Starting a Business is about turning "achievable" technology into "usable" tools.
Summary
Based on solid customer insights, we have identified medium to large citrus growing enterprises and pesticide suppliers as our initial customers.
Focusing on their core demand for "precision, efficiency, safety" , we have utilized synthetic biology technology to develop the world's first dual-pathway RNA pesticide solution for citrus aphids, combining "trunk injection + engineered fungi", and have completed the MVP development of the first-generation RNA pesticide product.
We have conducted qualification research for product implementation and designed a commercial realization path.
If you want to learn more about the entire project, click the collapsible block to expand our motivation, action, and contribution.
Motivation
A crisis that began with the Spring Festival Shatangju gave rise to a green technological revolution against citrus aphids.
During the 2025 Lunar New Year, SZU-iGEM members first encountered the challenge of citrus aphid control when aphids infested an ornamental orange plant in home. "Following this, we visiteded Shanwei in Guangdong Province, an area heavily afflicted by citrus aphid disease in China, where we personally witnessed the aphids causing growers entire year's effort wasted. This deeply affected us.Citrus aphid disease is a serious global affliction, affecting over 100 million citrus trees worldwide[1][2].As the largest citrus-producing country, China faces an affected area exceeding 25 million mu annually due to citrus aphids[3],with control costs surpassing 480 million US dollars[4].In major production regions such as Guangdong, citrus aphid damage is particularly widespread, often resulting in an annual yield loss of around 80,000 tons[5].In certain production zones, the density of aphids can reach 300-500 per tree[6],posing a substantial threat to both the stable supply of citrus and the livelihoods of farmers.
Action
Facing this severe reality, we decided to launch a venture to transform laboratory-ready RNA interference (RNAi) technology into a field-applicable solution "APHiGO".
Based on solid customer insights, Aphigo has targeted first-wave customers. Addressing their core demands for precision, high efficiency, and safety, we developed dual-pathway RNA pesticide solution for citrus aphids. We have completed the development of the first-generation Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for this RNA pesticide. Furthermore, we conducted regulatory due diligence for product deployment and designed a clear commercialization roadmap.
Contribution
Aphigo is committed not only to safeguarding China's "golden harvest", but also aims to provide a reusable technological platform for the "Third Pesticide Revolution" and drive global agriculture toward a green, precise, and sustainable future.
The project has currently completed the laboratory verification of its core modules, successfully established itself in the Shenzhen Longhua Bio-Industry Innovation Research Institute, and initiated the field trial and patent application processes.
Our contribution is clear and firm:
Short-term: Aphigo will precisely control citrus aphids, recovering losses for growers.
Long-term: We plan to expand Aphigo into a versatile platform capable of addressing multiple pests, using Chinese innovation to empower the "Third Pesticide Revolution" and contribute to the green transition and food security of global agriculture.
To present the project's commercial logic and practical trajectory more comprehensively, the PDF version of our Business Plan is attached below:
To help you understand the entire project in an organized manner, the main text is structured into six sections, corresponding to the iGEM official evaluation criteria for the Entrepreneurship Special Prize. The core focus of each section is as follows:
Users and Needs: Emphasizes how we confirmed the shortcomings of existing solutions and identified our customers through commercial tools and Human Practices (HP) engagement with stakeholders.
Product and Service: Highlights Aphigo's MVP, its innovativeness, and scalability.
Commercial Realization Path: Shows our phased commercialization strategy based on our startup status and the necessary resource allocation.
Future Development Plan: Outlines the required resources (research, production, policy, market) , including a milestone-based development plan, risk identification and response.
Comprehensive Impact: Based on the Theory of Change, we consider the solution's positive and negative impacts.
Entrepreneurial Practice Results: Demonstrates the step-by-step thinking and design process to convert our iGEM project into a solution capable of impacting reality, especially how HP influenced commercial decisions.
Users and Needs
We investigated the citrus aphid problem, finding its global prevalence and the shortcomings of existing control methods. By deconstructing the citrus value chain, conducting interviews with stakeholders, and analyzing purchasing power, we ultimately identified medium-to-large citrus growing enterprises and medium-to-large pesticide suppliers as our core customers.
