DKK 5 Million Novo Nordisk Foundation Grant Accelerates Development

A groundbreaking DKK 5 million Synergy Grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation has been awarded to advance revolutionary research in sustainable crop protection. The three-year project, led by Kenneth Halberg's research group in collaboration with partners from Lund and Ghent Universities, aims to transform pest control through nature-inspired nanotechnology.

The Vision: Nature-Inspired Green Insecticides

The project, titled "Nature Inspired Green Insecticides for Sustainable Crop Protection: Exploring Programmable Nano-injectors for Targeted Delivery of Insect Biocides," represents a paradigm shift in how we approach agricultural pest management.

The Challenge We're Addressing

Current agricultural systems face critical challenges:

Up to 50% of global food production is lost to pests annually
Chemical pesticides are failing due to resistance and environmental damage
Over half of Danish drinking water wells are now contaminated with pesticides
Growing regulatory pressure demands safer, more sustainable alternatives

"It seems incomprehensible that up to half of the world's food crops are lost due to insects - either directly or indirectly via insect-borne plant diseases. On the other hand, it's easy to understand that we therefore have a great need for effective insect control."

Revolutionary Technology: Protein Machines

Hijacking Nature's Nanotechnology

Our approach centers on protein machines - bacterial nano-needles that naturally deliver specific substances to their surroundings or to specific cells in a host organism, or as defense weapons against other bacteria.

Kenneth Halberg explains the breakthrough: "We have developed a method to 'hijack' the system and genetically reprogram the bacteria to produce nano-needles that contain exactly the substances we want. It's an optimal system, as the needles exclusively inject their content when they recognize and bind to specific surface proteins on specific cells."

Engineering Precision

Eva Rebrova, adjunct professor in the research group, has developed a method by which we can modify the recognition mechanism, and thereby completely target the needles against entirely essential processes in the harmful insects. This method is now patented, and we hope to be able to develop the first prototypes that can be tested in the field in the near future.

Game-Changing Advantages

Stability and Practicality

The nano-needles offer several revolutionary advantages:

Stable protein structures that are heat-resistant
No special storage requirements
Long-lasting activity that can be distributed wherever harmful insects are found
Versatile targeting - easily adaptable to different insect species

Environmental Benefits

No toxic residues in soil, water, or food
Species-specific targeting preserves beneficial insects
Biodegradable - breaks down naturally without environmental persistence
Climate adaptable - can address new invasive species driven by climate change

From Laboratory to Field Application

Testing Strategy

The system will initially be tested on beetles, building on Kenneth Halberg's group's extensive work with the red flour beetle as a model organism. Recent research revealed exactly how beetles are able to [extract water from air through their rectum](beetle-water-research), providing crucial insights into their physiology.

Scalable Production

If the project succeeds as hoped, researchers will develop a biocontrol system where nano-needles with high specificity, loaded with an insecticide, can be:

Purified from bacteria at large scale
Tested on different pests under various conditions
Deployed in real agricultural settings

The Research Team

This collaborative effort brings together expertise from three leading European universities:

University of Copenhagen (Lead)

Kenneth Veland Halberg - Principal Investigator, Associate Professor in Neuroendocrinology and Physiology
Eva Rebrova - Co-developer of the targeting mechanism modification method

International Collaboration

Lund University partners contributing complementary expertise
Ghent University researchers advancing the practical applications

Global Impact Potential

Addressing Food Security

This technology could revolutionize global food security by providing:

Effective pest control without environmental damage
Solutions for developing countries lacking access to safe pest management
Resistance management through novel modes of action
Sustainable agricultural practices supporting regenerative farming

Market Transformation

The global pesticide market, worth $100 billion annually, desperately needs sustainable alternatives. This research could provide the foundation for a new generation of crop protection products that are both effective and environmentally responsible.

The Path Forward

Next Three Years

The Synergy Grant will support:

Advanced nano-injector development and optimization
Laboratory efficacy testing on target pest species
Safety and environmental impact studies
Proof-of-concept demonstrations for field applications
Intellectual property development and protection

Commercialization Potential

This research forms the scientific foundation for Yngvi Bio's commercial development efforts, with potential applications across multiple agricultural sectors and pest management challenges.

About the Novo Nordisk Foundation

The Novo Nordisk Foundation is one of the world's largest private foundations, supporting research and humanitarian activities. Synergy Grants specifically fund collaborative research projects that combine different scientific approaches to address major challenges in life sciences.

Grant Significance

This DKK 5 million award represents:

Recognition of breakthrough potential by leading scientific foundation
Validation of collaborative approach across multiple institutions
Investment in sustainable technology for global benefit
Support for translation from basic research to practical application

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This research represents a crucial step toward sustainable agriculture and food security. Learn more about how these discoveries are being translated into commercial solutions at [Yngvi Bio](/technology).

Publication: Research findings related to this project have been published in PNAS and other leading scientific journals.