Quercus raises $5 million to fight herbicide-resistant weeds

Quercus Biosolutions has raised an oversubscribed $5 million seed round to accelerate the development of a new generation of AI-designed proteins aimed at controlling herbicide-resistant weeds. The funding, led by Serra Ventures, will support the company's research, regulatory activities and commercialization efforts as it advances multiple crop protection programs. According to AgFunderNews, the startup is already conducting several field trials and plans to expand its technology beyond weeds to target fungi and insect pests.

Founded in 2024 by agricultural biotechnology veterans Jon Lightner, PhD, and Matt Crisp, Quercus is developing a new category of biological crop protection products built around designer mini proteins. Instead of relying on conventional chemical herbicides or naturally occurring biological compounds, the company uses artificial intelligence to design proteins from scratch that interact with key biological targets inside weeds.

The technology is based on AI tools originally developed for drug discovery through partner Ordaos Bio. By designing proteins that bind differently than traditional chemical herbicides, Quercus aims to overcome one of agriculture's biggest challenges: the rapid spread of herbicide resistance.

According to Lightner, growers are facing increasing pressure as traditional weed control products lose effectiveness.

"Growers are facing steady resistance pressure across the tools they depend on, and they need new modes of action to stay ahead of it," he said, according to AgFunderNews.

Unlike conventional herbicides that use small molecules to inhibit plant enzymes, Quercus' proteins interact with the same biological targets in a completely different way. As a result, weeds that have evolved resistance to chemical herbicides may still be controlled by these newly designed proteins.

The company currently has five active development programs with multiple field trials underway. The new capital will allow Quercus to expand its herbicide pipeline, strengthen its intellectual property portfolio and accelerate research into biological solutions targeting fungi, insects and other agricultural pests.

Another key advantage of the platform is manufacturing efficiency. From the earliest stages of development, Quercus designs its proteins to be compatible with precision fermentation, reducing production costs and simplifying large-scale manufacturing. The proteins can be produced using microorganisms such as E. coli and Pichia, making commercial production more scalable and cost-effective.

The startup also plans to collaborate with major agricultural input companies, regional distributors and farmer cooperatives to bring its technology to market once regulatory approvals are completed.

Investors believe Quercus offers a differentiated platform capable of transforming crop protection. Rob Schultz, Managing Partner at Serra Ventures, said the company's AI-driven discovery process significantly reduces the time needed to identify and optimize new biological candidates, allowing multiple development programs to progress simultaneously.

The funding round also attracted Starshot Capital, Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, Flyover Capital, Rootstock Capital, Iowa Corn Opportunities Fund, AgriCap Fund, Kentucky Corn Plus, AgVentures Alliance, and Ag Startup Engine, creating what Quercus describes as a diversified investor base that combines expertise in agriculture, climate technology and artificial intelligence.

Looking ahead, Quercus believes designer proteins could establish an entirely new category of crop protection products by combining the environmental advantages of biological solutions with efficacy comparable to conventional chemical herbicides. If successful, the technology could provide farmers with new tools to combat herbicide resistance while supporting more sustainable agricultural production.