By
Agri Business Review | Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Stay ahead of the industry with exclusive feature stories on the top companies, expert insights and the latest news delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe today.
The business is developing seven agricultural products with a 6 billion dollar potential market that it hopes to introduce by 2026. In addition, greenLight stated in October that efficient control of fungal diseases utilizing double-stranded RNA got accomplished for the first time.
Fremont, CA: Before a deadly virus propelled investment into the field to even higher heights, health care and biotech have long been hot businesses in the startup and technology sectors. However, investors and startup tech businesses say it's not just COVID-19 that's piqued their attention.
From artificial intelligence achievements to more openness about mental health concerns and even growing consumer interest in at-home diagnostics and preventative care, several recent technological innovations and market developments have garnered the majority of investment.
GreenLight Biosciences, a biotechnology business focused on RNA research, design, and production for human, animal, and plant health, expanded its research and development activities in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park (RTP).
The new greenhouse, laboratory, and offices will provide more than 60,000 square feet of space and allow GreenLight's plant health pipeline to expand further, creating additional employment.
"This additional capacity is a critical step that will help us capitalize on our agriculture solutions to realize a food-secure future," said Mark Singleton, head of plant health at RTP. "The investment will help us to keep us at the cutting edge of innovation and continue first-of-a-kind progress like we are seeing in our fungal program."
"We expect to have 59 employees on-site by the end of 2022, with our new spaces housing various entomology, fungal, and herbicide projects as well as the functions that support them."
The new greenhouses, where GreenLight will plant a range of crops, will be operational in the first quarter, increasing growth capacity by tenfold. Moreover, operations will support product research and development to develop new products that will help farmers combat pests and diseases.
GreenLight anticipates receiving regulatory clearance for its RNA-based product for managing the Colorado potato beetle in 2022 and submitting its honeybee health solution to the Environmental Protection Agency.