How a PPG-Scripps Partnership Pioneered Safer Agricultural Science
15-year project
Partnership formed
New scientists
In the mid-1980s, as the world grappled with growing population demands and increasing awareness of environmental issues, two seemingly different institutions joined forces in what would become a landmark collaboration.
The Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, an academic biomedical research center, and PPG Industries, a Pittsburgh-based chemical and glass manufacturer, launched a $120-million, 15-year project aimed at revolutionizing agricultural chemicals 1 . This ambitious partnership came with a profound mission: to develop "absolutely safe" herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, and insecticides that could protect crops without harming other wildlife 1 .
At a time when many agricultural chemicals contained toxins dangerous to animals and the environment, this collaboration represented a paradigm shift toward precision-targeted solutions that would increase the world's food supply while minimizing ecological damage.
"Could put more food on the world's table" and help "wipe out famine" - Edward J. Slack, PPG President 1
The Scripps-PPG collaboration, formalized after two years of private negotiations, was remarkable not only for its financial scale but for its innovative structure. The agreement added a 40,000-square-foot expansion to Scripps' molecular biology building and brought approximately 100 new scientists to join the existing 150 researchers 1 .
The partnership exemplified a growing trend of academic-industry collaborations that gained momentum in the 1980s, spurred by legislation such as the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 and the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 4 .
"We'll be sure no one will stand in the way of knowledge getting to the people. Our policy is, 'You can give us the money, but we have to be able to do what we want'"
Private negotiations between Scripps and PPG
Formal agreement signed: $120M over 15 years
40,000 sq ft expansion of Scripps facilities
Research and development phase
The scientific approach pioneered by the Scripps-PPG team represented a radical departure from conventional agricultural chemical development.
The Scripps-PPG partnership established a clear division of labor that leveraged the unique strengths of each institution.
"None of the resulting products will be tested on agricultural tracts in the San Diego area" - distinguishing the project from controversial genetic engineering tests 1
While the specific agricultural products resulting from the Scripps-PPG partnership aren't detailed in available records, the collaborative model they pioneered has proven enduring and influential.
Scripps Research has continued to form similar alliances with major corporations, including a $300-million agreement with Sandoz Pharmaceuticals in 1992 that gave the company right of first refusal to Scripps' medical discoveries .
The fundamental approach of understanding and manipulating plant biology at the molecular level has also continued to evolve. Recent breakthroughs at institutions like the Salk Institute have built upon this foundation, creating comprehensive genetic atlases of model plants 3 .
"A side effect of their agricultural work might be development of more effective drugs for people" - Dr. Richard Lerner 1
The PPG-Scripps partnership of 1985 represents a significant milestone in the history of biotechnology collaboration. It demonstrated how academic institutions and industry could combine their distinct strengths to address pressing global challenges while maintaining scientific integrity.
Their vision of developing precise, environmentally responsible agricultural chemicals anticipated today's sophisticated approaches to plant science and biotechnology. As we continue to face challenges of food security, climate change, and environmental sustainability, the collaborative spirit and scientific innovation embodied by the Scripps-PPG partnership remains as relevant as ever.
The roots of their innovation continue to support new branches of scientific discovery, reminding us that the most complex challenges often require both deep fundamental knowledge and practical application—a combination that sector-spanning collaborations are uniquely positioned to provide.
The legacy of such partnerships continues at Scripps Research, which still hosts innovation summits connecting academic researchers with industry leaders to "transform breakthrough discoveries into therapies that address urgent medical needs" 6 .