EMPOWERING AGRICULTURE INNOVATORS
We provide sophisticated R&D services, making the development of novel hybrids within reach for small and mid-size seed companies.
Our Mission
We are committed to making it faster, easier, and more accessible to develop parent seed for hybrid crops through our understanding of the entire plant genome.
Our Story
Eedi Ag was founded by Dr. Song Luo, a research scientist with a long track record of finding elegant step-skipping alternatives to traditional processes. The son of Horticulture Professors, he grew up in an agricultural community, affording him front-row seats both to the environmental challenges of farmers, and the long and arduous processes of traditional seed development.
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For example, traditional breeding programs require years to develop a hybrid seed for market, and are are only feasible for large companies with established lines that they have built for 10 - 80+ years, and a staff of crop-specific breeding experts. Each local environment has unique conditions and differences that necessitate local solutions: temperature fluctuations, drought, and flavor preferences. Climate change is rapidly transforming our environment, increasing the urgency to accelerate crop development to meet our changing world.
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Dr. Luo saw an opportunity to innovate an elegant solution, using genomic sequencing and markers, to accelerate the timeline to develop hybrid crops, and in 2019 he founded Eedi Ag to do just that. What used to take 8-10 years or more can now be done in a matter of 2-5 years.
LEADERSHIP
Our leadership is internationally renowned in the fields of plant and molecular biology research. They have a proven track record of developing seed with global distribution, and building successful agriculture and biotech companies.
SONG LUO, PHD
President and Chief Scientist
Dr. Song Luo has dedicated his career to solving the real issues that farmers face day-to-day. At the University of Chicago/HHMI he worked on the first plant genome project, then moved on to industry with the technology he co-developed. At Calyxt, Inc. he led gene editing technology innovation and crop variety development. At Chromatin Inc., he led a molecular breeding group to develop the first herbicide-resistant sorghum and other disease/insect resistant hybrid sorghum. In 2019, Dr. Luo founded Eedi Ag to focus on his passion and expertise: breeding technology development and hybrid vegetable crop breeding.
DAPHNE PREUSS, PHD
Chief Commercial Officer
Dr. Daphne Preuss is an entrepreneur focused on bringing innovation to food and agriculture systems. She previously founded, built, and served for eleven years as President and CEO of Chromatin Inc., a crop breeding and seed company that delivered to farmers in over 50 countries. She has often served as a board member or operating partner to guide startups through commercialization and intellectual property strategy, value inflections and exits, including companies focused on sorghum, hemp, chickpea, and greenhouse-grown crops. Daphne was previously a Professor and Howard Hughes Investigator at the University of Chicago where she led public and private programs to bring genetic improvements to crops.