Bull semen export is a multi-billion-dollar industry in the united states

Membrane Protective Technologies, Inc. received a $181,500 Phase I Project Grant award from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program (CFDA 10.212), effective August 15, 2025, with a completion date of April 14, 2026. The award supports development of plant-based semen extenders for bull sperm cryopreservation to replace traditional animal-derived products such as egg yolk and whole milk. The proposed innovation addresses disease transmission risks associated with exporting livestock genetics, particularly regarding potential co-transport of pathogens like avian influenza through animal-based extender components.

The Phase I research will focus on identifying and testing plant extract combinations that replicate the protective and sperm-quality maintenance benefits of conventional egg yolk and milk-based extenders while eliminating associated disease risks. This development effort directly supports the U.S. bull semen export market—a multi-billion-dollar industry—and positions the company for rapid commercialization potential across other species including pigs, sheep, and goats. The work will be performed at the awardee's facility in Fort Collins, Colorado.

This proposal addresses topic area priority 8.3 animal production and protection FY 2025 improvement of livestock production efficiency; directly addressing the increase in export of genetics without inadvertent animal disease CO-transport, thereby improving the stronghold of U.S. Genetics worldwide. The most reliable semen extenders used for sperm cryopreservation utilizes animal products such as EGG yolks and whole milk mixed combined with salt and sugar buffered solutions that provide an energy source and some cryopreservation protection. The use of these animal products presents an issue in the export market of semen where there is a need to reduce dissemination of disease potentially contained in these animal products such as avian influenza and other pathogens to livestock. Alternatives to animal products for sperm cryopreservation includes SOY lecithin in a buffered solution; however, such replacements lack the full benefits provided by EGG yolk and milk which maintain sperm quality.to address the deficiencies in current animal-based semen extenders used for cryopreservation, phase I focuses on the development of plant-based replacement that provides the same protective benefits of EGG yolk or milk by testing sources of plant extracts in combination. The combinations will be assessed for similarity to EGG yolk, whole milk, and impacts on post-thaw sperm quality. The development of the proposed technology will have direct impact on the U.S. Export market of bull semen. This product also has economic upside as research can be rapidly applied to other species such as pigs, sheep, and goats.