BioLumic Expands UV Technology into South America: A Game Changer for Agriculture
BioLumic is forging vital partnerships in South America, collaborating with seed companies GDM and Tropical Melhoramento & Genética (TMG) to broaden its innovative UV agricultural technology. Steve Sibulkin, CEO of BioLumic, expressed excitement about the company’s global scaling and its impact in the region during an interview with AgTechNavigator.
Established in 2013, BioLumic has pioneered an ultraviolet-based method for developing seed traits via its xTraits platform. Originally founded in New Zealand, the company also operates from an office in Champaign, Illinois. Sibulkin highlighted the company’s keen interest in Latin America as a pivotal area for growth.
In a significant collaboration, BioLumic is partnering with TMG to enhance corn traits in Brazil’s most fertile regions. Additionally, TMG’s customer, Grupo Scheffer, will be conducting field evaluations of BioLumic seed hybrids in key agricultural hubs, including Mato Grosso and other grain-producing areas.
Moreover, BioLumic is set to expand its partnership with Gro Alliance from the U.S. to Chile. This collaboration aims to increase seed production and hybrid trait development, primarily benefiting U.S. seed companies.
Tomas Tresca, Global NGT Traits business partner at GDM, stated, “We are enthusiastic about exploring BioLumic’s technology within our genetics as part of early-stage testing. This is an important step toward understanding how light-activated traits could enhance performance and complement our breeding strategies in the future.”
Brazil: A Strategic Hub for Research and Development
Brazil’s unique agricultural landscape, with multiple cropping seasons, serves as a strategic advantage for research and development. Sibulkin noted that these seasons significantly expedite the testing and validation of crop traits.
BioLumic is currently assessing inbred germplasm from Brazilian partners and plans to initiate field evaluations and hybrid nursery production in 2026, coinciding with the Safra and Safrinha corn growing seasons. Inbred germplasm, characterized by genetically uniform plant lines through repetitive self-pollination, ensures stable trait transmission to hybrid offspring.
“We need multiple seasons to innovate, test, validate, iterate on, and produce an xTrait. The two seasons provide a much-needed time warp for us to capitalize on,” Sibulkin elaborated.
Navigating the VC Landscape Amidst Economic Challenges
In the face of a venture capital downturn, BioLumic has managed to thrive. The company successfully raised $13.5 million in a Series B round in 2022, followed by an oversubscribed $8.3 million Series B extension earlier this year. Sibulkin mentioned that investors are already expressing interest in more deals.
Inside BioLumic’s Innovative Technology
BioLumic’s system integrates photo-biological, genomic, and phenotypic data from various sources to develop a “light signal recipe” that is then deployed to activate traits. This innovative approach modifies genetic expression without the need for genetic modification or chemicals.
Currently, BioLumic is working to mitigate methane emissions by treating rice and grass for livestock, collaborating with organizations like The Gates Foundation and dairy cooperative Fonterra.
With ongoing discussions for further investment and a strategic focus on expanding into global hubs, BioLumic is gearing up for a planned Series C fundraising round, positioning itself at the forefront of agricultural innovation.
Notably, venture capital deals in agtech have seen a decline, falling to $1.3 billion in the third quarter of 2025 from $1.5 billion in the previous quarter, as reported by PitchBook, indicating a cautious investor sentiment toward earlier-stage companies.