Industry Background
When we first focused on the citrus aphid hazard, we pondered, "Is this problem worth solving? Is it necessary?" With this question, we initiated our research, gradually building a comprehensive understanding of the citrus industry:
Citrus aphid disease is a serious global affliction, affecting over 100 million citrus trees worldwide[1][2]. As the largest citrus-producing country, China faces an affected area exceeding 25 million mu annually due to citrus aphids[3].with control costs surpassing 480 million US dollars[4].In major production regions such as Guangdong, annual affected area exceeding 3 million mu[5],often resulting in an annual yield loss of around 80,000 tons[6].In certain production zones, the density of aphids can reach 300-500 per tree[5],posing a substantial threat to both the stable supply of citrus and the livelihoods of farmers.
Eliminating this risk will not only safeguard citrus food safety but also protect the livelihoods of millions of farmers globally, which became our driving force for action.
Current Solutions
For citrus aphids, growers mainly use two types of solutions: chemical pesticides and biological pesticides.
We analyzed the two solutions based on key indicators like price and efficacy, as shown in the table below. Chemical pesticides are characterized by "fast effect, low cost, and easy purchase," and are used by most farmers. A very small number of farmers use biological pesticides for growing green or organic products. However, biological pesticides are usually more expensive than chemical ones, and their effect is slow and unstable, requiring prediction of pest conditions, which means a relatively high technical threshold that farmers cannot accept and use in the short term.
For the most common chemical pesticides reported in our research, we analyzed their pros and cons. We found that chemical pesticides may not be an effective and sustainable option. The reasons are as follows:
Repeated use of chemical pesticides leads to enhanced aphid resistance, forcing farmers to increase usage, which raises control costs.
Some chemical pesticides are highly toxic and pollution, with high accidental toxicity to non-target organisms, and have been banned by the government.
Please click the following circle to read the pros and cons of the corresponding pesticide.
In interviews with academic experts, we learned that RNA pesticides based on RNA interference technology are hailed as the "Third Generation Agricultural Revolution." They are not merely a supplement to the existing pesticide system but a major driver for the transition to precision, green, and sustainable agriculture, and are expected to reshape the global agricultural protection landscape.
Consumer Analysis
Value Chain Analysis
To understand whether Aphigo can be accepted by the industry as an effective citrus aphid control solution, we conducted multiple interviews to map out the main components of the citrus industry value chain.
Demand and Ability to Pay Analysis
We excluded indirect stakeholders from the citrus industry value chain to identify direct stakeholders. Combining industry data and survey results, we assessed the purchase demand and willingness to pay for citrus aphid pesticides among all direct stakeholders, finding that medium-to-large pesticide suppliers and medium-to-large citrus growers have a high purchase demand and willingness to pay for citrus aphid pesticides.
We conducted interviews with these two groups. We found that:
China does not have giant pesticide suppliers, pesticides are distributed by medium-to-large pesticide suppliers in each province and city to small local pesticide stores in towns and townships, which sell them to farmers.
The Chinese rural area is characterized by a collective economy and simultaneously implements a land contract system, where land is mostly operated uniformly by large citrus growing enterprises.
Profitability Analysis
To verify whether we could profit from selling pesticides to these two groups, we conducted a profitability analysis (the ratio of service cost input to acquired revenue). We found that compared to the larger number of small pesticide suppliers and small citrus growers, the promotion cost is significantly lower for medium-to-large pesticide suppliers and medium-to-large citrus growers.
Customer Positioning
Through consumer analysis, we found that large pesticide suppliers and large citrus growers have the highest purchase demand, willingness to pay, and return on investment. Further verifying the customers' willingness to use Aphigo is crucial, so we initiated a second round of follow-up visits.
The survey results show that these two groups generally prioritize data such as "control efficacy," "environmental impact," and "pesticide cost," and they possess the ability to reduce costs through large-scale operations. They are willing to try the new-type Aphigo pesticide and are thus identified as our core customers.
