Spearhead Bio
Spearhead Bio leads the next generation of powerful native genome engineering tools to accelerate the development and launch of new transgenic & non-transgenic crops.
Harnessing Nature to Transform Agriculture
With Spearhead Bio’s flagship technology, we can significantly enhance the efficiency of crop genome engineering using the plant’s natural DNA while ensuring seamless integration, reducing regulatory hurdles, and increasing consumer acceptance.
The Future is Native Genome Engineering
Spearhead Bio’s technology was developed by Dr. Keith Slotkin, Principal Investigator at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. The startup was launched by the Danforth Technology Company in February 2025.
We are committed to pushing the boundaries of agricultural innovation to help breeders and researchers unlock new possibilities for improving crop performance, sustainability, and food security.
Team
Keith Slotkin, PhD
Founder and Chief Scientific Officer
Member, Danforth Plant Science Center and Professor, Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri - Columbia
Tom Laurita
Chief Executive Officer
CEO of the Danforth Technology Company
John Ahn
Director of Business Operations
Business Development Director Danforth Technology Company
Scientific Advisory Board
Jerry Hjelle, PhD
President, Hjelle Advisors and former Vice President of Regulatory Sciences, Monsanto
Larry Gilbertson, PhD
Plant biotechnology expert with over 27 years of experience at Monsanto and Bayer and 60+ granted patents
Jon Lightner, PhD, MBA
Executive leader in agribusinesses & former Vice President of Biotech at Pioneer Hi-Bred International with over 30 years of experience
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