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Press releases

GreenLight Biosciences Announces EPA Registration of Calantha

GreenLight Biosciences Secures EPA Registration for new bioinsecticide, Calantha, Historic Step Towards A Safer and More Sustainable Food System  

  • After a rigorous evaluation spanning more than four years, GreenLight Biosciences has been granted registration by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Calantha to control the Colorado potato beetle.
  • Highly specific to the target pest, Calantha degrades rapidly in soil and water and does not harm honeybees, butterflies and other nontarget insects or mammals.
  • More than 200 field trials conducted over six years have enabled a crop protection solution effective with just 4 grams/acre,  equivalent  to a spoonful of sugar spread over an entire American football field.

Lexington, MA [1/4/2024] – GreenLight Biosciences (GreenLight Bio) has been granted registration by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and several states for its groundbreaking CalanthaTM product, designed to target and control the highly destructive Colorado potato beetle. An industry first, the registration of Calantha, an innovative bioinsecticide based on RNA, represents an historic stride forward in diversifying options for farmers and reducing reliance on conventional chemical pesticides, which can harm both the environment and human health. Following the EPA and applicable state approvals, the company has now successfully sold and shipped its first order.

“The registration of Calantha marks not just a milestone for our company, but a quantum leap for farmers, our food system and security, and people,” said Andrey Zarur, Chief Executive Officer, GreenLight Bio. “This is a new day for farmers seeking to balance pest management with biodiversity protection and environmental health. Calantha embodies the promise of such a future, along with the dozens of other innovations in our product pipeline. We are thrilled to witness the impending impact of this commercial chapter of our company in creating a more sustainable future.”

Calantha offers growers an additional cost-effective option to address the impacts of the mounting chemical pesticide resistance problem. Chemical pesticide resistance is estimated to cost the U.S. agricultural sector at least $10 billion each year. The Colorado potato beetle, which decimates plants in the nightshade family, including potatoes, develops resistance quickly to traditional pesticides. The pest accounts for more than half a billion dollars in crop loss worldwide each year. In addition, as regulatory bodies around the world move to limit the use of certain chemical pesticides, Calantha offers farmers a safe, effective and easy-to-use alternative.

“Potato growers have expressed their struggle with managing the Colorado potato beetle due to increasing resistance to currently available chemical products. They want effective products that align with their sustainability targets. Calantha is the perfect fit,” said Mark Singleton, Chief Commercial Officer and General Manager of Plant Health. “I commend our team’s tenacity in bringing this product to market and eagerly anticipate the future milestones we will achieve.”

Calantha breaks down quickly, degrading within three days and leaving no harmful residue on plants or in the environment, soil or waterways. Consumption of the dsRNA (double-stranded ribonucleic acid) by the Colorado potato beetle – and only the beetle – causes it to stop eating and die from its own toxins. Even when tested at 100 times the rate that it will be used in agricultural fields, it has no effect on tested species other than the Colorado potato beetle. Mixed with water and applied using existing standard agricultural equipment and practices, Calantha is applied at less than one-tenth the rate at which many chemical pesticides are commonly used.

The EPA released a decision document detailing its more than four-year review of Calantha’s safety and efficacy data and information submitted by GreenLight Bio, including its response to submissions received during an extensive public comment period. Calantha is the first registration of a foliar-applied product with an RNA ingredient under Section Three of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This novel RNA-based approach enables Calantha to target the Colorado potato beetle specifically. In a separate announcement earlier this year, the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee, a global public-private technical advisory group focused on resistance management, acknowledged this novelty by creating a new category, Group 35, for ledprona, the active ingredient in Calantha, in its Mode of Action classification. Calantha is the first GreenLight Bio product to complete U.S. regulatory review and receive regulatory approval.  It is also under review by regulators in other key markets around the world. The company’s next solution targets control of Varroa mites, a devastating pest of honeybees, and was submitted to the EPA for regulatory review in early 2023. GreenLight Bio’s breakthrough platform, capable of economically producing dsRNA, fuels its robust pipeline of additional innovative insecticides, fungicides and herbicides.

Calantha will be available to growers in the United States for use on potatoes in crop year 2024. To learn more, visit Calanthaag.com.

