In 2019, Leta founded Nutt Bio, an Ag Science startup that researches alternatives for pork producers. She earned her bachelor’s degree in marine biology from Texas A&M University and a Ph.D in Cancer Biology from UT MD Anderson Cancer Center/UT Health Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
Q: What problem in agriculture are you solving?
A: Boar taint is the unpleasant, putrid odor that male pigs develop when they reach sexual maturity, making the meat unsalable. For prevention, pigs are castrated without anesthesia in their first week of life. The procedure is quick and simple but does lead to increased mortality and induces pain and discomfort. Nutt Bio is developing a non-surgical method that prevents boar taint without the increases in mortality and without the pain and discomfort.
Q: What excites you the most about your innovation/work?
I am excited to use my more than 25 years of biomedical research experience to improve animal welfare. It is very satiating to apply my research directly to the welfare of piglets. Working in agriculture is a breath of fresh air. It’s an industry in America that still holds the values that I grew up with. The people are kind, sincere, and truly want to do what’s best for the animals, and I love that.