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The Core Facility Access Fund supports innovative Latin American startups developing breakthrough agricultural and climate technologies. Selected companies receive funding and expert support to access world-class scientific infrastructure at the Danforth Center Core Facilities in St. Louis, Missouri.
Why St. Louis?
The Danforth Center is home to 31 scientific teams and cutting-edge Core Facilities. This program offers Latin American startups with the opportunity to plug into the region’s world-class plant science ecosystem, including organizations like The Yield Lab Institute, BioSTL, and more.
Eligibility Requirements
Company must be a startup based in Latin America
Projects should be completed in 3-6 months and address a clear scientific question that will advance commercialization
Company must have the material/product ready for testing (if applicable)
Company will be responsible for permits, shipping, and regulatory compliance (if applicable)
Technology Readiness Levels C–F
A. Challenge Identified
B. Solution concept development
C. Experimental proof of concept
D. Technology validation in lab or controlled environment
E. Validated in commercial environment
F. Demonstrated in commercial environment
G. Market approval / limited commercial introduction
H. Commercial use established
I. Product in market
What’s Included
Selected companies will receive:
Funding awards from $2,000 to $20,000 to support full-service access to one or more of the Danforth Center’s Core Facilities:
Funding DOES NOT support funding for company staff or to produce a product for testing
Program Timeline
Applications Open: Now
Deadline: July 18, 2025
Awards Announced: September 2025
Projects Begin: October 2025
Evaluation Criteria
Feasibility
Is this project possible using the Core Facilities services?
Does the project pass safety requirements?
Is it possible within the time and funding scope?
Commercial viability
Is there a clear market opportunity or customer problem being addressed?
Is the product or innovation scalable and relevant to agricultural, food, or climate solutions?
Technology readiness
Have any previous validations, pilot data, or prototypes been included to justify TRL?
St. Louis ecosystem fit
Could this project serve as a gateway for further collaboration, relocation, or investment in the region?
Will the Danforth Center’s capabilities uniquely support the company’s next stage of growth
Ready to Apply?
The application period closed on July 18, 2025.
Want more details?
Download our PowerPoint presentation for a detailed overview of available services and eligibility requirements.
View the AI summary, audio, and transcript of the information session.
Example Project 1
Company A has a product that when sprayed on plant leaves makes the plants more tolerant to drought stress. They have data validating this in 1 species. They have permits for import.
Project (5 months, ~$20,000):
Plant Growth Facility grows corn for 1 month and applies controlled drought stress (growth chamber).
Phenotyping Core Facility applies product, and measures plant health using image-based and weight-based phenotyping (DiTech PlantArray, CropReporter).
Data Science analyzes image and weight data to determine if product improves plant health under drought stress.
Example Project 2
Company B has a product that when applied to plants, affects their growth. They hypothesize the product affects plant hormone production, but do not know the active ingredient or mode of action.
Project (3 months, ~$5,000):
The company sends samples of plants with the product applied, and the product itself.
Bioanalytical Chemistry Facility determines possible active ingredients and plant hormone levels (LC-MS/MS).
Example Project 3
Company C has determined a gene that impacts plant growth in one plant variety. They want to determine if this gene has the same effect in another species.
Project (6 months, ~$20,000):
Transformation Facility makes a transgenic soybean plant containing the gene of interest.
The Plant Growth Facility grows the plants
The Phenotyping Core Facility determines trait differences between wild-type and modified plants (image-based phenotyping).
Data Science provides data analysis and data visualization.
Funding for this program is generously provided by Breakthrough Energy Discovery.
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