an invented composition for promoting the adhesion of adhesives , coatings and / or composites to proteinsceous substrates is disclosed comprising a water - miscible solvent ; and an unsaturated caboxylic acid of the general formula : ## str1 ## where r 1 is selected from ch ═ ch , c ═ c , c ═ ch , ch 2 ch 2 , or ch 2 ch 2 ch 2 ; and r 2 is selected from a terminally mono -, di -, tri -, or multi - unsaturated group . methods of making the compound and methods of its use are also disclosed .