Novin AgriTech, a startup linked to Purdue University, obtained a federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant to accelerate the development of enhanced wheat varieties. The funding focuses on improving nitrogen use efficiency, a key trait that helps crops grow with less fertilizer, thereby reducing costs and environmental impact.
The eight-month grant, totaling $174,906 and provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, will support validation of Novin AgriTech’s proprietary gene-delivery platform, InPACT. This technology bypasses traditional, labor-intensive tissue culture methods, enabling direct genetic modification of elite crop lines and promising faster, more scalable crop improvements.
Novin AgriTech aims to introduce traits that not only improve fertilizer efficiency but also strengthen crop resilience against environmental stresses. Their approach integrates a nanoparticle-assisted gene delivery system that maintains genetic consistency across diverse wheat varieties. Success in this project could pave the way for expanding these techniques to related cereals like barley, oats, and sorghum, with potential applications in disease resistance and climate adaptation.
The startup’s work reflects increasing governmental interest in innovative agricultural technologies that address food security challenges amid climate change and rising global demand. Wheat, as the world’s most widely grown food crop, stands to benefit significantly even from incremental improvements in yield and resource use.
According to one of Novin AgriTech’s co-founders, the grant represents a crucial step toward moving genetic research from the lab to commercial use. The company positions itself as a platform provider aiming to deliver practical, scalable solutions for cereal crops that tackle food security, resource efficiency, and crop health challenges on a global scale.