b'FLORENT CHANG-PI-HINVICE PRESIDENT OF R&DLIFE SCIENCE, MERIDIAN BIOSCIENCEflorent.chang-pi-hin@meridianlifescience.comWe Should All Be Striving formeridianbioscience.com/lifescienceAbove and BeyondAir-Dryableis the Way CHANGE, IT IS SAID,is the onlyensuring our products have verifi- of the Future true constant. One of the changesable standards. We will begin with in our current era is the ground- what is required by new regulationsDURING THE COVIDpandemic, a continual swell in acceptable behaviors. Weas new regulations are still beingchallenge has been supply chain logistics and the should care a whole lot less aboutimplemented. We then intend torising cost and complexity of cold chain distribu-being seen to do the right thing,exceed the limits of what is requiredtion. While there are several ways to tackle this and a whole lot more about actu- and further push the boundaries ofproblem, Meridians focus has been on finding ally doing the right thing, whetherwhat is possible. We see ourselvescustomer solutions that are driven by innovation. or not its seen, simply because itsas frontrunners, pushing ahead ofTraditional drying methods such as lyophilization the right thing. regulation in the direction befittingcan be expensive and require significant expertise.At Activate Ag, were doing ourthe spirit in which the regulationsLyophilization, also known as freeze-drying, was best to live that motto. Whereverare intended. first invented in 1906 and since then has become we can, were making decisions inGoing above and beyond notone of the most important processes for the line with the spirit of new or comingonly resonates with customers andpreservation of heat-sensitive biological materi-regulations and guidelines, ratherthe wider community, its buildingals. The method relies on removing frozen water than simply following or manipulat- an ever stronger and committedfrom a product under a vacuum, allowing the ice ing them. This is not new for us: forActivate Ag team, where we knowto change directly from solid to vapor without example, we committed to ensuringour individual contributions arepassing through a liquid phase. The process is very APEOs (Alkylphenol ethoxylates)building something proven, mean- technical and requires specialized, costly equip-would not be used in our productsingful and authentic. We invite youmentconsequently, companies generally out-many years ago, even though it wasto join us! source this service.not a regulatory approval require- Meridians Air-Dryable technology was ment. Our current intentions are tolaunched in 2019 as the first novel solution for push harder: we fully intend to gocreating ambient-temperature stable assays using deeper into the green space in only a precision oven. Instead of freeze-drying, meaningful ways. the process relies on evaporation. For the seed There is growing concern thatsector, Meridian created a specialized mix, called companies are making claims aboutAir-Dryable Direct DNA qPCR Plant. It has been themselves or their products thatoptimized for use specifically on plant material and have not been substantiated, orit simplifies the development of ambient-tempera-in some cases are not even true.ture stable assays which are field-friendly. Therefore, when we go out into theAs inflation continues to rise and shipping marketplace, were committed tologistics remain a challenge, companies need a way to contain their costs and improve their supply chain. Customers prefer products that offer a long shelf-life and that are easy to handle. They are also attracted to environmentally sustainable features that reduce their carbon footprint and improve their shipping costs.SIMON WATT Lyophilization wont go away. But the Air-CHIEF TECHNOLOGY &Dryable technology enables more cost-effective INNOVATION OFFICER, and sustainable products for the future. In the end, ACTIVATE AG LABSthe future of ambient-temperature assays is going simon@activateaglabs.comactivateaglabs.com to rely on air-drying.FEBRUARY 2023 SEEDWORLD.COM /27'