Micropep and Corteva enter into agreement on micropeptide pesticides

Micropep Technologies has entered into a research and development agreement with Corteva to develop micropeptide-based biocontrol solutions. The agreement, signed within the Corteva Catalyst program, provides for a multi-year collaboration and exclusive rights for the US company to apply a defined library of peptides in biocontrol and biofungicide products.

Corteva invested in the French startup in 2024. With the new partnership, scientific teams from both companies will conduct joint studies that could lead to commercial products.

The move marks the first industrial validation of the Krisalix platform, a peptide discovery system that combines advanced algorithms and high-throughput bioassays to identify bioactive molecules for crop protection.

According to the companies, the micropeptides developed by Krisalix have novel modes of action, a high safety profile and proven efficacy in the field. The molecules help manage resistance and provide sustainable alternatives that complement existing chemical tools. The platform also allows for scalable production and competitive costs.

Mikael Courbot, Micropep’s CTO, said the agreement with Corteva furthers the company’s mission to deliver biological solutions at scale. Tom Greene, Corteva’s senior director and global leader of Catalyst, said the technology complements the company’s biologicals portfolio and reinforces its commitment to sustainable agriculture.