About GreenLight Biosciences

GreenLight Biosciences is researching, developing and commercializing sustainable, effective, and easy-to-use solutions for farmers and beekeepers around the world to enable more resilient food production. As a leader in RNA for agriculture, the company has a broad pipeline addressing farmer pain points across insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. The Company’s manufacturing platform is protected by numerous patents.  For more information, please visit the Company’s website.

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GreenLight Biosciences Outlines Development Strategy and Highlights Portfolio Updates at Plant Health R&D Day

BOSTON, March 7, 2023 —GreenLight Biosciences (Nasdaq: GRNA), a public benefit corporation striving to deliver on the full potential of RNA to address some of the world’s toughest problems in human health and agriculture, will today outline its pipeline strategy and R&D progress for dsRNA based crop protection and plant delivery innovations focused on addressing food security with innovative and sustainable solutions during its Plant Health R&D Day being held today, March 7th, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. ET in Research Triangle, North Carolina.

“GreenLight is taking an innovative approach to advancing novel double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) solutions for numerous agricultural applications with advantages in speed of discovery/development, cost, quality and delivery. We have advanced our company’s portfolio strategy, target product profiles, and delivery capability all to meet the global challenges we face in the quest to grow food sustainably.” said Andrey Zarur, CEO of GreenLight Biosciences. “We have done this all with an eye on expanding potential addressable markets for our product portfolio and a focus on the potential benefits that our sustainable technologies could have on society.”

Sustainable innovations that address emerging resistance, food security, and agricultural impacts on biodiversity

As a leader in RNA innovation for agriculture, the Company is building on its existing rapid design, development and iteration capabilities for dsRNA by expanding product applications and delivery capabilities. The technological progress to be shared in today’s showcase enables GreenLight Biosciences to work towards unlocking access to the broader global insecticides and fungicides market worth $39B1,2, and the global herbicides market valued at $35.72B3.

“Farmers need products that appropriately solve the challenges they face in-field, all while helping to improve the overall sustainability of agriculture,” said Mark Singleton, Chief Commercial Officer and General Manager of Plant Health. “GreenLight Biosciences is fully committed to delivering products that address some of the major challenges faced by farmers, such as increased pest resistance, tightening regulatory environments, and demands by consumers to reduce chemical loads in foods.  We expect that our rapid dsRNA development and production capabilities, coupled with novel delivery technologies, will enable us to develop sustainable solutions across all crop inputs segments and help reduce agricultural impact on biodiversity.”

Plant Health Strategy & Portfolio Updates

Today, at GreenLight’s R&D Showcase, the Company will outline a long-term strategy to progress its Plant Health portfolio and highlight progress in its R&D pipeline that it anticipates will help farmers expand their suite of tools to preserve yield potential as threats from insects, disease, and weeds increase, including:

  • Actively preparing for commercial launch prior to end of 2023 of our leading dsRNA solution, Calantha™, subject to regulatory approval
  • The registration dossier for our RNA solution that targets the varroa destructor mite was submitted to the EPA in February 2023 and is now under review
  • Expansion of dsRNA-based fungal, insecticide, and acaricide programs into multi-target applications
  • Plant disease program data showing formulated dsRNA performance in-field providing control of grey mold and powdery mildew equivalent or better than conventional chemical standards at commercially relevant spray intervals
  • Data demonstrating functional delivery of dsRNA into plants; showing decreased fusarium disease severity in lettuce seed treatment trials, and preliminary indications of herbicidal activity

“These highlights are representative of our robust dsRNA pipeline, delivery capability and our ongoing commitment to delivering on the potential of RNA to provide farmers with the tools they need to increase productivity, profitability, and sustainability in the face of climate events and increasing resistance to conventional crop protection products,” said Zarur. “We look forward to advancing these innovations to ensure that farmers have access to technology that benefits their production, and to help create healthy people and planet through RNA innovation.”

The Plant Health R&D Day is the first in a series providing comprehensive updates on GreenLight’s R&D strategy and progress. The next session will focus on the Company’s Human Health portfolio and will be hosted on Thursday, March 9th, 2023, at GreenLight Biosciences Headquarters in Lexington, MA.

