Perlumi Chemicals, In.c

Perlumi Chemicals, Inc., operating as GigaCrop, is a biotechnology company focused on enhancing plant productivity by reinventing photosynthesis. The company utilizes synthetic biology and protein engineering to develop novel carbon fixation pathways that bypass the Rubisco enzyme, which typically serves as a rate-limiting bottleneck in the sugar synthesis process of plants. By engineering seeds that employ more efficient, native-based enzyme systems, Perlumi aims to significantly accelerate sugar production, thereby increasing crop yields and improving drought tolerance with fewer agricultural resources.

This technology is intended to provide critical solutions for global sustainability, food security, and resource management. By increasing caloric output from existing farmland, the company's innovations seek to reduce the environmental impact of industrial agriculture, including fertilizer runoff and land conversion. Headquartered in Berkeley, California, and founded by Chris Eiben, Perlumi is a venture-backed startup supported by programs and investors such as ARPA-E, the Grantham Foundation, and Activate Global, aiming to scale these improvements for major crops like corn and soybeans to support a more resilient, plant-based future.