Focused on producing non-GMO seeds using double haploid technology, TarLab Biotechnology Ltd. Co., is creating value across the seed breeding ecosystem, particularly in the agrifood, oil, and feed industries. By drastically shortening the breeding cycle through in vitro applications, the technology accelerates the development process enabling faster market entry.
TarLab is a spin-off from Marmara University and conducts intensive research and development activities in the field of plant biotechnology and is located in Marmara's technopark. It was established in 2019 with the support of The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK) – 1512 Techno-Entrepreneurship Capital Support.
TarLab is pioneering a transformative approach to plant breeding by leveraging advanced technologies such as Double Haploid (DH) technology and micropropagation, working to become a reliable, technology-driven partner offering sustainable solutions tailored to industry needs. This innovation supports rapid, eco-friendly breeding solutions that reduce carbon footprints and meet the increasing demands of the agri-food sector.
Currently, TarLab provides customized services optimized for sunflowers and is expanding to key crops like wheat and corn in the U.S., collaborating with marketing experts and local distributors. Over the next three years, they plan to scale further into crops such as cabbage and rice by participating in major agricultural fairs.
The DH platform enables the production of pure, stable varieties with enhanced resilience to environmental stress. By integrating cutting-edge biotechnology with practical agricultural conditions, TarLab ensures successful implementation from lab to field. This scalability allows seed companies and breeders to overcome traditional bottlenecks and identify superior genetic lines with speed and precision—adapting rapidly to evolving market needs. With this method, what once took up to 20 years can now be achieved in just two. Breeders gain access to complete genetic variation from the start, accelerating the selection of high-potential traits and bringing superior varieties to market faster than ever before.
DH technology is playing a vital role in achieving climate neutrality by reducing pesticide and fertilizer use by 30–50%, cutting carbon emissions by 1–2 million tons annually, increasing yields by 15–30%, and lowering water usage by 10–20%. Their approach also minimizes crop losses by 10–40% through rapid gene isolation for disease resistance, shortening traditional breeding cycles by 70–80% and producing pure lines in as little as 1–2 years. When paired with smart farming techniques, this innovation drives both environmental sustainability and economic gains for local farmers. TarLab’s customized technology platform enables the development of pure plant lines with desirable traits in a fraction of the time required by traditional methods—cutting breeding timelines from 8–10 years down to 1–2 years. The technology's maturation from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 to TRL 7 has paved the way for commercialization, supported by their tech transfer specialist and the University-Industry Collaboration Centers Platform of Türkiye (USIMP). Strategic collaboration with industry stakeholders and safeguarding intellectual property through trade secret protection have been critical to the platform’s success and long-term impact.
This story was originally published in 2025.
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