A copy of the presentation can be found here:

Sources: 1. https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/fungicides-356.html 2. https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/insecticide-market-142427569.html 3. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210916005897/en/Global-47.09-Bn-Herbicides-Market-to-2025-2030—ResearchAndMarkets.com

About GreenLight Biosciences 

GreenLight Biosciences (Nasdaq: GRNA) aims to address some of the world’s biggest problems by delivering on the full potential of RNA for human health and agriculture. Our RNA platform allows us to research, design, and manufacture for human, animal, and plant health. In human health, this includes messenger RNA vaccines and therapeutics. In agriculture, this includes RNA to protect honeybees and a range of crops. The Company’s platform is protected by numerous patents. GreenLight’s human health product candidates are in the pre-clinical stage, and its product candidates for the agriculture market are in the early stages of development or regulatory review.

Availability of Other Information About GreenLight Biosciences   

Investors and others should note that we communicate with our investors and the public using our website (www.greenlightbiosciences.com), the investor relations website (https://investors.greenlightbio.com/), and on social media (Twitter and LinkedIn), including but not limited to investor presentations and investor fact sheets, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. The information that GreenLight posts on these channels and websites could be deemed to be material information. As a result, GreenLight encourages investors, the media, and others interested in GreenLight to review the information that is posted on these channels, including the investor relations website, on a regular basis. This list of channels may be updated from time to time on GreenLight’s investor relations website and may include additional social media channels. The contents of GreenLight’s website or these channels, or any other website that may be accessed from its website or these channels, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.   

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the federal securities laws. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including those relating to the success, cost and timing of our research and development activities in our plant and human health programs, the timing of regulatory submissions and approvals, our ability to commercialize our products, the acceptance of RNA-based technologies by regulators and the public, including the timing it takes to receive regulatory approval, the success, cost and timing of our clinical trials, including estimates regarding when patients will be enrolled, when data will be reported for our ongoing clinical trials and timing to commence future clinical trials, our projected cash runway and our ability to obtain funding for our operations when needed. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, periodic filings on Form 8-K, and any of our future filings with the SEC. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Some of these risks and uncertainties may in the future be amplified by current macroeconomic conditions and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and there may be additional risks that we consider immaterial, or which are unknown. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. Our forward-looking statements only speak as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. For additional information on GreenLight and potential risks associated with investing, please see our public filings at https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=1822691&owner=exclude. 

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Thomas Crampton
SVP Corporate Affairs
GreenLight Biosciences

[email protected]

Investor Contact: 

Ingrid Fung
Director, Enterprise Operations and Strategy & Head of Investor Relations

GreenLight Biosciences

[email protected] 

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close up of fall armyworm on leaf

GreenLight Biosciences and Queensland University of Technology partner to tackle destructive fall armyworm using RNA

● GreenLight Biosciences and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) partner to create a solution for fall armyworm


● Fall armyworm is one of the most destructive insect pests on the planet, causing more than US$2 billion in annual crop loss worldwide


● The Australian government has been searching for a more environmentally-friendly solution to fall armyworm and is supporting the partnership with a AUD$400,000 grant

BOSTON, MA, and BRISBANE, Australia, October 5, 2022—Researchers from Boston’s GreenLight Biosciences and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia, have announced an agreement to develop a solution to fall armyworm, which causes more than US$2 billion in annual global crop loss.

The partnership includes an Australian government grant to QUT of more than AUD$400,000  from the Australian Research Council. It brings together the teams of two preeminent researchers, Dr. Julia Bally and Professor Peter Waterhouse from the QUT Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, and GreenLight’s Plant Health research and development team.

The partnership aims to develop a solution for fall armyworm, a pest of national priority in Australia. It is also a point of emphasis that the project delivers environmentally-friendly crop protection tools against fall armyworm.

GreenLight’s plant health division is working on producing RNA-based solutions for a variety of fungi and insects that cause massive food loss and crop damage annually. In lab tests and field trials, GreenLight’s RNA-based solutions leave low or no residues.

Dr. Bally said previous collaboration on fall armyworm with GreenLight had been important to securing the grant from the Australian Research Council this year.

“We are excited to work with GreenLight Biosciences on this solution to armyworm,” she said. “We believe furthering our partnership will generate comprehensive new technologies to fight against one of the most damaging global crop pests and greatly improve Australian agritech capacity and strengthen international collaborations.”

GreenLight’s Vice President of Plant Health R&D Ron Flannagan said: “Fall armyworm has recently invaded Australia and devastates many crops, including sorghum and cotton. Our RNA platform allows us to develop solutions faster and more efficiently than was previously possible. So we are delighted to partner with QUT to accelerate our work targeting the fall armyworm with a sustainable solution.”

