even more interesting, as it is meant to provide "a source of halogenated compounds to inhibit methanogenesis in animals (e.g. ruminant animals)." For those readers like myself, a bit of translation into common parlance might be needed. Basically, this algae was created as a feed additive for cattle to reduce their methane production (via flatulence), and therefore reduce their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
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| 'Brominata' parent plant image from the patent |
Yes! Finally! An invention that will alter cow farts, making them less damaging to our ecosystem.
Patents are saving the planet, one ruminant, one methanogenesis event, at a time.
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| A photomicrograph of undesired 'Brominata' spores from the patent |
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| A photomicrograph of 'Brominata' gland cells from the patent |
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