Oxford Spinout Moa Technology Seeks $40M to Tackle Superweed Crisis

By Evans Momodu
1 minute read

Moa Technology, an Oxford University spinout, is launching a $40 million (£32 million) Series C funding round to accelerate its groundbreaking work in developing weed-resistant herbicides.

Co-founded by Professor Liam Dolan, head of plant sciences at Oxford, Moa Technology has already secured $59 million (£47 million) from major investors, including Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), BGF, and Lansdowne Partners, a Mayfair-based hedge fund.

The company’s current shareholders are reportedly supportive of the new fundraising round, which will also target new investors.

Moa's mission is to develop active ingredients capable of breaking the resistance of "superweeds" to herbicides. This resistance mirrors the challenges posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria in humans, threatening global food security by endangering entire crop yields.

Superweeds, which have evolved resistance to traditional herbicides, present a critical issue for farmers worldwide. Without effective solutions, these weeds can devastate agricultural productivity and exacerbate food shortages.

Moa Technology's innovative solutions aim to secure regulatory approval, offering the agricultural sector a crucial tool to combat herbicide resistance. If successful, its work could significantly enhance food security and safeguard global agriculture.

This latest funding effort underscores the importance of addressing one of the most pressing challenges in modern farming.
Source: Sky news