Flagship Pioneering Unveils Terrana Biosciences to Deliver Adaptive, Targeted Agricultural Solutions through a Novel RNA Technology Platform
Flagship Pioneering has unveiled Terrana Biosciences, a new agricultural technology company developing RNA-based solutions for crop enhancement and protection. The company emerges with an initial $50 million commitment from Flagship Pioneering after four years of platform development.
Terrana's proprietary RNA technology platform enables the development of targeted products that can work throughout a plant's lifecycle, creating solutions that adapt to variable climate conditions. The company has already demonstrated proof of concept in tomatoes, corn, and soy, and generated a pipeline of over 15 potential products in specialty and row crops.
The company's platform leverages AI and computational models to assemble a vast RNA library and design system for creating novel functional crop traits. Their solutions aim to help farmers combat diseases and pests, adapt to climate conditions, and maintain soil health, while offering advantages over conventional approaches in terms of timing flexibility and environmental impact.
Flagship Pioneering ha presentato Terrana Biosciences, una nuova azienda di tecnologia agricola che sviluppa soluzioni basate su RNA per il miglioramento e la protezione delle colture. L'azienda nasce con un impegno iniziale di 50 milioni di dollari da parte di Flagship Pioneering, dopo quattro anni di sviluppo della piattaforma.
La piattaforma proprietaria di RNA di Terrana consente lo sviluppo di prodotti mirati che agiscono durante l'intero ciclo di vita della pianta, creando soluzioni capaci di adattarsi a condizioni climatiche variabili. L'azienda ha già dimostrato la validità del concetto su pomodori, mais e soia, generando una pipeline di oltre 15 potenziali prodotti per colture specializzate e da campo.
La piattaforma utilizza l'intelligenza artificiale e modelli computazionali per assemblare un vasto archivio di RNA e un sistema di progettazione per creare nuovi tratti funzionali delle colture. Le loro soluzioni mirano a supportare gli agricoltori nella lotta contro malattie e parassiti, nell'adattamento alle condizioni climatiche e nel mantenimento della salute del suolo, offrendo vantaggi rispetto agli approcci tradizionali in termini di flessibilità temporale e impatto ambientale.
Flagship Pioneering ha presentado Terrana Biosciences, una nueva empresa de tecnología agrícola que desarrolla soluciones basadas en ARN para la mejora y protección de cultivos. La empresa surge con un compromiso inicial de 50 millones de dólares por parte de Flagship Pioneering tras cuatro años de desarrollo de la plataforma.
La plataforma tecnológica propietaria de ARN de Terrana permite desarrollar productos específicos que pueden actuar durante todo el ciclo de vida de la planta, creando soluciones que se adaptan a condiciones climáticas variables. La empresa ya ha demostrado el concepto en tomates, maíz y soja, y ha generado una cartera de más de 15 productos potenciales en cultivos especializados y extensivos.
La plataforma de la empresa aprovecha la inteligencia artificial y modelos computacionales para ensamblar una amplia biblioteca de ARN y un sistema de diseño para crear nuevos rasgos funcionales en los cultivos. Sus soluciones buscan ayudar a los agricultores a combatir enfermedades y plagas, adaptarse a las condiciones climáticas y mantener la salud del suelo, ofreciendo ventajas sobre los métodos convencionales en cuanto a flexibilidad temporal e impacto ambiental.
Flagship Pioneering는 농작물 개선과 보호를 위한 RNA 기반 솔루션을 개발하는 새로운 농업 기술 회사인 Terrana Biosciences를 공개했습니다. 이 회사는 4년간의 플랫폼 개발 후 Flagship Pioneering으로부터 초기 5천만 달러 투자를 받으며 출범했습니다.
Terrana의 독자적인 RNA 기술 플랫폼은 식물의 생애 주기 전반에 걸쳐 작용할 수 있는 맞춤형 제품 개발을 가능하게 하여, 변화하는 기후 조건에 적응하는 솔루션을 만듭니다. 이 회사는 이미 토마토, 옥수수, 대두에서 개념 증명을 완료했으며, 전문 작물 및 노지 작물에서 15개 이상의 잠재 제품 파이프라인을 구축했습니다.
