Oxford’s MoA to develop next-gen bioherbicides in new partnership
Oxford biotech MoA Technology has joined forces with life sciences firm Croda International to develop a new line of bioherbicides for land-based farms.
Crops around the world are increasingly threatened by fast-growing herbicide-resistant weeds like pigweed, mare’s tail and waterhemp, which can reduce yields by more than 50 per cent.
Accordingly, figures from Croda show that the £3.9 billion biopesticide market is growing at an annual rate of 8 per cent as farmers seek better ways to tackle weeds and pests.
The company has now signed a 10-year exclusive agreement with MoA, a University of Oxford spinout backed by leading agritech and life sciences venture capital firms.
Read the March 2024 issue of The Business Magazine, including our feature on net zero
MoA currently employs more than 70 staff and has a diverse pipeline of both biological and synthetic herbicides, some of which it’s developing alongside industry partners.
This latest partnership will see the firm combine its unique herbicide discovery engine with Croda’s extensive research into the marine microbiome, as well as its advanced manufacturing capabilities.
Virginia Corless, CEO of MoA, said: “We can’t wait to get started on using the wealth of data in Croda’s marine library to create the biopesticides of the future.
“That Croda have chosen to partner with us for this agreement is an endorsement of Moa’s cutting-edge research and development capabilities and the great progress we’ve made in finding diverse new ways to tackle the huge global problem of food security.”
Dave Cherry, VP strategy life sciences at Croda, added: “The partnership will allow Croda to explore new approaches to sustainable agriculture by working with Moa and using their biotechnology platforms to screen our extensive library of natural marine compounds.
“Together we can unlock potential commercial solutions as we work towards a mutually beneficial relationship between Croda and nature for a thriving planet and society.
“We’re delighted to be working with Moa in order to explore new opportunities in this area.”
Read more - Oxford’s MoA Technology set to begin international field trials this year
