For years, Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) has been the gold standard for suppressing and extinguishing petroleum-based fires.

But its effectiveness has come with a cost: the presence of PFAS, so-called “forever chemicals” that don’t break down and are linked to health and environmental risks.

One potential contender to replace the PFAS-laden foam comes from Cross Plains Solutions LLC, based in Dalton, Ga., where chief technology officer and managing partner Dave Garlie has led development of a foam made from U.S.-grown soybeans.

“It’s nice to have something that’s actually effective on the fires that we need it to be but also is not killing the people that are using it or killing the people that it’s supposed to be protecting,” Garlie said.

Because he serves on the board of the Ameri

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