By Maggie Gaddy
Talladega County father-son farmers David and Jeremy Wilson have watched countless bushels of corn leave their farm, most destined for Alabama’s poultry industry.
While that market accounts for much of Alabama’s corn, Aerterra is opening doors for the crop, using corn to create an unexpected household product — HVAC air filters.
“I am all for new uses of corn,” said David, a third-generation row crop farmer. “The air filter is different for corn to be involved with. The byproducts come from the Midwest, where they process the corn and oil. But as long as they’re using corn, it’s impacting my price.”
Aerterra takes a crop associated with food, feed and fuel and gives it a new purpose. David uses the air filter in his home and said he has noticed a difference in air quality and cleanliness, since switching to the sustainable product.
Company CEO and co-founder Curtis Firestone said Aerterra utilizes the polylactic acid (PLA) derived from corn kernels as an alternative to petroleum materials.
“We didn’t set out to use corn,” Firestone said. “Our starting point was, ‘What is the most renewable, better material?’”
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