Quercus Biosolutions, an ag biotech startup using AI to create a new category of crop protection products based on designer mini proteins, has raised an oversubscribed $5 million seed round led by Serra Ventures. But because we’re using proteins, we bind [to these targets] in a different way [than traditional chemical herbicides using small molecules]. He added: “We’re trying to build broad solutions that control multiple problem weeds in the field.” However most players typically screen libraries of naturally occurring proteins to identify those with potential to target pests or perform other crop protection functions, claimed Lightner. Quercus, by contrast, is using AI to design mini proteins from scratch, he said.