Brazilian research organization Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira (CTC) is leveraging Ginkgo Bioworks’ Plant Trait Services to discover biocontrol molecules to control sugarcane pests.

Ginkgo intends to use its expertise in bioinformatics to design and build thousands of molecules. These molecules will then be tested against a microbial host system to simulate biological activity.

Ginkgo aims to optimize these molecules and deliver those with the highest likelihood of success in killing the sugarcane pests. Subsequently, CTC will use its sugarcane biotechnology to design and develop innovative plant traits with optimal protection against these pests, ultimately providing a long lasting crop management solution for the growers.