Bayer backs Robigo’s ‘engine, not product’ approach in crop protection funding round

Biotechnology start-up Robigo has secured Series A funding led by Leaps by Bayer to commercialize its ARGO platform, which uses engineered microbes, RNAi, and CRISPR to develop scalable biopesticides targeting multiple crop diseases. Bayer’s investment is driven by the platform’s potential to rapidly generate diverse crop protection solutions, addressing challenges of efficacy, consistency, and cost that have hindered traditional biologicals. Robigo’s initial focus is on fungal diseases in soybeans and specialty crops, with ambitions to expand to additional pathogens and crops through both product sales and strategic partnerships. The company’s approach integrates synthetic biology with biological crop protection, aiming for sustainability and high performance without requiring changes to farm practices.