Rather than reshuffling and grafting existing enzymes in line with current metabolic-engineering thinking, FutureAgriculture’s approach demands the de novo engineering of new enzymes in order to catalyse metabolic transformations that are still unknown in nature. Computational power and chemical logic have helped the identification of the most promising synthetic pathways: short pathways that convert 2-phosphoglycolate (2-PG) into an intermediate compound of the Calvin cycle without releasing CO2. The pathways include both known reactions that are catalysed by existing enzymes as well as plausible reactions by engineered enzymes. The routes have been tested in vitro, then in engineered bacteria that support the evolution of the pathway activity, and later in a simple photosynthetic organism, the cyanobacteria, following by testing in model plant system. Plant growth rate and biomass yield are expected to increase under various environmental conditions, thus, paving the way for enhanced agricultural productivity of crops like rice, wheat, barley, oat, soybean, cotton, and potato.
Addressing target audiences and expressing needs
- To raise awareness and possibly influence policy
- Legal / IPR advise
- Business plan development
- Expanding to more markets /finding new customers
We are interested in communicate regarding GMOs policy, linked with standardisation issues i.e. create new groups at CEN, reinforce existing and build knowledge in the community.
From the exploitation point of view, we are looking for advise on Legal /IPR , Business Model (innovative) and Value Chains. For the latter we would like to explore existing value chain networks and their interrelationships to discover how better shape value chains that can facilitate the integration of symbiotic into the existing production networks and/or disrupt them.
- EU and Member State Policy-makers
- Other Actors who can help us fulfil our market potential
- Research and Technology Organisations
R&D, Technology and Innovation aspects
Result submitted to Horizon Results Platform by EVOGENE LTD

