Plastomics will advance technology to create more sustainable crops with Danforth Plant Science Center and the National Renewable Energy Lab.

Saint Louis, MO  – August 6, 2020 -- The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN²), a technology incubator and platform funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation and co-administered by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory  (NREL), has selected Plastomics, Inc. to join the program as a member of IN²’s seventh cohort.

The companies selected for the cohort share a focus on developing technologies that support the agricultural sector while reducing environmental impact.  Plastomics is developing next-generation trait delivery technology that harnesses the natural powerhouse of the cell – the chloroplast - to efficiently build higher yielding crops that help farmers feed the growing world population while reducing pesticide use and carbon emissions.

“We appreciate the opportunity to work together with Wells Fargo and NREL in this unique accelerator program,” said Sharon Berberich, CEO and co-founder of Plastomics, “it enables us to collaborate with world-class scientists and utilize state-of-the art facilities that will help us create crops that can better withstand the pressure of insects, diseases and weeds while delivering higher yields.”

Agtech investing has shown great promise even with current economic uncertainties. A recent market analysis predicts investment dollars to reach $6.9 billion this year, doubling since $3.4 billion in 2017. The IN² program expanded its focus to agtech in 2018 to address the growing impact of the agricultural sector on carbon emissions.

“On average, agriculture accounts for nearly 13 percent of global carbon emissions,” said Ramsay Huntley, Sustainable Finance Strategist at Wells Fargo. “IN² is uniquely positioned to reduce the environmental impact of food production by validating promising, early-stage, clean agricultural technologies and accelerating their respective paths to commercialization.”

Plastomics will conduct research and development activities at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, a program partner and the world’s largest independent plant science institute. The company will receive up to $250,000 in technical assistance with the opportunity for follow-on funding, and access to expertise and resources from the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Wells Fargo, NREL and other IN² partners.

“The companies selected for Cohort 7 provide a window into the next chapter of agriculture. Their technologies are hyper-focused on optimizing efficiencies and scaling sustainable agricultural practices in order to feed a growing population,” said Trish Cozart, IN² program manager at NREL. “Our partners at Danforth are at the intersection of science, innovation and commercialization, and we’re pleased to connect their deep domain expertise and robust research capabilities with startup innovations.”

Plastomics was first nominated by an IN² Channel Partner––part of a nationwide network of more than 60 cleantech and agtech business incubators, accelerators, universities and industry experts—before undergoing in-depth review by Wells Fargo, the Danforth Center and IN²’s expert industry advisory board.

About Plastomics Inc.
Plastomics is a plant biotechnology company making safer and more effective crops through its novel chloroplast trait delivery system. Plastomics is committed to using its technology to produce wholesome, affordable food in an efficient and sustainable way. Plastomics is located in St. Louis, Missouri in the center of the 39 North AgBiotech Innovation District and adjacent to the majority of farms and food producers of America’s Heartland.  For more information, contact CEO Sharon Berberich, sharon@plastomics.com, or visit www.plastomics.com.

About the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN²)
The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN²) is a $30 million technology incubator and platform funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation. Co-administered by and housed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, IN²’s mission is to speed the path to market for early-stage, clean-technology entrepreneurs. Launched in 2014 with an initial focus on supporting scalable solutions to reduce the energy impact of commercial buildings, IN² has since expanded its focus to advance technologies that address the sustainable production of agriculture and housing affordability. Companies selected for participation in the program receive up to $250,000 in non-dilutive funding from Wells Fargo, technical support and validation from experts at NREL and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, and ongoing connections to organizations across value chains. For more information, visit in2ecosystem.com.

About Wells Fargo
Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,500 locations, more than 13,000 ATMs, and the internet (wellsfargo.com). With approximately 261,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. With its corporate philanthropy, Wells Fargo aims to pave a path to stability and financial success for underserved communities by focusing on housing affordability, small business growth, and financial health, among other local community needs. In 2018, Wells Fargo donated $444 million to nearly 11,000 nonprofits. For 10 consecutive years, Wells Fargo has held the honor of No. 1 in workplace giving by United Way Worldwide. Wells Fargo team members also actively support communities by donating more than 2 million hours of volunteer time in the last year. News, insights and more information on the company’s overall corporate responsibility are available at Wells Fargo Stories and www.wellsfargo.com/impact.