Value Proposition
After completing the full-chain demand research, we reviewed the core pain points collected during the survey, confirming that the first batch of customer needs all point to the three keywords: "Precision, Safety, and Efficiency."
Through communication with our PI, Professor Mo Beixin, who has long been engaged in plant development and molecular biology research, we fully recognized the outstanding advantages of RNA interference technology: strong species specificity, safety, and high efficiency—which can address customer needs.
Based on this analysis, we ultimately determined our value proposition: To provide a precise, safe, and long-lasting RNA pesticide for citrus aphids, helping growers reduce pest losses and control costs, while satisfying the demand for quality and safety across all segments of the citrus value chain.
Products and Services
We have transformed RNAi technology into a product: an RNA pesticide specifically for citrus aphids. After technical verification, it has been proven to be innovative, feasible, and scalable.
Technical Route
Below is a simplified diagram of our technical route. For the detailed construction and verification process, please refer to the wet lab records.
Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Product Introduction
Our minimum viable product(MVP) is the RNA pesticide specifically for citrus aphids. Its core ingredient is MS2-RNA dry powder with a content of 1%, which can be used to safely and efficiently kill citrus aphids.
The development of this product underwent a dual optimization process of "RNA molecule iteration and product form iteration":
RNA molecule iteration: Our core product was evaluated primarily based on the mortality rate of citrus aphids. Ultimately, "artificial miRNA" stood out due to its advantage of "dual functionality, utilizing two eukaryotic endogenous miRNA processing mechanisms to achieve efficient gene silencing," becoming the core molecular basis for achieving high insecticidal efficiency.
Product form iteration: After three generations of form refinement, from bead type to liquid type—the final form chosen is the powdered type, which is stable in nature, easy to transport, and convenient to use.
Usage Method
For solution preparation, follow the ratio of "120g of the product dissolved in 1.5L water". After thoroughly stirring the product with water until completely dissolved, the prepared solution can meet the one-time application needs for 10 mu of land (with an average of 30 citrus trees per mu). At this point, the concentration of the solution is 800ng/μL.
One application of this product can kill 60% of citrus aphids. It is non-toxic and harmless to the environment, can also effectively reduce the risk of aphid resistance, and is suitable for long-term safe use.
Below is the Product Manual. For details, please click the file to read.
For trunk injection: select the correct injection position: it should be at the bottom of the trunk, about 10-30 cm above the ground. Pay attention to the depth and angle: the depth is usually 6-7 cm (adjust flexibly according to the trunk diameter if necessary).
To help farmers to use our pesticide easily, we write a specific pesticide application guidance as follows.
Product Packaging
In terms of product packaging, we have complied with the Regulations on Pesticide Administration, Measures for the Implementation of the Regulations on Pesticide Administration, and Measures for the Administration of Pesticide Labels and Manuals as stipulated in the official standards of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China. These are the statutes that must be followed for the product to successfully reach the registration and commercialization stages.
Label of the RNA Pesticide Specifically for Citrus Aphids
Innovativeness and Scalability
Relying on a modular design, Aphigo allows "components" of each module to be replaced, thus achieving the expansion of technology and products as well as sustainable development. Click on the modules below to read the details.
Stability: 19nt Ra site, self-assembly capability, protecting RNA from degradation. Scene Adaptability: Suitable for foliar spraying and soil application.
Specific Delivery: Aphid gut-specific peptides fused to the surface of MS2 VLPs enable precise target recognition. Ecological Friendliness: Minimizing impact on natural enemies and other organisms.
Accurate Sequence and High Purity: Can precisely synthesize the target dsRNA, is easy to purify, and has virtually no impurities or off-target risk. Low Barrier and Minimal Risk: No fermentation equipment is required, making it easy to operate. There is no risk of live microorganisms/gene drift, making it easy to comply with regulations, and the cost is controllable.
Expandability
For different target gene sequences, independently design computer programs to assist in the design of RNAi molecules, so as to prevent and control pests such as citrus leafminers.
