Moa to develop next-gen bioherbicides in new 10-year commercial partnership with Croda

Moa Technology, the leading agricultural biotech company, and Croda International plc, the global life sciences and consumer care company, have formed a strategic partnership to tackle the global problem of declining food crop yields by using marine science.

The partnership aims to develop next-generation bioherbicides for land-based farms by combining Croda’s extensive research into the marine microbiome – developed by its Nautilus Biosciences subsidiary in Canada – with Moa’s own unique herbicide discovery engine. Croda’s advanced manufacturing capabilities will help bring to the field new products identified from the collaboration.

The $5 billion biopesticide market is growing at around 8% a year, according to Croda estimates, as farmers urgently seek better ways to tackle weeds and pests which have become resistant to conventional methods. Fast-growing herbicide-resistant weeds, such as pigweed, mare’s tail and waterhemp, can reduce crop yields by over 50%, threatening food security for millions of people around the world.

Spun out of the University of Oxford in 2017 to develop new and more sustainable ways to help ensure global food security, Moa today employs over 70 people and is backed by leading agritech and life sciences venture capital firms. Alongside its proprietary biotechnology platforms which work to identify herbicides with novel modes of action (MOAs), Moa deploys state-of-the-art AI/machine learning and operates its own world-class glasshouse testing facilities. Moa already has a diverse pipeline of new herbicides – both biological and synthetic – some of which it is developing on its own, and some with industry partners.

Virginia Corless, Chief Executive Officer of Moa Technology, says:

″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 10-year exclusive agreement is an endorsement of Moa’s cutting-edge research and development capabilities and the great progress we have made in finding diverse new ways to tackle the huge global problem of food security.″  

Dave Cherry, VP Strategy Life Sciences at Croda, says:

″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 are delighted to be working with Moa in order to explore new opportunities in this area.″