TLDR: Profluent Bio, a leader in generative AI for protein design, has announced a multi-year strategic collaboration with agricultural giant Corteva. This partnership aims to integrate Profluent’s advanced AI protein design platform, including its ProGen3 foundation model and OpenCRISPR-1 genome editor, into Corteva’s Genlytix™ gene-editing ecosystem. The goal is to accelerate the development of sustainable, resilient crops by engineering next-generation gene-editing tools, leveraging artificial intelligence to address global agricultural challenges.
In a significant move poised to transform the agricultural landscape, Profluent Bio, an innovative company specializing in generative artificial intelligence for protein design, has entered into a strategic multi-year collaboration with Corteva, a global leader in agricultural sciences and solutions. Announced on October 6-7, 2025, this partnership is set to harness the power of AI and gene editing to cultivate a new generation of more sustainable and resilient crops.
The collaboration, facilitated through Corteva’s venture arm, Corteva Catalyst, will see Profluent design novel gene-editing systems using its cutting-edge AI protein design platform. Corteva will then evaluate these designs for various agricultural applications, integrating them into its industry-leading Genlytix™ ecosystem. This synergy is expected to significantly accelerate the development cycle for new agricultural products.
Profluent brings to the partnership its advanced generative biology models, notably ProGen3, a foundation model trained on a proprietary Protein Atlas comprising over 80 billion protein sequences. The company is also recognized for OpenCRISPR-1™, heralded as the first AI-created genome editor. By combining these sophisticated AI capabilities with Corteva’s extensive global research and development engine and expertise in plant testing, the partners aim to create a flexible toolkit for innovative crop engineering.
Ali Madani, CEO of Profluent Bio, emphasized the broad potential of this alliance, stating, “This partnership shows the broad applicability of our AI design platform in generating functional biological sequences across industries.” He added, “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Corteva, one of the world’s foremost agricultural innovators, whose leadership in plant science and field validation ensures advanced technologies make a real difference in agriculture. Our work with Corteva signals the abundance of opportunities ahead as AI unlocks breakthrough solutions to real challenges in biology.”
Tom Greene, Senior Director at Corteva and Global Leader for Corteva Catalyst, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the strategic advantage. “By combining our existing gene editing expertise with Profluent’s foundation models in protein design, we have the opportunity to engineer next-generation gene editing tools that improve precision, expand functionality, and create dependable solutions for growers worldwide,” Greene commented. Hilary Eaton, Chief Business Officer at Profluent, further noted that the partnership leverages each company’s strengths, merging Corteva’s plant testing expertise with Profluent’s AI capabilities and high-throughput screening knowledge.
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The collaboration is expected to enhance crop sustainability and resilience, reduce reliance on traditional inputs, and foster faster, more flexible development cycles in plant genetics. While the financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, the partnership underscores the growing importance of AI in addressing complex biological challenges and driving innovation in the agricultural sector.
