BugBiome, the agri-tech innovator developing new bioinsecticides from crop-associated microbes, has relocated to Norwich Research Park as it focuses on moving its lead aphicide into field trials in 2026.
Consolidating on a single site in proximity to its greenhouses enhances its progress towards this field validation milestone for the first product from AvidX, its proprietary discovery engine. In its new location at Norwich Research Park, one of the largest single-site concentrations of research in food, genomics, and health in Europe, BugBiome has established a presence at the John Innes Centre, providing direct access to world-leading expertise.
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The company’s lead asset has shown promising efficacy in greenhouse trials on sugar beet and oilseed rape, with preparation for field validation now underway.
The company joined the Agrifood portfolio of the purpose-led VC fund Rockstart earlier this year, followed by investment from Biotope, which is focused on positive change for planetary health. Its other backers are Cambridge Angels, Discovery Park Ventures, IndieBio/SOSV and AgLaunch. Proceeds from its ongoing fundraising round will further support development and commercialisation of its lead biopesticide, as well as generation of a pipeline of follow-up products targeting beetles/weevils and lepidoptera, broadening BugBiome’s reach across major crop pests.
Critical milestone
Dr Alicia Showering, CEO of BugBiome, said: “Demonstrating field efficacy of our aphid product is a critical milestone for commercialisation and partnering, and the environment here will enable us to accelerate not only this product but also the broader portfolio of new bioinsecticide solutions farmers urgently need.”
“This move to Norwich Research Park places us in the heart of the UK’s agritech community. Our relocation and integration have proceeded smoothly and we are delighted to enter this next phase of our development here.”
Roz Bird, CEO of Anglia Innovation Partnership, the campus management organisation for Norwich Research Park, said “We are delighted to welcome BugBiome to our campus, adding another highly innovative agri-biotech start-up company to our community. Over the last three years, we have developed a successful ecosystem and incubator programme to support spin-outs, spin-ins and start-ups as they establish themselves and grow.
”Agri-biotech along with food biotech, industrial biotech and medtech are the sectors where we have an enormous amount of experience, expertise and state-of-the-art-facilities to nurture both the research and subsequent commercialisation. We are looking forward to supporting BugBiome’s next phase of development and helping it to achieve its business ambitions.”
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