MIT Spinout ROBIGO Secures Funding to Scale Pathogen-Fighting Microbe Solution for Crops

ROBIGO, a biotech spinout from MIT, has secured over a quarter-million dollars to expand trials for its microbe solution designed to combat crop pathogens. The company has engineered self-replicating microbes using principles from RNA interference (RNAi) and CRISPR, demonstrating effectiveness comparable to chemical pesticides. In trials, a single application protected crops for an entire season and, in one instance, increased crop yield by 250% compared to standard pesticides, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional agrochemicals.