Two Israeli firms seek to patent RNAi-based biostimulant platform for multiple crops

Two Israeli companies are looking to make their mark in the biostimulants segment by developing interfering RNA technologies. They are ICL, a global specialty minerals company based in Tel Aviv, and agri-biotech company PlantArcBio, Ltd., headquartered in Givat Hen. Both announced the development of a biostimulant technology platform to improve crop yields. 

The two filed a joint patent application to commercialize a platform that uses RNAi or RNA interference technology for multiple crops. RNAi is a mechanism for post-transcriptional silencing of specific genes to maximize the natural mechanisms of plant yield enhancement. This process is performed without genetic modification and is the result of a multi-year research collaboration between the two companies.

In early field trials on canola, the platform significantly increased the seed weight per hectare for these crops. They are now planning larger scale field trials for this 2022, which will include testing the platform using commercial sprayers and standard farming practices. Greenhouse trials are already underway for soybeans and rice and early results show good potential.

“El uso de novedosos bioestimulantes basados en la tecnología del ARNi ayuda a promover la sostenibilidad, al reducir el uso de productos químicos en la agricultura”, señaló Hadar Sutovsky, vicepresidente de innovación externa y director general de ICL Planet. “La aplicación hace su trabajo y luego desaparece rápidamente tanto de las plantas como del medio ambiente, no durando más que unos pocos días, ya que es altamente biodegradable y además no deja huella residual”, aseguró Sutovsky.

“Los resultados positivos del ensayo de campo de canola constituyen otro hito en el fortalecimiento de las capacidades de PlantArcBio en el desarrollo de productos basados en el ARNi”, indicó Dror Shalitin, fundador y CEO de PlantArcBio. “ICL, líder del mercado de productos de nutrición de cultivos, es un gran socio estratégico para que podamos comercializar esta tecnología sostenible en todo el mundo”, puntualizó.

ICL Group Ltd. is a multinational company that develops, produces and markets fertilizers, metals and other specialty chemicals. Its main markets are three: engineered materials, food and agriculture. In the latter, it provides solutions to increase yields and improve crop health and quality in a sustainable manner. The company employs more than 12,000 people worldwide and had revenues of around US$7 billion in 2021.

PlantArcBio Ltd. is an agri-biotechnology company dedicated to research and development in the discovery of genes and biological compounds to improve plant traits and control pests, with a focus on the agricultural industry and a vision to improve global food security and support sustainable agriculture.

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