GreenLight Biosciences

Mark Singleton, our Chief Commercial Officer, spoke at the 2024 Salinas Biological Summit on the opportunities and challenges facing companies developing innovative technologies like RNAi. One message came through was loud and clear: farmers are ready for the next generation of biopesticides with a higher degree of on-farm efficacy.   Thank you to our hosts, Western Growers, and the panel for a great discussion: Amy Plato Roberts Chris Judd Steven Hartmeier Bob Kennedy

This week's feature in Science Magazine: Does RNA make the Perfect Pesticide? https://lnkd.in/e59hd7cM We think so. Calantha, the first registered foliar RNA biopesticide, delivers on the promise of the technology. It is designed to be specific to the Colorado potato beetle, degrades quickly in the environment, and it works in the field at a price that makes sense to farmers. We are proud to be the leader in this sustainable technology. Our team is working hard on a deep pipeline that makes sense to both farmers and our planet. We look forward to bringing more of these products to a farmgate near you. To learn more about the history, the science, and the future of RNA in agriculture, give Erik Stokstad's article a read in the link above.

📣 Congratulations to our R&D team on the selection of their project for the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (USDA NIFA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 program.     The grant will further GreenLight Bio’s groundbreaking work in developing an RNAi-based biological seed treatment to protect soybeans from Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS). SDS is caused by the soilborne fungus Fusarium virguliforme and is one of the leading threats to soybean yields in the U.S., with potential losses of 50-80% in regions across North America.     To learn more, click the link below. Ron Flannagan Bridey Maxwell Ph.D.

🌼 Celebrate Pollinator Week 2024 with GreenLight Bio! 🌼 It’s Pollinator Week! Pollinators play a vital role in our ecosystems, economies, and agriculture. The team at GreenLight Bio has been hard at work on new solutions to promote bee health including a new solution to help beekeepers address varroa mites, the leading pest threat to honeybees. Why Celebrate Pollinator Week? Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, bats, beetles, and hummingbirds, are the unsung heroes behind the food we enjoy and the beauty that surrounds us. By understanding the impact of our actions on their habitats and embracing sustainable practices, we can pave the way to a future where pollinators not only survive but thrive. For more information visit Pollinator Week | Pollinator.org Stay tuned for updates as we work toward a healthier future for our pollinators!

🌱 🥔 Celebrating International Day of Potato with Calantha 🥔 🌱 Potatoes are one of our favorite crops here at GreenLight Biosciences. Calantha, our innovative bioinsecticide designed to protect potatoes from the Colorado potato beetle (CPB). Since today is International Day of Potato, here are some facts about CPB: ·      CPB is a significant global threat to potato crops, causing damage estimated to be over USD 500 million. ·      CPB has developed resistance to more than 50 different chemical insecticides, reducing their effectiveness or rendering them entirely ineffective. Calantha is a brand new mode of action with strong and proven efficacy. This new tool provides farmers with an effective way to manage this pest and ensure a healthy potato crop. At GreenLight Biosciences, we are leading the way in using nature to provide farmers with next-generation tools.

🌿 Celebrating International Biodiversity Day with GreenLight Biosciences! 🌎 Today, as we honor International Biodiversity Day, let’s recognize the critical role that biodiversity plays in sustaining life on Earth. Biodiversity encompasses the incredible variety of species, ecosystems, and genetic diversity—it’s the web of life that supports everything from pollinators like honeybees to the forests and oceans. It provides critical ecosystem services, including clean air, food production, and climate regulation. At GreenLight Biosciences, we’re dedicated to preserving biodiversity through cutting-edge solutions for agriculture. We are providing farmers with highly targeted solutions tailored to specific pest or disease in their field that are designed to minimize impact to non-target organisms like ladybugs and honeybees. Biodiversity is not just a buzzword—it’s essential for our survival. By protecting diverse habitats, we secure our own future. Let’s continue to champion biodiversity together! 

🌼🐝 Today is World Bee Day! 🐝🌼 Did you know that honeybees play a crucial role in pollinating more than 100 crops, adding an estimated $18 billion in revenue to crop production in the United States every year? Unfortunately, honeybees face significant threats, and one of their most formidable adversaries is the Varroa destructor mite. These tiny parasites reproduce in beehives, feed on honeybees, and spread diseases. Beekeepers around the world call them the number one threat to their hives. At GreenLight Biosciences, we are pioneering a new biological approach to combatting varroa mites. Our targeted RNA solution is designed to target the varroa mites and keep their populations down over time without harming the bees. Years of field trials have demonstrated its ability to control varroa mites and support the health of beehives. The solution is currently under regulatory review but we look forward to bringing it to a hive near you soon! Celebrate International Bee Day with GreenLight Biosciences! 🐝🌼https://lnkd.in/ebQeiK5S

Spud Smart featured Calantha, our innovative solution to control Colorado potato beetle, in their Spring 2024 issue. We look forward to bringing this product to Canadian potato farmers in the future! As mentioned in the article, the unique mechanism of action of Calantha marks a significant advancement in pest control technology. “The mechanism of action for dsRNA insecticides is completely new, so that means they can be useful in addressing issues with resistance,” shares Cam Donly, a leading research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. We are at the forefront of advancing a new era in sustainable crop protection, and it’s an honor to lead with innovations like Calantha. A special shout-out to Spud Smart for shining the spotlight on our efforts!

Ever wondered what it takes to bring a product to market in an industry that is full of technical and policy challenges as well as opportunities? Join us on the #S2GPodcast for an engaging and insightful discussion featuring Chuck Templeton, our CEO Andrey Zarur, and S2G Managing Director Matt Walker. Discover GreenLight Bio's journey from identifying needs to developing innovative products. Listen to full episode: https://lnkd.in/g7GV9jrX

Recently, we sent material to Africa to participate in a field trial conducted by One Acre Fund to identify promising solutions with strong environmental profiles in the fight against Fall Armyworm. Ensuring global access to our innovations is core to the GreenLight Bio mission. We look forward to advancing the work against FAW and working with local stakeholders to find new ways to improve agricultural productivity in Africa. As a pest, FAW is estimated to cause upwards of $9B in annual maize crop loss each year in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. Yield losses can approach 60%.  This is particularly challenging to smallholder farmers. One Acre Fund is a leading non-profit serving millions of farmers in nine Sub-Saharan countries where most of the continent’s food is grown. They are a champion of smallholder farmers in Africa, putting them first to improve lives and communities. Getting effective and sustainable products in the hands of the people who need them is difficult. This trial is the first step on that journey and we are grateful to have One Acre Fund leading the charge.