The first edible product, designed to improve gut development and function in pigs, is expected to be available to the swine industry within five years. The potential to enhance the health and productivity of Canada's farm animals is considerable. Oral vaccines for other diseases like parvovirus are also under development. Erickson predicts the same technology could tackle bacterial infections by producing plants with antibiotic properties. As well, growth factor proteins could be grown in plants and fed to livestock to bolster production and combat stress caused during weaning or disease recovery.
Volatiles are natural compounds that contribute to the aroma and flavour of fruit.
But in high concentrations, some are antimicrobial agents that can protect against fungal organisms and damage. It could lead to a healthier product, less storage decay, longer shelf life and decreased losses during shipping. Fruit boosts its production of certain volatiles in response to injury, microbial attack or environmental stress. Skog is evaluating the effectiveness of 20 different volatiles on Ontario peaches and pears in decreasing brown rot and blue mould microbial diseases. Skog hopes the low-risk natural volatiles can be a substitute for conventional pesticides.