Oxford’s MoA to develop next-gen bioherbicides in new partnership

Published by

Daniel Face

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.

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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.”

Daniel Face

Born and raised in Berkshire, Dan fell into journalism after completing his bachelor’s degree in English at UCL. Writing for The Business Magazine and local Biz News sites has given him the opportunity to chat with all manner of small business owners and share their success stories with a wider audience. Outside of work, Dan enjoys live music, board games and quiz shows, and is making a slow but persistent effort to learn Spanish.