Key Takeaways
- CDotBio, a University of Bristol spin-out, has joined SHAKE Climate Change’s Cohort 5 portfolio.
- The company is preparing to move from proof-of-concept to pilot and field trials.
- CDotBio’s technology uses sugar-based carbon dots to improve delivery and stability of crop inputs.
- The approach targets key challenges in biostimulants and RNAi-based crop protection.
- CDotBio is already in discussions with around 60 companies regarding potential trials.
CDotBio Advances Toward Pilot and Field Trials With SHAKE Support
CDotBio, a University of Bristol spin-out company, is preparing to scale its sugar-based nanotechnology with investment and mentoring support from SHAKE Climate Change. The company is the latest addition to SHAKE’s portfolio, joining Cohort 5, and is focused on bridging the gap between early-stage deep technology and real-world agricultural deployment.
The support from SHAKE Climate Change is intended to help CDotBio progress from proof-of-concept work into pilot-scale and field trials, enabling validation of its technology under commercial farming conditions. According to the company, this phase is critical for demonstrating performance, reliability, and scalability in agricultural applications.
Sugar-Based Carbon Dots as Delivery Systems
CDotBio’s technology is built around carbon dots, ultra-small nanoparticles derived from sugars and amino acids. These particles act as microscopic carriers that bind to sensitive active ingredients such as RNA strands, proteins, or nutrients. The carbon dots protect these compounds as they move through the plant system, releasing them at the intended target site.
