Renata Reinheimer wins global award for agricultural biotech

Renata Reinheimer, a researcher at Argentina’s CONICET and professor at the National University of the Litoral, was named the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Global Entrepreneur of the Year for 2026. The award recognized her leadership of INFIRA (also known as Neocrop Technologies), a biotech startup that develops precision genetic‑editing platforms to accelerate plant breeding.

INFIRA’s technology can reduce the time needed to develop new crop varieties from eight‑to‑twelve years to as little as one to three years, enabling the conversion of short‑lived annual crops into longer‑lived perennials and producing varieties that tolerate drought, extreme temperatures and pests. The company was also honoured in WIPO’s Agriculture and Food category, standing out among 1,300 candidates from 126 countries. Reinheimer said the recognition underscores the potential for scientific research to be turned into market‑ready solutions that improve food security and address climate‑change challenges.