Varada is developing biological pesticides that target specific pests and do not impact non-target organisms. Varada’s products are safe for the environment and, via a novel mode-of-action (a unique mechanism through which an agent exerts its effect), help to manage resistance development.
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Jyoti Taneja
Jyoti Taneja is the founder of Varada Agriculture Inc. As a project scientist at UC Berkeley, she developed an RNAi fungicide for powdery mildew control in grapevines. Before that, Taneja completed a Ph.D. in life sciences at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research in New Delhi, and master’s and undergraduate degrees in biology and biotechnology at Chaudhary Charan Singh University in India. She has 15+ years of research experience with plant pathogens.
TECHNOLOGY
Critical Need
Pests and pathogens can reduce agricultural productivity by 40 percent, posing a significant threat to our food supply. The global agriculture industry manages this risk by relying heavily on the use of chemical pesticides. Many of these chemicals are facing bans due to their harmful effects on the environment, while others are losing their efficacy as pests develop resistance to them. There is a critical need for sustainable alternatives.
Technology Vision
Varada provides RNA interference (RNAi)-based biological pesticides that are high-performing, eco-friendly, and sustainable. RNA is naturally occurring and readily degrades in the environment. Further, RNAi technology uses inhibitory RNA molecules uniquely designed to work on a target organism without impacting beneficial organisms in nature. This method follows the Integrated Pest Management Plan principles, which recommend highly targeted pest control. Varada’s RNA pesticides will help manage the spread of resistance development and replace the use of harmful pesticides.
Potential for Impact
As chemical pesticides degrade the environment, raise concern among consumers, and fail to meet changing global regulations, the agriculture industry is looking for safer alternatives. Varada meets this need by providing effective biological pest control that is highly targeted and naturally degrades without polluting soil and water ecosystems. Varada’s RNA pesticides will mitigate the harmful effects of pest control on the environment and ultimately support global food security by helping growers optimize their productivity.
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Varada Agriculture