Ginkgo Bioworks and Invaio Sciences team up on peptide crop protection

Ginkgo Bioworks and Invaio Sciences announced a collaboration to develop manufacturing technology for peptide-based crop protection products, designed for pests increasingly resistant to conventional chemicals.

The partnership will use Ginkgo’s microbial engineering platform and industrial-scale fermentation to optimize strains for efficient, cost-effective peptide production. Invaio plans to leverage these strains to commercialize its products, which are intended as alternatives or complements to traditional crop protection chemistry.

Ginkgo will deploy its autonomous lab infrastructure, including Reconfigurable Automation Carts and Catalyst software, to accelerate strain development. The company will also provide bioprocess development and scale-up support, allowing Invaio to focus on discovery and product design.

Peptide-based products are emerging as targeted alternatives to chemical pesticides, offering potential environmental and operational advantages. The collaboration underscores a broader trend in agricultural biotechnology toward scalable production methods that meet both grower demand and regulatory standards.