The aim of REPLANT was to generate a new plant SynBio toolkit based on the Phytobrick architecture that included the latest developments in protein production and gene editing techniques (Work Package 1). The advantages provided by the REPLANT were going to be demonstrated by two proof-of-concept experiments with biotechnological applications (Work Package 2): enhancing the production of SARS-CoV2 recombinant antibodies in plant leaves, and modification of tomato plant architecture in variants of commercial interest. This toolkit, alongside its dissemination approaches would allow a faster advancement of plant SynBio, accelerating the development of improved crops to help solve the global challenges of sustainability and food security.
REPLANT was planned as a two-year project with a six-month secondment in the multinational seed company Semillas Fitó. However, REPLANT was terminated after seven months because Eduardo González Grandío obtained a Ramón y Cajal Contract from the Spanish State Agency for Research that was not compatible with the MSCA Postdoctoral fellowship.