Quercus Biosolutions, a newly established biotechnology firm, has officially emerged from stealth mode, unveiling its innovative approach to crop protection through the development of AI-designed mini-proteins.

The US, St Louis-based company aims to address critical agricultural challenges by leveraging generative AI in protein design, marking a significant advancement in agricultural biotechnology.

As part of its launch, Quercus has formed a strategic partnership with Ordaos Bio, a company known for its generative AI platform originally developed for human medicine.

This collaboration seeks to adapt Ordaos’ validated technology for applications in agriculture, thereby enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of crop protection solutions. The integration of advanced AI methodologies, including multitask meta-learning and reinforcement learning, positions Quercus to rapidly design and optimise bespoke mini-proteins tailored for agricultural use.

Dr Jon Lightner, CEO and co-founder of Quercus, said: "Our goal is to leverage generative AI to rethink the development of crop protection solutions." This ambition is supported by Ordaos' robust biodesign engine, which has been validated across multiple biopharma use cases, providing a solid foundation for innovation in agricultural applications.

Founded in 2024, Quercus has made significant strides in a short period. The company has successfully generated proof-of-concept data demonstrating that its designed mini-proteins can effectively act on intact plants.

This capability allows the proteins to access key cellular compartments, addressing specific agricultural challenges. The partnership with Solis Agrosciences further enhances Quercus' capabilities, streamlining the pipeline for testing and validation of new product solutions.

Charlie Bolton, CEO of Solis Agrosciences, noted the importance of Quercus’ approach: "Quercus combines a powerful generative AI platform with rapid empirical testing, allowing for compelling biological activity".

The leadership team at Quercus comprises seasoned professionals with extensive backgrounds in agricultural biotechnology. Co-founders Lightner and Matt Crisp, alongside a team of industry veterans, bring decades of experience in developing and commercialising agricultural solutions. Their collective expertise positions Quercus to navigate the complexities of the agricultural biotechnology landscape effectively.

Matt Crisp noted the transformative potential of Quercus’ platform, stating, "Our rapid progress highlights the disruptive capabilities of our technology." The convergence of cutting-edge AI technologies with practical agricultural insights creates a unique opportunity for innovation in crop protection.

The launch of Quercus Biosolutions comes at a critical time for the agricultural sector, which faces increasing pressures from climate change, pest resistance and the need for sustainable practices. The integration of AI in protein design offers a promising avenue for developing novel crop protection solutions that are both effective and environmentally friendly.