The project will begin with lab studies and advance to greenhouse and field trials.

“We believe this research will provide significant benefits, such as added security for Australia’s most important agricultural crops and regions and global food production,” Dr. Bally said.

About GreenLight Biosciences

GreenLight Biosciences aims to address some of the world’s biggest problems by delivering on the full potential of RNA for human health and agriculture. Our RNA platform allows us to research, design, and manufacture for human, animal, and plant health. In human health, this includes messenger RNA vaccines and therapeutics. In agriculture, this includes RNA to protect honeybees and a range of crops. The company’s platform is protected by numerous patents. GreenLight’s human health product candidates are in the pre-clinical stage, and its product candidates for the agriculture market are in the early stages of development or regulatory review. GreenLight is a public benefit corporation that trades under the ticker GRNA on Nasdaq. For more information, visit https://live-greenlightbiosciences.pantheonsite.io/

Press contact:

David Pesci

Head of Media Relations

[email protected]

For press, email: [email protected]

For investors, email: [email protected]

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GreenLight Biosciences announces $109 million financing

GreenLight Biosciences (Nasdaq: GRNA), a public benefit corporation striving to bring effective and safe solutions to make food clean and affordable for everyone and dedicated to developing health solutions for every person on our planet

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GreenLight’s June investor presentation

GreenLight highlights its vision and key development pipelines in this impact deck from June. Download the full PDF below.

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GreenLight Biosciences announces new partnership with RiNova, CSO Italy, and UNAPera

NEW YORK, June 15, 2022—GreenLight Biosciences, RiNova, CSO Italy, and UNAPera signed an agreement to work toward the development and commercialization of GreenLight’s RNA-based agricultural pest solutions to farms in Italy.

The agreement aims to develop a collaboration for GreenLight’s proprietary, low- to no-residue RNA-based technology solutions designed to control fungi, viruses, and insects that attack crops, in line with the EU Farm to Fork strategy of reducing the use of traditional pesticides by 50 percent by 2030.

The memorandum of understanding, which represents one of the initiatives envisioned by the institutional mission of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna Region, will be valid for five years.

GreenLight is awaiting EPA approval for its first product, a solution that combats Colorado potato beetles, which create more than $500 million of crop damage and waste every year. The company is also currently in either field trials or regulatory trials for RNA-based solutions to a variety of pests, including:

Varroa destructor mite, which decimates and destroys honeybee hives, causes approximately $290 million in annual losses for beekeepers.

Botrytis, which affects soft fruit and other food crops, causes approximately $1.2 billion annual losses for farmers.

Powdery mildew, which affects grapes and other fruit, causes approximately $1.4 billion in annual losses for farmers and vintners.

Introducing RNA-based pest-fighting technologies into European agriculture will help EU countries and other European nations to use innovative, non-traditional methods with a novel model of action.

Field trials of GreenLight’s Colorado potato beetle solution have shown low- to no-residues, offering a variety of environmental and consumer benefits. In addition, although conventional pesticides can require special protective equipment for farmworkers, it is anticipated that just basic work gloves will be required for these products.

GreenLight Biosciences, a public benefit corporation, also has collaborative partnerships in place with Serum Institute of India, Samsung Biologics, IAVI, and other prominent global organizations.

About GreenLight Biosciences

GreenLight Biosciences aims to address some of the world’s biggest problems by delivering on the full potential of RNA for human health and agriculture. Our RNA platform allows us to research, design, and manufacture for human, animal, and plant health. In human health, this includes messenger RNA vaccines and therapeutics. In agriculture, this includes RNA to protect honeybees and a range of crops. The company’s platform is protected by numerous patents. GreenLight’s human health product candidates are in the pre-clinical stage, and its product candidates for the agriculture market are in the early stages of development or regulatory review. GreenLight is a public benefit corporation that trades under the ticker GRNA on Nasdaq. For more information, visit https://live-greenlightbiosciences.pantheonsite.io/

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GreenLight’s honeybee-saving RNA solution named finalist in World Changing Ideas Award

BOSTON, May 10, 2022—An RNA-based solution by GreenLight Biosciences designed to protect honeybees from the Varroa destructor mite was named a finalist by Fast Company for its 2022 World Changing Ideas Awards.