A 19nt Ra site can be introduced at the 5' end of any RNAi molecule, enabling self-assembly with MS2 capsid proteins to form a stable delivery system.
The targeting module can be replaced with targeting peptides adapted to different citrus pests, so as to suit different pests.
Commercial Realization Path
Through PESTEL, SWOT and other analyses, we confirmed that Aphigo is a citrus aphid control solution that the market can accept. Focusing on our core customers and end-users, we specifically designed a phased commercial model—starting with a Business-to-Business (B2B) model in the early stage, and later transitioning to a Business-to-Consumer (B2C) model.
You can understand our business model through the BMC (Business Model Canvas) diagram.
Commercial Feasibility Analysis
1. PESTEL Analysis
2. Market Size Analysis
The PESTEL analysis told us that Aphigo is a solution the market can accept. The next question is what kind of market Aphigo is facing. Finding the most suitable "beachhead" market for Aphigo's entry is the key to gradual expansion.
For the most accessible market nearest to us, we first considered the Guangdong province where we are located. Guangdong's citrus output ranks fourth in the country, becoming our TOM (Target Obtainable Market). China's largest citrus production areas are the South China regions of Guangdong and Guangxi. Given the proximity and convenient transportation between provinces in South China, this is our SAM (Serviceable Available Market) for rapid product line expansion. Furthermore, as the world's number one citrus producer, China represents our TAM(Total Addressable Market) market.
We forecast that by 2031, Aphigo will capture 2.5% of the citrus aphid control market share in Guangdong Province; by 2032, the share in this segmented market will increase to 5%; by 2033, market coverage will expand to the entire SAM of South China, with a share of 1.9%.
3. SWOT Analysis
After understanding the market size for Aphigo, we conducted a comprehensive SWOT analysis to systematically evaluate the project's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats, and to develop targeted response strategies to ensure Aphigo's market entry.
Please click the letter to learn more.
< Target-specific, non-toxic, and safe >
Aphigo is able to specifically inhibit gene expression in the target organism, the citrus aphid, by designing artifial miRNA complementary to the target mRNA, thereby reducing effects on non-target organisms.
< Environmentally friendly, with sustainability and scalability >
Aphigo has good biodegradability and does not persist in the environment for the long term. In the future, it can be extended to other pests by changing the target gene sequences and targeting modules.
< Collaborative resources support project implementation >
Obtained experimental samples, such as different strains of citrus aphids and virus-free citrus seedlings, from the Citrus Research Institute of China. The Longhua Bio-industry Innovation Research Institute provides us with the necessary experimental fields and assists in experimental protocol design.
< Directly obtain feedback from users >
Communicate with citrus growers, cooperatives, and agricultural distributors in multiple regions to clarify their needs.
< Narrow range of action >
It targets only the critical survival genes of the citrus aphid, and thus has little to no effect on other pests.
< Relatively high production cost >
Although the cost of RNA production is gradually decreasing with technological advancements, the large-scale production of RNA requires efficient production platforms and processes, which are still in the development stage.
< Lack of validation under natural conditions >
Aphigo performs well under laboratory conditions, but its efficiency and stability still require further optimization and validation under natural conditions.
< Production methods are improving, and costs are steadily decreasing >
RNA can be produced efficiently and at low cost through methods such as in vitro synthesis. Costs have dropped significantly from as high as $12,500 per gram in 2008 to an estimated $0.47 to $2 per gram by 2025, and are expected to fall further in the future.
< The development of RNA-based pesticides is a global trend >
The global biopesticide market is projected to maintain a high growth rate in the coming years, and RNA-based pesticides (or RNA pesticides), as an emerging technology within this sector, hold huge market potential.
< Insufficient promotion and application of the technology >
The promotion and application of RNA pesticides require more research and practical experience to enhance their suitability and effectiveness across different agricultural systems.
< Incomplete regulations and legal framework >
The regulatory and legal system for RNA pesticides needs further improvement, as their application in agriculture remains a challenge. Classification standards differ across countries such as the United States and Australia. In China, a unified classification system for RNA pesticides has yet to be established.
