Revolutionizing Indoor Air Quality : Super Plant Equivalent to Thirty Ordinary Indoor Plants for Air Purification

Neo Px, a seemingly simple green plant, has an impressive hidden talent : it's a biotechnological marvel designed to purify indoor air. Branded by Neoplants, Neo Px is touted as being equivalent to thirty ordinary indoor plants in terms of air purification. "It captures, eliminates, and recycles some of the most harmful pollutants found in homes," says Lionel Mora, co-founder of the start-up Neoplants, based near San Francisco.

Thousands of Golden Pothos

Over five years ago, French entrepreneur Lionel Mora met Patrick Torbey, a genome-editing Ph.D. Torbey aspired to create living organisms with enhanced functions. "Surrounded by plants, we realized the most impactful function we could add was air purification," recalls Mora.

Currently, thousands of Golden Pothos, a popular air-purifying plant known for its resilience and efficiency in removing formaldehyde, are being prepared for shipment. "We are striving to meet the high demand, but it’s a challenge," says Mora.

Launched in the U.S. market in late April, Neo Px has received regulatory approval and has already captured significant interest, particularly among Americans who are familiar with air purifiers. "They are very aware of the air quality issues due to wildfires, which emit benzene, a targeted volatile organic compound (VOC) of Neo Px," notes Mora.

Combatting Toxic Molecules

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, primarily due to VOCs. Products like paints, solvents, and cleaners continuously emit these harmful molecules. "These substances pose serious health risks, including cancer," warns Tracey Woodruff, a professor at UCSF. They can irritate respiratory tracts, affect fetal development, cause miscarriages, and are linked to cognitive declines such as Parkinson's disease.

Innovative Air Purification with Microbiome Technology

Neo Px, retailing at a minimum of $120, comes with powder sachets containing a specially designed microbiome, primarily a bacterial strain. This bacterium colonizes the plant’s roots, soil, and leaves, absorbing VOCs for growth and reproduction. "It’s a symbiotic system where the plant supports the bacteria, which in turn purifies the air," explains Patrick Torbey.

Future of Genetically Modified Plants

Neoplants aims to develop genetically modified plants that can directly metabolize pollutants. Their long-term vision includes addressing climate change-related issues, such as enhancing trees’ CO2 absorption capacities and developing drought-resistant seeds. "Imagine trees that capture more CO2 or crops that survive better in drought conditions," suggests Mora.

This visionary approach, coupled with scientific expertise, has attracted investors like Vincent Nallatamby, a Google product manager. "I am often drawn to innovative home technologies, and convincing my wife about Neo Px was effortless," he jokes, showing off his microbiome-boosted pothos in his San Francisco home.