회사의 플랫폼은 AI와 계산 모델을 활용해 방대한 RNA 라이브러리와 새로운 기능성 작물 특성 설계 시스템을 구축합니다. 이 솔루션들은 농부들이 질병과 해충에 대응하고, 기후 변화에 적응하며, 토양 건강을 유지하도록 돕는 것을 목표로 하며, 기존 방법에 비해 시간적 유연성과 환경적 영향 측면에서 이점을 제공합니다.
Flagship Pioneering a dévoilé Terrana Biosciences, une nouvelle entreprise de technologie agricole développant des solutions à base d'ARN pour l'amélioration et la protection des cultures. La société bénéficie d'un engagement initial de 50 millions de dollars de Flagship Pioneering, après quatre ans de développement de la plateforme.
La plateforme technologique propriétaire de Terrana permet de développer des produits ciblés pouvant agir tout au long du cycle de vie de la plante, créant ainsi des solutions adaptées aux conditions climatiques variables. L'entreprise a déjà démontré la preuve de concept sur tomates, maïs et soja et a généré un pipeline de plus de 15 produits potentiels pour les cultures spécialisées et de plein champ.
La plateforme de l'entreprise exploite l'IA et des modèles computationnels pour assembler une vaste bibliothèque d'ARN et un système de conception pour créer de nouveaux traits fonctionnels des cultures. Leurs solutions visent à aider les agriculteurs à lutter contre les maladies et les ravageurs, à s'adapter aux conditions climatiques et à maintenir la santé des sols, tout en offrant des avantages par rapport aux méthodes conventionnelles en termes de flexibilité temporelle et d'impact environnemental.
Flagship Pioneering hat Terrana Biosciences vorgestellt, ein neues Agrartechnologieunternehmen, das RNA-basierte Lösungen zur Verbesserung und zum Schutz von Nutzpflanzen entwickelt. Das Unternehmen startet mit einer anfänglichen Zusage von 50 Millionen US-Dollar von Flagship Pioneering nach vier Jahren Plattformentwicklung.
Terranas proprietäre RNA-Technologieplattform ermöglicht die Entwicklung gezielter Produkte, die während des gesamten Lebenszyklus einer Pflanze wirken und Lösungen schaffen, die sich an variable Klimabedingungen anpassen. Das Unternehmen hat bereits den Nachweis des Konzepts bei Tomaten, Mais und Soja erbracht und eine Pipeline von über 15 potenziellen Produkten für Spezial- und Feldfrüchte aufgebaut.
Die Plattform des Unternehmens nutzt KI und computergestützte Modelle, um eine umfangreiche RNA-Bibliothek zusammenzustellen und ein Designsystem zur Schaffung neuer funktionaler Pflanzeneigenschaften zu entwickeln. Ihre Lösungen sollen Landwirten helfen, Krankheiten und Schädlinge zu bekämpfen, sich an Klimabedingungen anzupassen und die Bodengesundheit zu erhalten, wobei sie gegenüber herkömmlichen Ansätzen Vorteile in Bezug auf zeitliche Flexibilität und Umwelteinfluss bieten.
- None.
- Company is still in early stages with no commercial products yet
- Will require regulatory approvals before products can reach market
Insights
Flagship's $50M launch of Terrana brings RNA technology from healthcare to agriculture, potentially disrupting crop protection with adaptive solutions.
Flagship Pioneering's unveiling of Terrana Biosciences represents a significant expansion of RNA technology into agriculture. With an initial
What makes Terrana's approach particularly innovative is its ability to deliver agricultural solutions that can be applied at any point in a plant's lifecycle - a significant advantage over conventional approaches that typically have narrow application windows. This flexibility could be transformative for farmers facing increasingly unpredictable growing conditions.
The technology's foundation in RNA biology is particularly noteworthy. Rather than altering plant genomes, Terrana's platform works with plants' natural RNA ecosystems to influence trait expression. This approach potentially sidesteps regulatory hurdles associated with genetic modification while still delivering targeted trait improvements.
From a technical perspective, Terrana has developed three novel technology classes and demonstrated their efficacy across both specialty and row crops. The platform's ability to generate solutions faster and less expensively than traditional agricultural R&D processes addresses a critical industry need - the ability to respond quickly to emerging threats like new diseases, pests, or climate stressors.
