Revolutionizing Wood Production: MIT's Bold Venture into Synthetic Bioscience

In some of the most interesting use cases for artificial intelligence, digital processes are applied to a physical supply chain. At MIT’s Engine, an incubator and co-working space, Ashley Beckwith is conducting research for a startup called Foray Bioscience, aiming to disrupt conventional manufacturing of wood products and pursue targeted reforestation.

The Challenge of Deforestation
Estimating that the world has lost half a million acres of forest in the last quarter-century, Foray is exploring the potential of extracting live cells from plants to develop synthetic products. Beckwith emphasizes the urgency of the situation:

“Our forests are under strain. Forest cover and biodiversity are declining at alarming rates.”
“One third of our tree species are on the verge of extinction.”
“Forest cover loss drives biodiversity loss, leading to poor resilience and further forest loss.”

The Seed Supply Problem
Beckwith highlighted a significant issue with seed availability, where U.S. Forest Services only meet about 6% of wildfire restoration targets. She explained:

“Sourcing seed is like trying to move a pile of sand with a fork.”
“90% of seeds will die after being planted.”

Innovative Solutions
To combat deforestation, Beckwith advocates for leveraging science:

“If we can’t grow it, let’s build it with biology.”
She outlined three steps to address the issue: revamping planning capabilities, building the seed, and establishing a framework for scaling.
Beckwith also acknowledged the impact of climate change, stating: “In 60 years, the climate in Boston will feel a lot like Memphis today.”
She encourages aiming for future solutions rather than current problems, quoting Wayne Gretzky: “Skate where the puck will be, not where it has been.”

Foray’s Process
Foray’s innovative approach involves extracting live cells from plants, such as the black cottonwood, and culturing them into a liquid broth. The cells are then coaxed into growing into wood-like structures in a gel infused with plant hormones.

“Tree cells can grow 100 times faster in the lab than with conventional methods.”

The Future of Reforestation
While there are differing opinions on whether this method can offset deforestation, Beckwith believes in the potential of this scientific approach.

“Reforestation is a huge job, so let’s bring a bigger fork.”

The journey towards sustainable wood production is not just about technology; it also requires political will and community buy-in. The responsibility lies with all of us to drive this change.