GreenLight Biosciences is a biotech company based in Medford MA that developed a proprietary biological energy production platform that allows them to inexpensively produce biomolecules at scale. Their current focus is on the production of RNAs, which can be used in both healthcare (therapeutics and vaccines) and agriculture (biopesticides and trait modulation). 

On the ag side, one of the major challenges of using RNA interference (RNAi) has long been that the quantities of RNAs that need to be applied in the field to achieve significant effects were commercially unrealistic. By dramatically reducing the costs of RNA production, GreenLight's technology makes a new generation of sustainable pest control products possible.

Why We Invested

• GreenLight's technology can be used for a wide range of applications: from therapeutics to vaccines in healthcare and from biopesticides to plant train modulation in agriculture.
• In ag, they have already obtained several impressive field trial results that prove not only the efficacy of their RNAi solutions but that they can result in cost-savings for the farmer while maintaining healthy margins for the company.
• No other competitors seem to have come close to GreenLight's achievements.
• Highly versatile technology that can be quickly tweaked to prevent pest resistance.
• In the US, RNAi is considered a biopesticide and is therefore compatible with pest-free/sustainabile agriculture.
• Since RNAi solutions are most likely safe to eat, they can be applied post-harvest to prevent mold.