Sttr phase i: low-cost production of agricultural peptides using semi-continuous fermentation

The National Science Foundation awarded Roke Biotechnologies LLC $305,000 on July 1, 2026, to develop a low-cost manufacturing platform for agricultural peptides using semi-continuous bacterial fermentation integrated with simplified purification methods.

Under the NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program (CFDA 47.084), the recipient will develop and validate a laboratory-scale prototype system that addresses three technical challenges: maintaining stable protein production over extended operation without genetic drift, integrating multiple processing steps into a coordinated continuous system, and protecting sensitive peptide products from degradation during purification. The project will establish operating parameters through computational modeling and measure success by achieving target expression levels, purification yields above ninety percent, and continuous operation for seventy-two hours or longer without performance decline.

The work is performed in Durham, North Carolina, with a period of performance from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The platform aims to reduce production costs and enable safer, more sustainable products at smaller scales where batch production is economically unviable, while strengthening domestic biomanufacturing capacity and reducing reliance on chemical inputs. Sub-awards are planned for this award.

Abstract

The broader/commercial impact of this small business technology transfer (sttr) phase i project is to develop a manufacturing platform that reduces production costs, enabling broader access to safer, more sustainable products. This technology supports national goals to strengthen domestic biomanufacturing capacity and reduce reliance on chemical inputs. The proposed project will develop and validate a semi-continuous bacterial fermentation system integrated with simplified purification methods that eliminate expensive chromatography steps. Traditional protein manufacturing relies on batch production with costly, time-intensive processes that require extensive customization for each new product. These limitations make production economically viable only at very large scales, excluding many applications where demand is more modest. Additionally, scaling up batch processes from laboratory to commercial scale is technically risky and often fails due to unforeseen challenges. This project addresses three technical challenges: maintaining stable protein production over extended operation without genetic drift, integrating multiple processing steps into a coordinated continuous system, and protecting sensitive peptide products from degradation during purification. The research will establish operating parameters through computational modeling and validate a laboratory-scale prototype system. Success will be measured by achieving target expression levels, purification yields above ninety percent, and continuous operation for seventy-two hours or longer without performance decline. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are planned for this award.