For the agricultural industry, this represents a potential step-change in how crop protection and enhancement solutions are developed and deployed. The emphasis on adaptability and real-time response capability directly addresses the increasing unpredictability farmers face due to climate change and evolving pest pressures.
Solutions focus on enhancing crop resilience, protecting yields, and addressing critical challenges in the global food system
The company emerges after four years of platform development with an initial commitment of
"At Flagship Pioneering, we build groundbreaking platforms that address the world's most pressing challenges. With Terrana, we are bringing an entirely new dimension of innovation to agriculture through similar RNA technology that we pioneered in human health," said Noubar Afeyan, Ph.D., Co-Founder of Terrana, Founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering. "This approach will empower farmers with precise, adaptive solutions to combat threats to crops in fields and orchards and enhance resiliency, sustainability, and productivity in the global food system."
Trees and crops naturally use a vast ecosystem of self-replicating RNAs to influence trait expression. These native RNAs are abundant, diverse, and are already part of the plant's own biology, functioning like a native language that helps to communicate traits like growth, stress response, and development. Using advanced AI and computational models, Terrana has assembled a vast library of RNAs and built a design system that enables efficient assembly of novel functional crop traits, generated with unprecedented precision, versatility and speed. The platform has already created three novel technology classes, demonstrated proof of concept in tomatoes, corn, and soy, and generated a pipeline of 15+ potential products in specialty and row crops.
Tools developed using Terrana's platform will enable farmers to fight and prevent disease and pests, adapt quickly to climatic conditions, and maintain soil health. Terrana's solutions are fine-tuned for amplification, mobility in plants, stability in different environments, and heritability across plant generations. Terrana's product candidates also avoid the trade-offs of existing conventional approaches, which often can be applied only at a specific time in the plant's life cycle and come with negative environmental impacts.
"RNA-based technology has delivered lifesaving advancements in human health. We are now applying this same approach to reimagine what's possible for agriculture," said Ignacio Martinez, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Terrana and General Partner at Flagship Pioneering. "Using the language of nature, we can give plants new instructions, yielding adaptable solutions rooted directly in the plant's natural physiology. Our approach opens a new world of possibilities in annual and perennial crops for the benefit of farmers, people and the planet."
"Today, farmers make many important and costly decisions about seeds, fertilizers and crop protection before the crop year even begins, requiring them to rely on projections and historical trends from prior growing seasons rather than responding to real-time conditions on the ground," said Ryan Rapp, Co-Founder and CEO of Terrana Biosciences and Origination Partner at Flagship. "What's more, the increased pace of climate fluctuations and disease threats far exceeds today's slow and expensive R&D processes, leaving farmers all too often behind the curve. Terrana's ability to unlock all aspects of seed and crop traits in plants enables an entirely new set of agile solutions that can be applied at any time in the growing season, from seed to postharvest. In an increasingly unpredictable environment – from wildly fluctuating global markets to extreme weather events to fast-moving pest and disease pressures – farmers need these new tools to enable timely, efficient, nimble and, critically, cost-saving decision making."
In addition to Rapp, Terrana's leadership team includes Matthew Lingard, Chief Technology Officer of Terrana and Senior Principal at Flagship, Folashade Sabitu, Head of Regulatory and Ramtin Ahmadi, Vice President of Strategy and Operations. Terrana also benefits from guidance from a board of directors that includes Martinez, longtime leader in global agriculture Hugh Grant, Invaio's CEO and Flagship CEO-Partner Amy O'Shea, and Flagship's Chair of
About Terrana Biosciences
Terrana Biosciences combines RNA technology with advanced computational biology to deliver sustainable solutions for modern agriculture. Through its proprietary platform, the company is pioneering new technology classes and generatively designing versatile RNA-based products for every aspect of plant health, from seed to stem. Founded by Flagship Pioneering in 2021, Terrana is led by an experienced team, including RNA and plant pathology experts.
About Flagship Pioneering
Flagship Pioneering invents and builds bioplatform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health or sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated and fostered more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in more than
Media Contact: press@flagshippioneering.com
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SOURCE Flagship Pioneering
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