Innovative agri-biotech start-up company BugBiome has become the latest business to move to Norwich Research park to accelerate the development of its new bioinsecticide product. It is currently developing a new bioinsecticide product, an aphicide, which aims to protect crops such as potatoes, sugar beet and oilseed rape from aphid infestations which can devastate harvests. The product has been developed from using crop-associated microbes found in plants.
Changes in regulations governing agriculture means that farmers have to reduce the amount of chemical-based insecticides they use on their crops. Whilst the industry is actively looking for credible alternatives, currently, they have few options. BugBiome is aiming to develop a range of products that will meet their new requirements.
There are several reasons why BugBiome has made the decision to move to Norwich Research Park. Firstly, to run and validate field trials for its new product. Secondly, to conduct further research in specialist laboratories. And thirdly, to tap into the expertise and experience of the plant and genome scientists at the John Innes Centre and Earlham Institute, which are all in close proximity on the Park campus. The BugBiome team will also benefit from being a part of the growing agri-food cluster at the Park.
One of the drivers for BugBiome’s move to Norwich Research Park from its previous home at the National Institute for Agricultural Botany (NIAB) in Cambridge is to test the efficacy of its aphicide product in field trials next year. It has been able to make the move and fund its trials and further research, following recent investment from European Agfunds Rockstart and Biotope. Proceeds from its ongoing fundraising round will also support the development and commercialisation of its discovery platform, AvidX, as well as generating a pipeline of products targeting pests such as cabbage stem flea beetles and the diamond back moth.
Dr Alicia Showering, CEO and co-founder of BugBiome, said “Demonstrating field efficacy of our aphid product is critical for commercialisation and partnering. The environment at Norwich Research Park will enable us to accelerate not only this product, but also the broader portfolio of new bioinsecticide solutions farmers urgently need. The move to Norwich places us at the heart of the UK’s agri-biotech community and we are really looking forward to our 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 supportive ecosystem including a successful incubator programme to support spin-outs, spin-ins and start-ups as they establish themselves and grow.
“We have a unique breadth and depth of scientific activity here specialising in agri-food, health and the environment, using biology, across multidisciplinary teams, to achieve healthy plants, healthy people and a healthy planet. We are looking forward to supporting BugBiome’s next phase of development and helping it achieve its business ambitions.”