< Insufficient public education and publicity/awareness >
The public acceptance and application of RNA pesticides still need to be boosted through education and awareness campaigns. This directly impacts their implementation and dissemination in agriculture.
Technical Barriers
We learned from Zhisheng Yougu, China's largest R&D company for RNA biological pesticides, that the current development of the RNA biological pesticide industry faces three major challenges: target screening, vector delivery, and in vitro production. These are also the challenges restricting our technical development and product application. Click the module below for detailed content.
upstream research Challenges and Response
Difficulty in Target Gene Screening: The success of RNA pesticides primarily depends on finding efficient, specific target genes that are not prone to resistance. However, the number of currently discovered effective targets is limited, and the screening process is technically cumbersome, long in cycle, and costly, lacking a high-throughput screening platform.
Our Action: We developed an RNA molecule design module. By using multi-sequence alignment analysis and gene databases, we screened key genes like chitin synthase and concatenated RNA into bi-functional RNA (bi-RNA), which can address the challenge of target gene screening and enhance the RNA molecule's silencing effect.
Downstream Application Challenges and Response
Difficulty in RNA Molecule Delivery and Response: This is widely recognized as the biggest technical barrier in the RNA pesticide field. Naked RNA molecules are extremely fragile and are easily degraded by UV light and nucleases produced by microorganisms in the field environment, leading to a short duration of efficacy. More importantly, efficiently delivering the RNA molecule into the target organism, enabling its effective cellular uptake, and conduction within the organism are key factors determining the efficacy. Current delivery efficiency is generally low, severely limiting the product's actual effect. Although nanocarrier technology is considered a potential solution, its R&D is still in the exploratory phase, facing multiple challenges related to stability, cost, and environmental safety.
Our Action: We plan to develop an MS2 Virus-like Particle (VLP) targeted delivery system. By combining the synthetic cell-penetrating peptide TAT and the SP1 encoding sequence with MS2 CP, a new assembly carrier is established, achieving RNA molecule protection and targeted delivery.
Immature Technology System for Scaled Production: An industrial system for RNA pesticide production that is truly scalable, low-cost, and highly efficient has not yet been established in China or globally. This not only limits the supply of currently developed products but also makes the final product's market pricing difficult for most growers to accept. One analysis pointed out that excessively high field application costs were once the main barrier to promoting RNAi technology.
Our Action: We use cell-free in vitro transcription to synthesize RNA molecules. We verify their integrity using agarose gel electrophoresis and quantify their concentration using NanoDrop, achieving mass production of RNA molecules.
In our preliminary efforts to overcome the industry's technical barriers, we are supported by the following three platforms:
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Epigenetics at Shenzhen University: Provides R&D support for RNAi technology, field trial guidance, and laboratory resources.
Longhua Institute of Industrial Innovation in Biological Sciences, Shenzhen University: Collaborates on the application for scientific and technological achievements, including pesticide registration certificates and patent acquisition, and provides financial support for us and subsequent field trials.
Citrus Research Institute of China: Provides non-toxic citrus seedlings and citrus aphid samples required for our R&D, with sufficient quantity and high quality, accelerating the Aphigo R&D cycle.
Regulatory Barriers
China's RNA pesticide regulatory framework currently suffers from core issues such as a lack of classification standards and unclear requirements for registration data. To better address future threats, we analyzed China's RNA pesticide regulations. Details can be found in the file below.
Analysis of China's RNA pesticide regulations
Business Model
We rely on the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Epigenetics at Shenzhen University for R&D, implement large-scale production through production outsourcing, and target medium-to-large citrus growing enterprises and pesticide distributors as customers.
Product Production Process
The production process of Aphigo includes key steps such as raw material supply and active ingredient production, which we will outsource to a pesticide manufacturing company with which we plan to establish a partnership. A comprehensive product quality inspection process is established, with complete data indicators, following the basic principle of "multi-party supervised quality inspection" for application cost, residue levels, and control efficacy.
