Wild Bioscience Secures £45M Funding for Climate-Resilient Crop Development
Wild Bioscience, an innovative spinout from the University of Oxford, is revolutionizing agriculture with its advanced AI-driven crop design technology aimed at developing climate-resilient varieties. The company has successfully secured £45 million ($60 million) in Series A funding, marking a significant leap toward bringing its first products to market.
This funding round, spearheaded by the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) and supported by Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), Braavos, and the University of Oxford, represents a crucial transition for Wild Bioscience as it moves from the foundational scientific research phase to the practical validation of its crops. This investment will allow the company to enhance its infrastructure, hire talent, and integrate technology to expedite the development process.
Transitioning from Prediction to Product
Founded in 2020, Wild Bioscience leverages AI modeling alongside molecular biology to identify and use traits from wild plant species. The company’s mission is to accelerate the development of crops that exhibit higher resilience to increasingly unpredictable climate conditions while maximizing yield and minimizing carbon emissions.
Having invested its early years in establishing a technical platform, Wild Bioscience now views this Series A funding as a pivotal moment in its journey. CEO and co-founder Ross Hendron stated, “AI is significantly enhancing our capabilities, but to fully harness its potential, we need to establish pipelines that translate predictions into verified crop products, while also integrating real-world feedback to refine our models.”
The company plans to concentrate its initial efforts on precision-bred wheat, a staple crop crucial for global food security.
Infrastructure Expansion to Fast-Track Validation
Central to its strategy for achieving market readiness is a considerable expansion of its operational facilities located at Milton Park. Since its inception, the company has grown organically and has now enhanced its laboratory and office space to 16,000 square feet. This includes new CL2 gene-editing facilities and specialized growing environments, establishing a dedicated crop design and engineering center.
The recent expansion has resulted in a tripling of plant output within a few months, enabling quicker testing and refinement of crop traits under controlled conditions. The company is also converting existing office space to create tailored growing facilities, which will boost controlled environment capacity and accelerate seed production ahead of planned field trials.
Enhancing the Commercial Pathway
Alongside its physical growth, Wild Bioscience is strengthening its commercial strategy by fostering a global network of partnerships. Recent collaborations with organizations such as The Traits Company (the strategic biotech arm of GDM), KWS, Dyson Farming, and Pairwise Plants are designed to facilitate both the development and international rollout of enhanced crop varieties.
These partnerships are pivotal in navigating regulatory challenges, scaling seed production, and ensuring that improved crop traits effectively reach farmers.
Leadership Appointments Fuel Ambitions
The Series A funding has also led to key appointments within the company to enhance its execution and commercial strategy. Lisa Flashner, COO at the Ellison Institute of Technology, has joined Wild Bioscience’s board as a non-executive director, bringing her extensive experience in scaling complex organizations.
Dr. Stuart Harrison has also joined as chief business officer, transitioning from a 24-year career in seed development at Syngenta with significant global responsibilities across research partnerships, product development, and venture investments. These appointments exemplify the company’s commitment to not only advancing science but also delivering tangible market outcomes.
Building a Foundation for Growth
Lisa Flashner remarked, “Wild Bioscience perfectly embodies the kind of innovative company that the Ellison Institute of Technology strives to support. Our aim is to translate groundbreaking science into real-world solutions.”
Now employing approximately 40 individuals, Wild Bioscience operates within a vibrant ecosystem of science and technology firms in Milton Park, providing a nurturing ground for early-stage ventures to develop into commercially viable entities.
The next challenge for Wild Bioscience is clear: to effectively transition AI-designed, climate-resilient crops from the laboratory to the field and into the hands of farmers, thereby enhancing global food security.
