Agrasys

Agrasys is an agricultural biotechnology company founded in Barcelona, Spain, in 2005 as a spin-off from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). The founders include scientists Cristobal Martinez, Francisco Barro, Paul Lazzeri, and Pilar Barcelo-Ensesa, who were involved in the original research that led to the company's main product. The company's primary activity is the development and commercialization of Tritordeum, a novel cereal crop.

The development of Tritordeum began in the late 1970s through research led by Professor Antonio Martin. It is a natural hybrid cereal created by cross-breeding durum wheat with a wild barley species, *Hordeum chilense*, using traditional breeding techniques without genetic modification. Agrasys obtained exclusive rights to the germplasm and knowledge in 2006. The cereal is noted for being a robust crop that is resistant to drought and high temperatures, requiring less water and fewer fertilizers, making it suitable for sustainable production.

Agrasys's business model involves licensing its platform to seed companies and forming partnerships for research, production, and distribution. The company works with a network of producers and distributors to bring Tritordeum to market, which has been commercialized in several European countries. The cereal is used in a variety of products, including bread, pasta, crackers, baked goods, and beer. Tritordeum offers several nutritional benefits, such as high levels of fiber, protein, and lutein—an antioxidant beneficial for eye health. It also has lower levels of certain gluten peptides than common wheat, making it more digestible for individuals with non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

In January 2015, Agrasys secured a seed funding round of $579K from investors including Inveready and Uninvest. In April 2021, Arcadia Biosciences, a US-based agricultural biotechnology company, acquired the physical and intellectual property assets of Agrasys to commercialize Tritordeum globally. Following the acquisition, Agrasys's assets were acquired by Vivagran in 2020, which continues the breeding program and commercialization of Tritordeum with support from former Agrasys founders.

Keywords: Tritordeum, cereal, crop development, agricultural biotechnology, non-GMO, plant breeding, sustainable agriculture, durum wheat, wild barley, functional food, food ingredients, crop traits, seed licensing, lutein, dietary fiber, agritech, crop science, natural hybrid