Profit Model
1. Pricing Strategy
Raw material cost is as follows.
Production and storage cost is as follows.
Based on Aphigo's production model and existing collaborations, the total cost per package (120g) is 16 RMB.
Our pricing strategy is centered on the value of RNA pesticides: high efficiency, low toxicity, and environmental friendliness. The pricing process comprehensively considers factors such as raw material costs, production expenses, R&D amortization, and registration costs, and reserves sufficient profit margins for channel partners.
The agent cost for end-users is 2.8 RMB per mu. With a selling price of 24 RMB per package (120g), the gross profit margin is approximately 70%. This represents a saving of about 46% compared to chemical pesticides (e.g., a product usable for 4.5 mu, priced at 20 RMB/bottle) and about 86% compared to existing biological pesticides (e.g., a product usable for 5–6 mu/kg, priced at 93 RMB/kg).
2. Sales Model
We will adopt a phased promotion strategy for the sales model.
The early stage will focus on the B2B model, primarily serving medium-to-large citrus growing enterprises and pesticide suppliers.
As market awareness increases and the product matures, we will gradually transition to the B2C model, directly serving the broader individual citrus growers. At that time, we will establish online service platforms and regional service stations to provide growers with supporting services such as pest diagnosis and usage guidance, enhancing the product's fit with actual planting scenarios.
3. Financial Forecast
Revenue Forecast
Based on Aphigo's early-stage promotion and development, we project that after completing pesticide registration approval in 2030 and company establishment in 2031, we will achieve a 2% market share in Guangdong Province in 2031, with revenue exceeding 400,000 RMB, and grow at a rate of over 90%. The gross margin is projected to increase from 21% to 34%.
Financing Forecast
Aphigo plans to conduct an Angel Round financing in 2032, seeking 2 million RMB for 10% equity. The funds are projected to be used for R&D, market promotion, and operating expenses.
Future Development Plan
Guided by professionals in the entrepreneurship field, we have outlined the core framework for our future development plan: securing key commercial resources, advancing key commercial activities, continuous product optimization, and developing targeted risk response strategies to ensure the project's steady progress.
Key Commercial Resources
Based on Aphigo's existing commercial resources, we focus on the key commercial resources that need to be acquired in the future. This will precisely fill Aphigo's current resource gaps, covering the four dimensions of R&D, Production, Policy, and Market:
Key Commercial Activities
To clearly plan the key commercial activities before Aphigo's deployment, we will use a Gantt chart for visual presentation. This plan not only supports the project's steady advancement but also conveys our initial commitment and determination to help citrus growers through synthetic biology.
The relatively important milestone activities include:
Acquiring the Pesticide Registration Certificate: To ensure Aphigo's compliance, we must follow China's "Regulations on Pesticide Administration" to complete lab trials, field trials, etc., and obtain the pesticide registration certificate through Shenzhen University's technology commercialization entity.
Transfer of the Registration Certificate Holder: It will be initially held by Shenzhen University's technology commercialization entity and transferred after the Aphigo company is established, in accordance with the "Measures for the Commercialization of Scientific and Technological Achievements of Shenzhen University."
Company Establishment and Financing: Planning to establish R&D, marketing, and other functional departments in 2029, and complete financing in 2031 to advance production line expansion and pilot projects in multiple locations.
Product Development Plan
Through continuous Human Practices to track unmet customer needs, we have crafted a product development plan for Aphigo to ensure the Aphigo product brings greater well-being to people.
Risks and Responses
We formulated an external risk assessment and response plan for Aphigo based on the COSO Eight Elements, strengthening the safeguards for Aphigo's steady progress.
Please read the PDF to learn more.
Risk assessment management of Aphigo
Comprehensive Impact
We will use the Theory of Change as the core, analyzing Aphigo's green biological pesticide's inputs and activities, the resulting direct and indirect impacts, as well as the project's sustainability and ethical considerations.
Inputs and Activities
We inject revolutionary "inputs" through our product and service, laying the foundation for subsequent actions:
Product Input: Produce RNA pesticide dry powder for trunk injection.
