The agricultural biotech startup was co-founded in 2017 by Prof Liam Dolan from Dublin and Clément Champion.
Irish co-founded Oxford University spin-out Moa Technology has raised £22.2m in a Series C funding round.
The agricultural biotech startup was co-founded in 2017 by Prof Liam Dolan from Dublin and Clément Champion. Its stated goals include the sustainable protection of farmers’ crops from “plant-killing species” through the discovery of “new systemic herbicides”, and working towards “food security for all”.
The funding round was jointly led by Oxford Science Enterprises and Supernova Invest, with participation from returning investors OSE, Lansdowne Partners, Parkwalk and Oxford University Innovation.
New investors include Agri Investment Fund; GrainInnovate, an investment fund on behalf of Grain Research Development Corporation and owned by Artesian; Infinity Investment Partners; and Magdalen College Oxford.
Moa is researching and developing both synthetic and biological herbicide options in new ways of doing things to overcome the growth of weed resistance in traditional and conventional herbicide sectors, according to the UK company.
By 2025, it is unveiling ‘Amplifier’ treatments designed to reduce the amounts and concentrations of herbicides needed for effective weed control. Moa said his ‘Galaxy’ platform has been used to screen more than 900,000 compounds and more than 80 “promising areas of synthesis” have been discovered.
Dr Virginia Corless, CEO of Moa Technology, said the Series C funding “marks a milestone for Moa Technology” and is “validation of the incredible progress we have made not only in the laboratory, but also in the incredible commercial agreements with leading industry partners around the world”.
Moa has ongoing research and development partnerships with companies such as Nufarm, Gowan, Certis Belchim and Corteva Agriscience.
The new funding will be used to bring three of Moa’s most advanced programs closer to commercialization, build its pipeline of modern herbicides and further develop the Amplifaers program, according to the company.
Alexandre Biau of Supernova Invest said: “Weed resistance continues to spread.
“In response, the Moa team is redefining the new weed control playbook by developing both innovative methods and its Moa Amplifiers strategy, expanding the toolbox available to growers.”
Martin Fiennes of Oxford Science Enterprises noted Moa’s “unique and important approach to addressing the market’s need for herbicides capable of preventing weed resistance” and said the company is “on the way to providing the innovative solutions farmers need to sustain agricultural productivity”.
Dolan is the current chair of Moa’s scientific advisory board. He is a senior group leader at Vienna’s Gregor Mendel Institute and a fellow of the UK’s Royal Society. Moa raised Series B funding of £35m in 2022.
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