Tropic Announces Collaboration with Corteva Agriscience Utilizing Tropic’s Groundbreaking GEiGS® Technology to Develop Robust Disease Resistance Traits in Corn and Soybean

Male farmer using digital tablet while examining green corn plants in agricultural field

The project aims to revolutionize agricultural sustainability and yield through cutting-edge gene editing approach.

September 26, 2023 – [Norwich, United Kingdom] –Tropic, a pioneering agricultural biotechnology startup company, announced today a strategic collaboration with Corteva Agriscience, a global leader in agricultural solutions, to harness the power of Tropic’s proprietary Gene Editing induced Gene Silencing (GEiGS®) technology for the development of non-transgenic disease resistance traits in corn and soybean.

Through this collaboration, the companies aim to address one of the most pressing challenges in agriculture – controlling disease threats that can significantly impact crop productivity and food security, while promoting environmentally sustainable agriculture. Corteva’s industry-leading expertise in gene editing combined with Tropic’s innovative GEiGS® technology will leverage advanced gene-editing techniques to enhance plant performance, boost resistance to diseases, and reduce environmental impact.

Commenting on this, Gilad Gershon, CEO, Tropic, said, “This collaboration represents a significant step forward in addressing the challenges faced by farmers in the battle against crop diseases. Our GEiGS® technology offers a precise and powerful solution to enhance resistance against pests, fungal and viral diseases, and together with Corteva, we are excited to be driving tangible, positive change in agriculture.”

This joint effort will work to develop effective and durable disease-resistance traits against a devastating range of pathogens. By integrating these GEiGS®-mediated traits into Corteva’s premium corn and soybean genetics, farmers stand to benefit from increased yield potential and a reduction in the environmental impact associated with traditional disease control methods.

“As a leader in ag innovation, Corteva is pleased to collaborate with leading start-up companies like Tropic. We are excited to expand our world-class gene editing capabilities with Tropic’s GEiGS® technology to develop a diverse set of product concepts across our corn and soybean portfolios,” said Tom Greene, Sr. Director of External Innovation Investment at Corteva Agriscience. “By combining our strengths, we are striving to empower farmers with more resilient and productive crops that will not only support their livelihoods but also contribute to a more sustainable future for food and agriculture production.”

Both companies are committed to ensuring that the results of this collaboration contribute to global food security and sustainable agricultural practices, reflecting their shared dedication to innovation, research, and development that benefit people and the planet.

About Tropic
Tropic is a pioneering agricultural biotechnology company dedicated to the development of healthier, more robust, high-performing varieties of tropical crops with a vision to become a world leading technology-forward tropical seeds business. The company’s core crop portfolio focusses on banana, coffee and rice, which together provide a source of livelihood to billions of people worldwide. Tropic utilizes its GEiGS® platform and other cutting-edge technologies to develop improved crops with increased disease resistance, higher yields, and environmentally sustainable traits. By harnessing the power of advanced genetic engineering, Tropic is committed to addressing global agricultural challenges and providing innovative solutions that benefit farmers, consumers, and the environment. For more information, please visit www.tropic.bio.

About GEiGS®
GEiGS® (Gene Editing induced Gene Silencing) technology utilizes established genome editing tools (e.g., CRISPR, TALEN) to make precise and specific changes to only a few nucleotides within non-coding genes of a host organism. These changes redirect RNA interference (RNAi, also Gene Silencing) activity of non-coding genes towards desired target genes, suppressing their activity. Target genes can include the host’s own genes, or gene-families, to finely tune their expression to a new desired level. Further, GEiGS® can be used to activate defense against pathogens and pests (e.g., viruses, insects and fungi) by redirecting RNAi activity towards pathogen and pest genes. GEiGS® does not depend on the introduction of foreign genes into the host genome, and thus the approach will be considered non-GMO in multiple regions. For more information, please visit www.geigs.com.

About Corteva

Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) is a publicly traded, global pure-play agriculture company that combines industry-leading innovation, high-touch customer engagement and operational execution to profitably deliver solutions for the world’s most pressing agriculture challenges. Corteva generates advantaged market preference through its unique distribution strategy, together with its balanced and globally diverse mix of seed, crop protection, and digital products and services. With some of the most recognized brands in agriculture and a technology pipeline well positioned to drive growth, the company is committed to maximizing productivity for farmers, while working with stakeholders throughout the food system as it fulfills its promise to enrich the lives of those who produce and those who consume, ensuring progress for generations to come. More information can be found at www.corteva.com.

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Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which may be identified by their use of words like “plans,” “expects,” “will,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “projects,” “targets,” “estimates” or other words of similar meaning. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about Corteva’s strategy for growth; product development; regulatory approvals; market position; environmental, social and governance progress; and the anticipated benefits of it technology investments and collaborations are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events which may not be accurate or realized. Forward-looking statements also involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Corteva’s control. Consequences of material differences in results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on Corteva’s business, results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, there may be other risks and uncertainties that Corteva is unable to currently identify or that Corteva does not currently expect to have a material impact on its business.

Where, in any forward-looking statement, an expectation or belief as to future results or events is expressed, such expectation or belief is based on the current plans and expectations of Corteva’s management and expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. Corteva disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law. A detailed discussion of some of the significant risks and uncertainties which may cause results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in the “Risk Factors” section of Corteva’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as modified by subsequent Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Key benefits of GEiGS®

  • Key Benefits Icon
    Precise, predictable, and stable tuning of target gene expression

    By redirecting the silencing activity of the host’s own non-coding genes, GEiGS® introduces novel RNAi activity with highly programmable potency and tissue specificity. This elegant approach requires only minimal changes to the host’s genome (less than 20 nucleotides), thus avoiding transcriptional gene silencing and allowing for highly stable RNAi activity over time and across generations.

  • Key Benefits Icon
    Accelerated development of critical disease and pest resistance traits

    GEiGS® can be used to redirect the silencing activity of the host’s native non-coding genes towards well characterized and highly conserved viral, fungal or pest genes. This distinctly direct approach significantly accelerates product development time while minimizing pleiotropic effects associated with editing the host’s coding genes.

  • Key Benefits Icon
    Favourable regulatory classification in multiple markets

    GEiGS® technology does not involve the insertion of DNA sequences from other organisms (‘Foreign DNA’) into the host genome and does not impact the sequence of proteins. These factors allow for a non-GM classification in multiple major markets and a more streamlined regulatory approval process.

  • Key Benefits Icon
    Universal platform that works with existing gene editing tools

    GEiGS® is not dependent on any one specific gene editing tool, but instead can be deployed by using a broad range of different nucleases. This provides the user with freedom to choose which gene editing tools they use to implement GEiGS® edits – tools that may already be applied in their existing pipelines.

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We collaborate with world-leading companies and academic institutions, enabling them to access our pioneering GEiGS® technology to address some of the most pressing agricultural production challenges.

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geigs@tropic.bio +44 (0)1603 274441