Service Input: Providing a full-chain service including application guidance and efficacy feedback, connecting with the actual operation scenarios at the planting end to solve the "last mile of technology implementation" problem.
Direct Impact
1. Planting Enterprises
Addressing the pain point of strict export pesticide residue testing and the need for high-quality fruit, Aphigo's low residue and high targeting, coupled with trunk injection reducing application frequency and labor costs, is expected to be adopted by enterprises as a standardized control measure for green certification or export orchards.
2. Pesticide Suppliers
We enhance customer stickiness by providing supporting services such as usage guidance and efficacy feedback, helping pesticide suppliers transition from "product movers" to "technical service providers", promoting the upgrade of agricultural material services.
Indirect Impact
1. Government and Regulatory Agencies
Alignment: Complies with China's "14th Five-Year Plan" for pesticide reduction, green agricultural transition, and the "Green Pesticide Registration Guide." Its low toxicity and easy degradation reduce non-point source pollution.
Expectation: After market entry, the product will provide local areas with replicable and assessable green control cases, helping to achieve chemical pesticide reduction targets and potentially promoting the exploration of special approval policies for RNA pesticides.
2. Research Institutions and Universities
Collaboration: We will collaborate with the Citrus Research Institute of China, BGI (Beijing Genomics Institute), and others.
Value: Aphigo's field data will provide real-world scenario support for scientific research, promoting industry-academia-research collaboration and driving the RNAi technology from the lab to industrial application.
3. End Consumers and the Public
Consumers are concerned about food safety. The use of Aphigo allows for the production of citrus with "no chemical insecticide residues."
We will use brand storytelling and media communication to reverse the perception that "pesticides = pollution," thereby driving the upstream planting end to use green technology, forming a positive feedback loop of "market demand → production upgrade."
Sustainability and Ethics
Sustainability
Technical: The modular architecture allows for dynamic optimization of target species, adapting to different production areas.
Economic: We plan for scaled production and process iteration, aiming to reduce costs to the level of chemical pesticides, and reduce growers' risk through "try before you buy" pilots.
Ecological: RNA is naturally degradable, does not harm soil ecology, production residue can be used as organic fertilizer, and packaging is degradable, practicing a circular economy concept across the entire chain.
Ethics
Social Equity: Ensuring Small Farmers Are Not Left Behind, Sharing Technology Dividends The ultimate value of agricultural technology is to allow all practitioners to equally enjoy the benefits, which is also our core ethical principle.
Our phased strategy is an active commitment to "equity" in response to the "technology gap" that may be exacerbated by high initial costs of new technology: the early stage focuses on large planting enterprises and core pesticide suppliers (B2B) to accelerate technology maturity and cost reduction through large-scale application, paving the way for universal benefits; once costs are reduced, we will transition to the B2C model to serve individual small farmers, fulfilling the promise of "leaving no small farmer behind."
We will collaborate with cooperatives to launch a "try-before-you-pay" pilot, connect with government subsidies to reduce procurement costs for small farmers; we will use transparent pricing to disclose cost composition, reject "scale-based differential pricing," and provide technical training and operation guides to ensure all types of growers can use Aphigo without barriers, preventing the technology from being monopolized by a few enterprises.
Transparent Communication: Breaking Down Knowledge Barriers, Truly Implementing "Informed Consent" RNAi technology for most growers and consumers is a "professional concept they don't understand"—if they can't even grasp the technical principle and safety risks, how can they make an "active choice"?
We deeply understand that true ethics is not about "telling" but about "letting the other party understand and agree before making a decision", which is the core of "informed consent" and our starting point for communication.
Therefore, in our interactions with growers and pesticide suppliers, we use accessible language to explain Aphigo's mechanism of action, helping users understand its precision and eco-friendliness.
Aphigo's significance extends far beyond controlling a single pest; it lies in intelligently reshaping the relationship between humans and nature: using a smarter way to protect crops and a more sustainable way to safeguard food security. We hope that when people see a thriving kumquat plant again, they will not only feel the New Year's blessing but also perceive the goodness and responsibility behind the technology.
