Moa Technology - innovation in crop protection
by Startacus Admin
The lowdown on Oxford-based biotech startup Moa Technology and its mission to tackle the growing problem of herbicide resistance.
Herbicide is a contentious thing. It keeps food safe from pests and keeps away weeds that would use up crops’ nutrients, etc., but it also has a pretty bad impact on the environment.
Herbicides contaminate the soil and water, they can kill animals and insects that aren’t doing harm to the crops, and they can even damage the crops themselves, for example, decreasing the plants’ ability to photosynthesise. Another consideration farmers have is that weeds can develop resistances to herbicides, resulting in harsher chemicals being used, resulting in more significant negative impacts…
Oxford-based biotech startup Moa Technology is taking on the challenge of herbicide resistance with a new approach to creating sustainable alternatives to current offerings. It’s important to find ways to negate herbicide resistance, because without them, the methods of farming would have to change, and would lead to a rise in water usage, fertiliser, and space required, all of which would have their own negative impact on the environment.
But by looking to nature and harnessing the principles of natural selection, Moa is creating novel modes of action (MOAs - the way in which chemistry interacts with plant biology) to break those resistances while increasing safety and sustainability.
The startup says that, while the history of herbicide shows only 24 ‘mode-of-action areas’ ever being commercialised, they have found 25 in their first 18 months of research. This variation will help in reducing the build up of resistances in weeds.
The research has been looking for a balance of efficacy, cost and ease, and safety, and are now at the point where some of their new MOAs can be taken forward to the next stage.
In May, Moa Technology announced that they had raised a huge £35 million in a Series B round led by Lansdowne Partners, Oxford Sciences Innovation, and Parkwalk Advisors. This funding will help the Oxford spinout move those MOAs forward for further R&D and testing.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Participants in Catalyst’s Co-Founders programme offered opportunity to avail of a £10,000 proof of concept grant from Techstart to help validate their business idea.
Atoa announces pre-seed funding for its solution to empower and improve cash flow for independent, small and mid-sized UK retail merchants.
 Tong Gu, Reem Mobassaleh Wyndham and Monik Pham.jpg)
Pact launches its first £30M fund to back early-stage European tech startups using technology for economic inclusion, well-being and climate solutions.
Paris-based startup Immortal Game uses blockchain technology to add a new dimension to the most played board game in the world.
Co-Founders seeking people with innovative ideas and desire to create startups that could change the world for its 2023 programme.
Marketers - want to turn shoppers into customers this Black Friday? Marietta Chatzidiakou, Senior Content Consultant at Digital Ethos shares some tips on how to do just that.
Data from more than 500 companies reveals the core health of SaaS startups and assesses how European companies have performed relative to American counterparts.
The lowdown on Symphony, the startup that'll give you a front row seat to enjoy the finest live performances by some of the most famous orchestras in the world...
.png)
SeedLegals, the leading legal automation platform for startup funding steps into backing blockchain marketplace in carbon-neutral deal.
The lowdown on Boxlist, the AI-powered social network aiming to be your new go-to place for discovering TV and film recommendations across all streaming services.
Published on: 12th July 2022
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- Catalyst and Techstart offering startup co-founders the chance to win £10k proof of concept grants 30th Nov 2022 Participants in Catalyst’s Co-Founders programme offered opportunity to avail of a £10,000 proof of concept grant from Techstart to help validate their business idea.
- UK fintech Atoa secures $2.2M pre-seed round as it kills Visa and Mastercard fees for businesses 24th Nov 2022 Atoa announces pre-seed funding for its solution to empower and improve cash flow for independent, small and mid-sized UK retail merchants.
- Female-led Pact Launches £30m Seed Fund 24th Nov 2022 Pact launches its first £30M fund to back early-stage European tech startups using technology for economic inclusion, well-being and climate solutions.
- Catalyst's Co-Founders programme opens for applications 23rd Nov 2022 Co-Founders seeking people with innovative ideas and desire to create startups that could change the world for its 2023 programme.
