The Santafesina startup **Bioseek**, based in Alvear, has just closed a key investment of **$1,250,000**, giving 17% of its capital to the venture capital fund **CITES**, one of the most relevant in the country in applied science, in an invention that [fights weeds without using toxins](https://noticiasambientales.com/medio-ambiente/santiago-del-estero-denuncian-el-uso-de-herbicida-peligroso-para-la-siembra/).
The company, valued at **$15 million**, develops state-of-the-art biotechnological solutions for the **selective control of resistant weeds**, a critical challenge for current agriculture. Its focus is on **sustainability, precision, and global scalability**.
Bioseek’s technology is **modular, biodegradable, and based on gene silencing**, allowing it to exclusively target weeds without harming crops or leaving contaminating residues in the environment.
According to the technology company, this innovation may be capable of **replacing traditional herbicides**, which could bring changes in the way weed control is done without harming crops.
## A new era for Argentine agriculture
Lombardía emphasizes that the development uses **peptidic nucleic acids**, more stable than conventional RNA, and with **competitive costs**. This technology allows the silencing of specific weed genes without affecting other plants.
According to the developers of this innovative methodology, this approach does not rely on glyphosate, which destroys weeds and crops, but rather on **selectivity combined with sustainability**. This would put an end to the accumulation of toxins in both soil and water.
Bioseek is one of the six startups created by UOVO, where **Argentinian scientists** work with unprecedented platforms in the country to accelerate the path to the market and protect intellectual property from the beginning.
The recent investment will be mainly allocated to **research and development, strengthening the technical team, and acquiring key equipment**, explained Santiago Savino, the scientific leader of the project.
## Green technology with international projection that combats weeds
Field tests are scheduled for 2025. The goal is to demonstrate that this alternative to agrochemicals is effective, safe, and scalable in a market that increasingly demands **sustainable solutions**.
It is estimated that the ecological herbicides segment will grow at an annual rate of 12% to 15%, reaching **$13.9 billion by 2028**, according to the consultancy **Mordor Intelligence**.
## Glyphosate in debate: risks and paths towards cleaner agriculture
Glyphosate, [one of the most widely used herbicides worldwide](https://noticiasambientales.com/bienestar/10-enfermedades-causadas-por-el-glifosato-cuidado-con-lo-que-comes/), became popular since the 1970s due to its effectiveness in combating weeds in extensive crops like soybeans, wheat, and corn. Its use **expanded in industrial agriculture** due to its low cost and effectiveness.
However, scientific studies have raised doubts about its safety. In 2015, the **International Agency for Research on Cancer** classified it as “probably carcinogenic,” and various works pointed out possible negative effects on human health and ecosystems.
The emergence of resistant weeds is also a concern, which requires increasing doses or combining them with other chemicals, generating greater environmental impact. Glyphosate has been detected in **groundwater, food**, and even in living organisms.
As a response, sustainable alternatives emerge such as natural bioherbicides, gene silencing – a technology that the Argentine startup Bioseek is advancing in – and regenerative agriculture practices. These options aim to **reduce chemical dependency**, improve soil health, and protect biodiversity.
