Profluent Bio, a trailblazer in generative artificial intelligence (AI) for protein design, has announced a multi-year strategic collaboration with Corteva Agriscience, one of the world’s leading agricultural science and technology companies. This partnership marks a significant milestone in the intersection of AI, biotechnology, and agriculture, as the two organizations aim to leverage advanced computational and biological tools to design the next generation of resilient and sustainable crops.
The collaboration is being launched through Corteva’s Catalyst platform—a global initiative that accelerates partnerships aimed at transforming agricultural research and innovation. By combining Profluent’s expertise in generative biology and foundation models with Corteva’s industry-leading Genlytix™ ecosystem, the partnership will focus on developing novel, AI-driven gene-editing solutions tailored to improve crop performance, sustainability, and adaptability in the face of climate change and global food challenges.
Harnessing Generative AI for Crop Innovation
Profluent Bio has emerged as a pioneer in applying large-scale generative AI models to biology. Its technological foundation includes ProGen3, a next-generation foundation model trained on the company’s proprietary Protein Atlas, a vast dataset comprising more than 80 billion protein sequences. This model enables the design of functional and novel proteins that can be used across industries, from therapeutics to agriculture.
Another major innovation from Profluent is OpenCRISPR-1™, the first AI-created genome editor. This groundbreaking technology represents a new era in synthetic biology, where computational design can predict and create biological tools with unprecedented precision and efficiency. By integrating Profluent’s foundation models and AI-driven approach with Corteva’s established R&D and field validation capabilities, the collaboration aims to accelerate the creation of a flexible and scalable toolkit for crop engineering.
“We are at the dawn of a new era where AI and biology converge to deliver solutions that were previously unimaginable,” said Ali Madani, CEO of Profluent Bio. “This partnership with Corteva demonstrates the broad applicability of our AI design platform in generating functional biological sequences across industries. Corteva’s leadership in plant science and its proven ability to translate advanced research into real-world agricultural solutions make it an ideal partner as we work together to redefine what’s possible in crop innovation.”
Corteva’s Vision for Sustainable Agriculture
As a global pure-play agricultural company, Corteva Agriscience has built its reputation on advancing sustainable and science-based farming solutions. The company’s mission is to enrich the lives of producers and consumers while ensuring progress for future generations. With operations in over 100 countries, Corteva delivers a diverse portfolio of seed technologies, crop protection solutions, and digital tools designed to optimize productivity and sustainability for farmers worldwide.
Central to Corteva’s innovation ecosystem is Genlytix™, a suite of proprietary capabilities and technologies that enable precision gene editing and advanced breeding. Through Genlytix™, Corteva scientists are able to identify and edit genetic traits that can enhance crop yield, improve pest and disease resistance, and increase tolerance to environmental stresses such as drought and heat. This platform plays a key role in ensuring that Corteva’s genetic solutions remain at the forefront of agricultural innovation.
“Our work with Profluent represents the next logical step in the evolution of agricultural biotechnology,” said Tom Greene, Senior Director at Corteva and Global Leader for Corteva Catalyst. “By combining our deep gene-editing expertise with Profluent’s foundation models in protein design, we can accelerate the development of next-generation genome editing tools. These tools will not only improve the precision and efficiency of crop enhancement but will also expand the functionality and reliability of solutions available to farmers worldwide.”
Reimagining the Future of Crop Engineering
The agricultural industry faces mounting challenges as global demand for food continues to rise amid climate volatility, soil degradation, and resource constraints. Traditional breeding methods, while effective, are often slow and limited in scope. Gene editing, combined with AI-driven protein and enzyme design, offers a revolutionary way to address these challenges more efficiently and sustainably.
Through this partnership, Profluent and Corteva aim to design customized gene-editing enzymes and molecular tools that enhance the accuracy of genetic modifications in plants. The integration of AI allows scientists to model protein behavior, predict outcomes, and optimize edits that produce desired traits—such as enhanced drought tolerance, improved nutrient efficiency, or resistance to emerging pests and diseases—at a pace and precision previously unattainable.
The collaboration will also emphasize scalability and sustainability, ensuring that these innovations can be implemented globally to benefit farmers across diverse agricultural ecosystems. By leveraging Profluent’s AI-based generative models, Corteva can accelerate its R&D pipeline, shorten development timelines, and reduce costs associated with experimental trial-and-error in molecular design.
A Shared Commitment to Global Impact
Both Profluent and Corteva share a vision for a more resilient and sustainable food system. The partnership is not merely a technological alliance—it represents a broader commitment to harnessing science for global good. With AI now playing an increasingly vital role in shaping the future of biotechnology, collaborations like this highlight how digital tools can unlock new levels of creativity and efficiency in biological research.
For Profluent, the collaboration underscores the versatility of its generative AI platform, extending its reach from healthcare and therapeutics into the realm of agriculture and food production. For Corteva, it reinforces the company’s position as an innovation leader that continuously invests in next-generation technologies to empower farmers and enhance global food security.
“The potential impact of AI on agriculture is immense,” Madani added. “By combining Profluent’s advanced AI capabilities with Corteva’s deep understanding of plant genetics and field application, we’re not only accelerating discovery but also ensuring that innovation translates into tangible, real-world solutions for growers. This is how we bring the power of generative biology from the lab to the field.”
Building the Foundation for Agriculture’s Next Era
As the world faces an urgent need for sustainable food production, partnerships that bridge AI and biotechnology are poised to redefine the boundaries of agricultural innovation. Profluent and Corteva’s collaboration exemplifies how cutting-edge computational science can work hand-in-hand with traditional agricultural expertise to address the complex biological and environmental challenges of our time.
The companies envision a future where AI-designed biological tools empower plant breeders to respond quickly to shifting environmental conditions and global food demands. By engineering crops that are more resilient, nutrient-efficient, and adaptable, the collaboration supports a broader transition toward climate-smart agriculture and long-term food security.
In uniting Profluent’s generative AI breakthroughs with Corteva’s global agricultural leadership, this partnership signals a pivotal moment for the biotechnology industry—one where digital intelligence and biological innovation converge to cultivate a more sustainable and food-secure future.