This is the first RNA-based solution that directly targets the mites, which have been detected in 90% of U.S. hives and which beekeepers call the primary threat to honeybee colonies today. In field trials, the solution lowers mite levels with strong efficacy compared to a leading chemical pest control.

“The technology at GreenLight, we’re testing it now, and we’ve seen it work,” said Barry Hart, owner of Hart Honey Farms in Georgia. A beekeeper since 1985, Hart said Varroa mites have decimated many of his hives.

GreenLight’s Varroa mite product candidate is currently undergoing tests in several states and is scheduled to be submitted for EPA approval in 2022.

About 3 million commercial honeybee colonies in the United States contribute to pollinating more than 100 crops annually, worth an estimated $15 billion. The Varroa mite reproduces in the same beehive cells as gestating bee larvae, grows up to parasitically feed on honeybees, and while doing so spreads disease, destroying colonies across the globe.

A limited number of chemical treatments are the current weapons in the fight against the Varroa mite. However, the traditional treatments come with side effects that may include bee death. Varroa mites have also developed resistance to several existing traditional chemical pesticides, which also require farmers to wear special protective gear and goggles to apply. GreenLight’s patented RNA technology only requires gloves.

“Crops pollinated by honeybees make up roughly a third of the food eaten by Americans, so declining populations of honeybees could have major consequences for food supply,” said Andrey Zarur, CEO of GreenLight Biosciences. “Our mission is to protect the species safely and effectively, and we are excited by Fast Company’s recognition for our achievements.”

GreenLight and other Fast Company nominees and award winners can be found here.

About GreenLight Biosciences

GreenLight Biosciences aims to address some of the world’s biggest problems by delivering on the full potential of RNA for human health and agriculture. Our RNA platform allows us to research, design, and manufacture for human, animal, and plant health. In human health, this includes messenger RNA vaccines and therapeutics. In agriculture, this includes RNA to protect honeybees and a range of crops. The company’s platform is protected by numerous patents. GreenLight’s human health product candidates are in the pre-clinical stage, and its product candidates for the agriculture market are in the early stages of development or regulatory review. GreenLight is a public benefit corporation that trades under the ticker GRNA on Nasdaq. For more information, visit https://live-greenlightbiosciences.pantheonsite.io/

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GreenLight agrees to establish field station in Spain to boost research and development for key plant health projects

Boston, February 4, 2022—GreenLight Biosciences, PBC, a biotechnology company focused on RNA research, design, and manufacturing for human, animal, and plant health, today announced its agreement to operate a field research station in Spain.  

Located south of Seville, a key agricultural area with intensive year-round production, the farmland will allow GreenLight to accelerate its transition of research and discovery compounds into the field.

“The versatility of this site and its climate will enable us to conduct broad-spectrum testing for GreenLight’s emerging portfolio and support key projects, whether it’s plant diseases or insects,” says Andreas Hopf, VP of Plant Health Product Development. 

GreenLight intends to lease about 10 to 20 hectares to support field trials, plant pathogens, entomology, and office space. “Having a research farm allows us to conduct our field work much more efficiently,” says Hopf. “We will have the core competencies to take on external compounds and technologies to onboard them onto our pipeline.”

The expansion will initially support GreenLight’s work in Europe to address crop challenges caused by powdery mildew, botrytis, fusarium, and the Colorado potato beetle.

About GreenLight

Founded in 2008, GreenLight aims to address some of the world’s biggest problems by delivering on the full potential of RNA for human health and agriculture. In human health, this includes mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. In agriculture, this includes RNA  to protect honeybees and a range of crops. The company’s breakthrough cell-free RNA manufacturing platform, which is protected by numerous patents, allows for cost-effective production of RNA. GreenLight’s human health product candidates are in the pre-clinical stage, and its product candidates for the agriculture market are in the early stages of development or regulatory review. GreenLight is a public benefit corporation that trades under the ticker GRNA on Nasdaq. For more information, visit https://live-greenlightbiosciences.pantheonsite.io/

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result” and similar expressions. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and GreenLight assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:

Thomas Crampton

SVP & Head of Corporate Affairs

GreenLight Biosciences

[email protected]

+44 7826 995794

+1-914-202-2762

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GreenLight Biosciences and Germains Seed Technology Partner to Explore Development of World’s First dsRNA Seed Treatment to Control Pests

BOSTON, January 31, 2022GreenLight Biosciences and Germains Seed Technology, an industry leader in seed treatment technologies, today announced a research partnership agreement that could lead to the first commercial use of RNA as a seed treatment to control crop diseases and offer options to farmers looking for innovative solutions.

