Tropic Biosciences

Tropic Biosciences is a UK-based agricultural biotechnology company founded in 2016 by Gilad M Gershon, Eyal Maori, and Ofir Meir. Gershon, the CEO, is a former Navy Ship Commander with a background in AgriTech entrepreneurship, while Maori, the CSO, is an accomplished scientist and entrepreneur. They established the company to address agricultural challenges in tropical regions through genetic innovation. The company is headquartered at the Norwich Research Park, leveraging its access to technology and a strong talent pool.

The company develops high-performing commercial varieties of tropical crops, focusing initially on bananas, coffee, and later expanding to rice. These crops represent a combined market value of over $400 billion and are crucial for the livelihoods of more than half a billion people. Tropic's primary mission is to create crop varieties that are healthier, more sustainable, and resistant to diseases and the effects of climate change. For instance, they are developing banana varieties resistant to Panama Disease (TR4), a significant threat to the industry, as well as coffee with naturally low caffeine content to reduce the need for chemical decaffeination processes.

Tropic's core technology is its proprietary Gene Editing induced Gene Silencing (GEiGS®) platform. This technology combines gene editing tools like CRISPR with the natural mechanism of gene silencing (RNAi). The GEiGS® platform precisely edits a plant's non-coding genes to activate its natural defenses against specific pests and diseases, without introducing foreign DNA. This approach allows for a non-GMO classification in several markets, potentially streamlining regulatory approval. Beyond its own product pipeline, Tropic licenses its GEiGS® technology to other companies for applications in various sectors, including collaborations to develop disease resistance in corn, soybeans, and even for animal health in porcine and bovine genetics.

The company operates on a B2B model, intending to sell saplings and license its proprietary genetics to propagators and other global agribusinesses. Tropic Biosciences has raised a total of $73.5 million over three funding rounds. Its Series A round in 2018 raised $10 million, followed by a $28.5 million Series B in 2020, and a $35 million round in July 2022. Key investors include Blue Horizon, ADQ, Temasek, Five Seasons Ventures, and Pontifax AgTech. The company is moving towards commercialization, with its first products expected to launch in 2025.

Keywords: gene editing, crop development, agritech, GEiGS, CRISPR, RNAi, sustainable agriculture, tropical crops, disease resistance, climate resilience, banana, coffee, rice, food security, plant biotechnology, non-GMO, crop protection, agricultural innovation, genetic breeding, yield improvement