Transfer of Rubber Technology Into Health Care

Increasing the diversity of natural rubber production, and the establishment of domestic rubber crops, has long been a goal in the United States.  However, new crop development presents huge challenges beyond those presented by new products produced from existing feedstocks (un-met needs, cost savings, not me-too). New rubber crops must establish and scale production acreage, and match and then expand this production capacity in concert with processing capacity and manufacturing capacity.  In addition, and most important, specific and sustained market pull is essential for products from small scale production out to large scale production.  Initial market pull must be relatively immune from fluctuations in commodity prices.  Price drops have caused the end of domestic rubber development using the desert rubber-producing shrub, guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) on several occasions over the last century. The opportunity for guayule production fundamentally changed when Type I latex allergy rendered natural rubber unsafe for use by millions of people.  Guayule latex products were proven safe for use by Type I latex allergic people and heath care products provide a sufficient premium to support small-scale production. The pathway and barriers to commercial success will be described as the material crossed over the technological valley of death.