EcoPep: Pioneering Plant peptide hormones for sustainable agriculture

We have already demonstrated the PPHs can affect growth of maize root; now we want to extend the plant growth trials to other crops, for the first time showcasing the immense possibilities of these peptides. We have engineered a special bacterial strain that allows mass-production of these complex peptides that enhance root growth, a trait which allows the plant to increase the nutrient and water uptake. In addition, they are highly specific towards a specific plant receptor family, meaning that there are no non-plant targets, making the peptides safe for the environment. Previously, the bottleneck in using these peptides was a modified amino acid that hindered mass production.