Key Takeaways
- Mikael Courbot emphasizes that balancing product delivery with long-term platform development is key to scaling AgTech innovation.
- Micropep Technologies uses micropeptides—short chains of amino acids—as biological alternatives to synthetic pesticides.
- Artificial intelligence supports peptide design by modeling efficacy, stability, and cost to ensure practical field applications.
- Regional regulatory dynamics differ: Brazil leads in biocontrol adoption, while Europe’s frameworks remain under development.
- Mikael Courbot believes platform-driven strategies are essential for sustained agricultural progress.
Introducing Mikael Courbot and Micropep’s Mission
In a conversation with iGrow News, Mikael Courbot, Chief Technology Officer of Micropep Technologies, shared insights into the company’s work at the intersection of biology, data science, and sustainable crop protection. With more than 20 years of experience in plant biology, Courbot leads Micropep’s R&D on micropeptide-based agricultural solutions.
He joined Micropep over six years ago, when the company was still at an early stage. “The ability to build something meaningful from scratch and have an impact on how agriculture evolves was what attracted me,” he said. Peptides, he explained, are small proteins—five to twenty amino acids long—that act as precise biological agents against crop pests and diseases without altering genetic material.
“Everything we do at Micropep revolves around these small linear peptides,” Courbot said. This focus, he added, provides the foundation for a discovery platform capable of developing targeted biologicals for different crops and environments.
Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in Micropep’s Discovery Engine
Artificial intelligence is central to Micropep’s peptide design process. “Every project starts with identifying a biological target,” Mikael Courbot explained. “We then use predictive and generative AI to model the interaction between peptides and proteins, optimizing for efficacy, stability, and cost.”
The integration of AI allows Micropep to evaluate potential solutions early in development. “If the production cost is too high, even with great efficacy, it won’t be viable,” Courbot said. This data-driven approach helps ensure that Micropep’s innovations are both scientifically sound and economically practical for growers.
The company currently focuses on soybean, grapevine, and potato, with extensive field trials underway in Brazil, Paraguay, and the United States. Latin America is expected to be the first commercial market for its products.
Regulatory Differences Across Regions
According to Mikael Courbot, regulatory frameworks vary widely across geographies. “Authorities are still learning how to evaluate these technologies,” he noted. “Brazil is moving fastest, while Europe is still finalizing its definition of biocontrol.”
Micropep plans to submit its regulatory dossiers in 2026 in Brazil, the U.S., Paraguay, and Europe. Courbot described how each region presents distinct challenges: Brazil is driven by environmental priorities and cost-conscious growers; the U.S. emphasizes resistance management and new modes of action; and Europe focuses on sustainability but operates within longer approval timelines.
From Products to Platforms: Mikael Courbot On Building for Longevity
Beyond product development, Courbot’s philosophy is influenced by what he described in his September 2025 Forbes contribution as a “platform mindset.” In that article, Mikael Courbot wrote that many AgTech companies struggle to scale because they focus too narrowly on single-product launches. “A platform mindset isn’t about adding complexity,” he wrote, “it’s about designing for longevity, adaptability, and scale.”
Courbot believes this shift is essential for sustaining innovation. “By building shared infrastructure, data, and scientific expertise, AgTech companies can extend their know-how across multiple applications,” he explained. At Micropep, this means leveraging a single discovery engine to create various biological solutions rather than isolated products.
He added that defining micropeptides as the company’s “common denominator” was a turning point: “It helped us build a system broad enough for innovation yet focused enough to guide development.”
This broader shift toward platform-oriented strategies is also reflected in data from the iGrow Dashboard, which tracks developments across the global AgTech sector. The dashboard indicates a gradual increase in companies moving from single-solution models to becoming technology enablers, providing systems and tools that other businesses can adapt or build upon. In this context, Micropep’s platform-focused approach aligns with an industry trend toward more flexible and scalable innovation models designed to support a wider range of agricultural applications.
Designing for Repeatable Impact
In both his Forbes commentary and his discussion with iGrow News, Mikael Courbot highlighted that successful AgTech platforms are built on modular technology, robust data integration, and strategic collaboration. “A good platform doesn’t emerge by accident—it requires intentional design choices,” he said.
He pointed to the importance of early decisions that support scalability, such as standardized molecular frameworks and adaptable data systems. These, Courbot said, enable repeatability and make it easier to expand across crops, climates, and regulations. “Our goal is to build not just one product, but a structure that allows us to continuously innovate and deliver multiple biological solutions,” he stated.
Looking Ahead to 2035 With Mikael Courbot
By 2035, Mikael Courbot envisions Micropep as an ingredient provider to agricultural companies across fungicide, herbicide, and insecticide markets. “We want to contribute to a future where biologicals are as reliable and accessible as traditional chemistry,” he said. “The key is combining short-term delivery with long-term adaptability—ensuring that what we build today can evolve with agriculture’s future needs.”
