Funding will be used to advance peptide-based bioinsecticides that selectively target pests, while protecting beneficial pollinators such as bees
Glasgow-based agritech firm Solasta Bio has secured £10.7m ($14m) in Series A investment to develop its green insecticides programme.
The oversubscribed funding round follows successful trials in 2023 in which Solasta’s insect control agents demonstrated equal or better efficacy than commercial chemical standards across more than 20 fields of diverse crops in Europe, the UK, and the US.
The money will be used to advance the company’s pipeline of peptide-based bioinsecticides, which selectively target a wide range of pests, while protecting beneficial pollinators such as bees. The aim is help growers boost productivity in an environmentally friendly way.
Following the investment, Solasta Bio will continue to expand its US operations, building on its established base in North Carolina.
The company also plans to conduct more extensive field trials in key regions, scale up its biomanufacturing capacity, and explore further opportunities beyond crop applications.
The company is targeting market entry as early as 2027, a significantly shorter development timeframe compared to synthetic pest control products.
The Series A funding round was led by Forbion through its BioEconomy fund strategy, with co-lead investment from agricultural giants FMC Ventures and Corteva Inc.
Existing investors – including Cavallo Ventures, Rubio Impact Ventures, Scottish Enterprise, UKi2S, SIS Ventures, and the University of Glasgow – also participated, raising total funding to date to $19 million.
CEO and co-founder of Solasta Bio, Shireen Davies, said: “Solasta Bio has achieved remarkable progress since our inception three years ago. We have assembled an exceptional international team with expertise in technology and agribusiness, and our unique technology platform is effectively addressing grower challenges.”
She added: “The results of our field trials have been incredibly promising, showcasing the high efficacy of biopeptides against target insect pests.
“With the Series A funding secured, Solasta Bio is poised to accelerate our growth and achieve our commercialisation goals.”