Through the partnership, the two companies will explore synergies between Germains’ seed priming and coating technologies and GreenLight’s dsRNA expertise and ability to cost-effectively scale manufacturing to protect vegetable crops. In October 2021, GreenLight announced that the company had achieved, for the first time ever, effective field control of fungal pathogens using double-stranded RNA. 

“Farmers and agribusinesses are looking for effective, affordable and sustainable alternatives to traditional crop protection, particularly as environmental and market pressures to do so continue to increase,” said Mark Singleton, GreenLight’s Senior Vice President of Technology & External Innovation.

“We’re excited to work with the leading seed treatment experts at Germains to develop potential additional applications for RNA to address those challenges,” he said. “Our ability to produce large-scale commercial quantities of RNA at low cost and with high quality in our Rochester, New York, facility means we are well-positioned to quickly commercialize and scale new products in our pipeline.”

“Germains Seed Technology has been a leader in the international seed industry for 150 years, and our strength as a company is rooted in our commitment to innovation as we seek to maximize nature’s potential and meet customers’ needs,” said Dale Krolikowski, Germains’ Head of Business Development and Research.

“We believe this new partnership with GreenLight Biosciences has the potential to build a new generation of products that do just that. RNA technology presents enormous potential for the seed treatment industry, and we are thrilled to be working with the innovators at GreenLight to push the industry forward.” 

GreenLight’s technology complements Germains’ Health brand, which has delivered several novel seed treatments over the last few years, including Ultim®-ST organic protection against Pythium. The partnership will allow Germains to provide further innovation to customers as the company works to address seed-borne and soil-borne pathogens, which continue to cause dramatic crop losses every year.

The fast-growing seed treatment market is valued at approximately $6.5 billion, with an estimated growth rate between 10 and 12 percent annually. If successful, this partnership would mark a key addition to GreenLight’s portfolio and intended pipeline of agricultural products, as well as a critical addition to Germains’ offerings of innovative seed treatments and grower solutions. 

In 2022, GreenLight anticipates receiving U.S. regulatory approval of its RNA-based product for controlling the Colorado potato beetle and intends to submit its honeybee health solution to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The company has seven agricultural products in development with an addressable market of $6 billion that it plans to launch by 2026.

About GreenLight

Founded in 2008, GreenLight aims to address some of the world’s biggest problems by delivering on the full potential of RNA for human health and agriculture. In human health, this includes mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. In agriculture, this includes RNA to protect honeybees and a range of crops. The company’s breakthrough cell-free RNA manufacturing platform, which is protected by numerous patents, allows for cost-effective production of RNA. GreenLight’s human health product candidates are in the pre-clinical stage, and its product candidates for the agriculture market are in the early stages of development or regulatory review. For more information, visit https://live-greenlightbiosciences.pantheonsite.io/

In August 2021, GreenLight Biosciences announced plans to become publicly listed through a business combination with Environmental Impact Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: ENVI).

About Germains Seed Technology

Celebrating 150 years of serving the agriculture industry, Germains has sales offices and research facilities in North America, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Germains Seed Technology is committed to delivering industry-leading innovative seed technologies for sugar beet, vegetable, and field crops for seed producers, dealers, and growers globally. For more information, go to http://germains.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, with respect to the proposed transaction between GreenLight Biosciences, Inc. (“GreenLight”) and Environmental Impact Acquisition Corp. (“ENVI”). These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result” and similar expressions. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of ENVI’s securities and the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on GreenLight’s business relationships, operating results, and business generally. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and ENVI and GreenLight assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media Contact:

Thomas Crampton

SVP & Head of Corporate Affairs, GreenLight Biosciences

[email protected]

+44 7826 995794 +1-914-202-2762

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GreenLight scientists work at a bench in our Medford laboratory

GreenLight Biosciences expands RTP footprint for the next generation of agricultural products

GreenLight Biosciences, a biotechnology company focused on RNA research, design, and manufacturing for human, animal, and plant health, today announced the expansion of its research and development operations in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina.

