Epicrop Technologies

Founded in 2014 in Lincoln, Nebraska, Epicrop Technologies operates at the intersection of agriculture and biotechnology, focusing on enhancing crop performance through epigenetics. The company was established by Dr. Sally Mackenzie and Dr. Michael Fromm, both with deep roots in plant science and agricultural innovation. Dr. Mackenzie, a professor of plant functional genomics, made a pivotal discovery regarding a plant's ability to create sensory signals that trigger epigenetic changes in response to environmental stress. This finding forms the scientific bedrock of Epicrop. Dr. Fromm brought extensive commercialization experience to the venture, having previously led a team at Monsanto that developed products like YieldGardtm Bt corn and having founded Mendel Biotechnology.

Epicrop's core business revolves around its proprietary, non-GMO technology platforms that improve crop yields and resilience to stressors like heat and cold. The company does not alter a plant's DNA sequence; instead, it manipulates gene expression through epigenetics, which are heritable changes in how genes are read without changing the DNA itself. This is achieved through two main platforms: Epigenetic Crop Reprogramming and EpiMethyl Analytics. The reprogramming technology, which has been successfully trialed for over a decade in crops like tomato, soy, and sorghum, enhances plant performance. EpiMethyl Analytics uses computational science to analyze DNA methylation data, allowing the company to predict the best-performing plant lines and accelerate the breeding process. One key method involves temporarily suppressing the MSH1 gene to induce beneficial epigenetic changes, which are then stabilized.

The company's business model is centered on licensing its technology to seed companies and forming partnerships to integrate its epigenetic enhancements into existing commercial breeding and seed production systems. This approach allows Epicrop to leverage the scale and distribution networks of established industry players. Its clients are primarily seed retailers and agricultural corporations seeking to improve the traits of their elite commercial crop varieties. By providing a method to enhance crops that fits within traditional breeding methods and avoids GMO regulations, Epicrop offers a distinct value proposition in the agricultural technology market. The company secured $3.2 million in a Series A funding round in 2017 from investors including TechAccel and North Forty Ventures.

Keywords: epigenetic crop breeding, non-GMO crop improvement, agricultural biotechnology, plant epigenetics, crop yield enhancement, stress tolerance in crops, seed technology licensing, DNA methylation analysis, sustainable agriculture, agritech, crop resilience, MSH1 gene, EpiMethyl Analytics, advanced plant breeding, climate-resilient crops, agricultural innovation, Michael Fromm, Sally Mackenzie, seed trait development, computational agriculture, plant functional genomics, crop science