Entrepreneurial Practice Results
This section showcases the efforts made and achievements gained by Aphigo. We have meticulously documented the key steps in project advancement and the underlying business considerations, with a specific focus on the significant support we've already secured. Furthermore, we have applied for patents and won multiple awards, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent commercialization of our product.
Entrepreneur's Daily Book
This section details the important milestones and events, particularly how relevant Human Practices (HP) influenced our business decisions. The entire Entrepreneur's Daily Book illustrats how we systematically designed and transformed our iGEM project into a viable real-world solution.
Attached below is the PDF version of the Entrepreneur's Daily Book for your in-depth understanding.
Resources Acquired
Entrepreneurship Park Incubation
After completing the preliminary product verification and clarifying the commercialization path, we formally applied to be incubated at the Shenzhen University Entrepreneurship Park, to integrate better industry resources. We successfully obtained the incubation qualification on August 15, 2025, after project review and expert evaluation.
The entrepreneurship park not only provided us with office space, equipment, and mentor guidance, but also significantly enhanced the project's credibility through its official incubation qualification. This helps us build trust when communicating with potential partners, providing crucial support for market expansion.
Field Trial Support
To verify the efficacy and ecological safety of Aphigo formulations in actual cultivation environments, the project negotiated with the technology commercialization institution of Shenzhen University: Shenzhen University Longhua Bioindustry Innovation Research Institute. The intended cooperation includes conducting field trials using the institute's facilities and manpower. Based on this, Longhua Research Institute will provide entrepreneurial incubation support to the project, with a focus on advancing the product to the critical stages of pesticide registration.
Please read the PDF to learn more about the memorandum of understanding.
Field Trial Initiation Approval
Special fund
The School of Life Sciences of Shenzhen University recognizes the team's potential and the project's value, and provides a 42,761 USD special fund for optimizing experimental schemes, upgrading R&D equipment, and expanding frontline services in rural areas, providing guarantees for the team to deepen scientific research and practice serving the people through practical work.
Intellectual Property Protection
We have preliminarily constructed an IP system based on core technology and are continuously expanding the scope of protection to ensure comprehensive IP protection, safeguard the project's key advantages in the RNA pesticide field.
Awards Certificate
The Guangdong Youth May Fourth Medal (Collective)
The team has a long-standing commitment to research, consistently generating socially applicable achievements. They have repeatedly showcased the academic prowess and professional competence of Chinese students in international competitions. Concurrently, they actively integrate innovative results and professional knowledge with grassroots needs, providing services deep within rural communities. The Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League awarded the Shenzhen University iGEM team the highest honor for youth in Guangdong: the Guangdong Youth May Fourth Medal (Collective).
Special Support for the Climbing Program
The team has obtained special support under the Climbing Program. To ensure the progress of research and development, the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee has provided a 2,804 USD experimental fund in accordance with the experimental needs of the team's innovative projects, which is used for the purchase of core experimental materials and data testing.
References
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[1]de Andrade, Eduardo C., and William B. Hunter. "RNA Interference–Natural Gene-Based Technology for Highly Specific Pest Control (HiSPeC)." RNA Interference, edited by Ibrokhim Y. Abdurakhmonov, IntechOpen, 2016. IntechOpen, doi:10.5772/61814. Accessed 6 Apr. 2016.
[2] Mann, C. W., et al. "RNA-Based Control of Fungal Pathogens in Plants." International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 24, no. 15, 2023, p. 12391. 1 Aug. 2023.
[3]"Citrus Tristeza Virus: The 'Terminator' of the Citrus Industry, Having Destroyed Over 100 Million Trees Worldwide." Kepu Hunan, Hunan Association for Science and Technology, 13 Nov. 2023.
[4]Hunan Provincial Plant Protection and Quarantine Station. "It Is Expected That Citrus Red Mites Will Occur Moderately Severely in Our Province This Year." Kepuhunan Platform, 6 May 2025.
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