The new greenhouse, laboratory, and offices will add more than 60,000 square feet of space and enable the continuing growth of GreenLight’s plant health pipeline, adding more jobs in the process. 

“This additional capacity is a critical step in helping us capitalize on our solutions for agriculture to realize a food-secure future,” says Mark Singleton, head of plant health at RTP. “The investment will help to keep us at the cutting edge of innovation and continue first-of-a-kind progress like we are currently seeing in our fungal program.”

“We expect to have 60 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.”

“GreenLight embodies the type of company we envisioned for our Alexandria Center® for AgTech campus, a fully integrated, amenity-rich R&D and greenhouse campus,” said Blake Stevens, vice president of Science & Technology, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. and Alexandria Venture Investments. 

“With the transformative potential of GreenLight’s RNA platform, we have both invested in and provided the company with mission-critical real estate, and we are thrilled to support their rapid growth and efforts to meaningfully improve human health and nutrition in the second phase of our first-of-its-kind agtech campus.”

Occupancy of the new greenhouse, where GreenLight will plant a variety of crops, will begin in the first quarter and increase growing capacity tenfold. Operations will support product research and development as the company works to bring innovative new tools to farmers to address pests and diseases, including botrytis and powdery mildew. 

In 2022, GreenLight expects regulatory approval of its RNA-based product for controlling the Colorado potato beetle and to submit its honeybee health solution to the Environmental Protection Agency. 

The company has seven agricultural products in development with an addressable market of $6 billion that it plans to launch by 2026. In October, GreenLight announced that effective control of fungal pathogens using double-stranded RNA had been achieved for the first time ever. 

About GreenLight

Founded in 2008, GreenLight aims to address some of the world’s biggest problems by delivering on the full potential of RNA for human health and agriculture. In human health, this includes mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. In agriculture, this includes RNA  to protect honeybees and a range of crops. The company’s breakthrough cell-free RNA manufacturing platform, which is protected by numerous patents, allows for cost-effective production of RNA. GreenLight’s human health product candidates are in the pre-clinical stage, and its product candidates for the agriculture market are in the early stages of development or regulatory review. For more information, visit https://live-greenlightbiosciences.pantheonsite.io/

In August 2021, GreenLight Biosciences announced plans to become publicly listed through a business combination with Environmental Impact Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: ENVI).

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, with respect to the proposed transaction between GreenLight Biosciences, Inc. (“GreenLight”) and Environmental Impact Acquisition Corp. (“ENVI”). These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result” and similar expressions. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of ENVI’s securities and the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on GreenLight’s business relationships, operating results, and business generally. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and ENVI and GreenLight assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact: 

Thomas Crampton

SVP & Head of Corporate Affairs

GreenLight Biosciences

[email protected]

+44 7826 995794

+1-914-202-2762

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The Boston Globe names GreenLight Biosciences a top place to work for 2021

GreenLight was recognized nationally for our DE&I practices via the Top Work Places cultural excellence award.

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A tractor harvests in a potato field with farmers working alongside it

ACS book chapter details GreenLight’s progress in the development of dsRNA solutions

Agricultural pests are responsible for more than $100 billion in global crop losses each year. Meanwhile, the amount of arable land for farming is shrinking and traditional pesticides currently in the market are losing their efficacy. 

To secure a sustainable food supply for future generations, GreenLight is working on RNA-based agricultural solutions that are designed to affect the target pest and limit harm to any non-targeted organisms. In Crop Protection Products for Sustainable Agriculture, a new American Chemical Society book about crop protection innovation, a GreenLight team, led by Ken Narva and Thais Rodrigues,  shares the science behind sprayable dsRNA as a new mode of action plant health product that has shown efficacy comparable to market standards and fits integrated pest management systems. 

This product is intended for large-acre control of the Colorado potato beetle and has been shown to be effective at extremely low use rates. A challenge to wide-scale use of dsRNA is the cost-effective production of large quantities for field applications, which GreenLight has overcome with its cell-free process to manufacture high-quality dsRNA faster, on a larger scale, and much more inexpensively than traditional methods.

Successful registration of this solution will pave the way for additional dsRNA products for agricultural pest control, providing growers with biological alternatives to synthetic insecticides.

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