MIT-backed biotech startup Foray Bioscience is engineering plant cells to revolutionize material production and pharmaceutical development. Founded by MIT alumna Ashley Beckwith, the company accelerates plant development timelines from decades to months, addressing critical supply chain challenges for medicinal compounds. The startup has already partnered with academic institutions, nurseries, and commercial companies to develop new molecules and materials. This approach tackles a pressing problem: unsustainable harvesting of rare plants like the soapbark tree, which produces compounds used in malaria and Covid-19 vaccines. By engineering plants at the cellular level, Foray Bioscience aims to secure pharmaceutical supply chains while protecting endangered species.
