Key Takeaways:
- Plastomics raises $5.8 million in its Series B funding round to accelerate next-generation crop innovation.
- Investors include Fulcrum Global Capital, Lewis & Clark Partners, Skull Diamond and Heart Capital, Missouri Technology Corporation, and BioGenerator Ventures.
- The company’s chloroplast engineering technology eliminates pollen outcrossing and boosts trait precision.
- Funding will support development of the first transgenic traits in corn chloroplasts and upcoming soybean field trials.
- CEO Tania Seger says the investment validates Plastomics’ pioneering platform and long-term vision.
Plastomics Announces Series B Funding to Scale Chloroplast-Based Crop Innovation
Plastomics, an agricultural biotechnology company advancing chloroplast engineering, announced the initial close of its Series B funding round, securing $5.8 million to accelerate research and commercialization of its chloroplast trait delivery platform.
The funding round drew participation from major ag-focused investors including Fulcrum Global Capital, Lewis & Clark Partners, Skull Diamond and Heart Capital, Missouri Technology Corporation, and BioGenerator Ventures.
“We're thrilled to support Plastomics as they pioneer chloroplast-based trait delivery and set a new standard in agricultural biotechnology,” said John Peryam, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Fulcrum Global Capital. “The company’s world-class team is transforming how traits are introduced into crops, developing varieties that are more resilient, productive, and sustainable.”
Advancing Chloroplast Engineering for Agriculture
Plastomics’ proprietary platform introduces genetic traits into chloroplasts instead of plant nuclei, offering multiple advantages over conventional transgenic methods. These include:
- No pollen outcrossing, preventing gene transfer to non-transgenic crops or wild species.
- Maternal inheritance, simplifying breeding pipelines and reducing time to market.
- Higher expression and durability, enabling robust insect resistance and improved trait stability.
- Precision and predictability, ensuring targeted gene insertion and minimizing unintended effects.
These advances position Plastomics’ platform as a key enabler for sustainable crop protection and productivity improvements.
Industry Milestone: Chloroplast Trait Delivery in Corn and Soybeans
The new investment will enable Plastomics to accelerate development of the world’s first transgenic traits in the chloroplasts of corn, following its earlier commercial breakthrough in soybean transformation.
Over the next two years, Plastomics will advance its chloroplast trait delivery system for soybeans into final commercial field trials — a step expected to unlock superior insect and herbicide protection for growers.
“This investment is a powerful validation of our technology and vision,” said Tania Seger, CEO of Plastomics. “In a challenging economic climate, raising close to $6 million from top-tier ag-focused investors speaks volumes about their belief in our ability to deliver the first-ever transgenic traits in the chloroplasts of corn.”
