SOLASTA Bio Latest News: Completes Successful Trials

Key Takeaways

SOLASTA Bio has completed successful field trials of its green bioinsecticides, signaling a significant advancement toward commercialization.
The company’s micro-peptide Insect Control Agents (ICAs) have shown to be as effective, if not more, than traditional commercial pesticides across various crops and pests in trials conducted in Europe, the UK, and the US.
Trials have demonstrated the ICAs’ safety for pollinators, with no adverse effects on beneficial insects or crop health.
SOLASTA Bio aims to launch its first products to the market by 2027/2028, potentially reducing the time to market for new pest control solutions.
The technology is patent protected, highlighting its innovative approach to crop protection.

Sustainable Solutions in Crop Protection

SOLASTA Bio, a UK-based agritech startup, has announced the successful completion of field trials for its innovative green bioinsecticides, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s path to commercialization. These bioinsecticides, based on micro-peptide Insect Control Agents (ICAs) derived from insect neuropeptides, have demonstrated effectiveness on par with or better than existing commercial pesticides in over 20 field trials.

Effective Pest Management Across Crops and Regions

The field trials, which targeted a variety of pests including aphids, Spotted Wing Drosophila, and caterpillars, were conducted on multiple crops such as sugar beet, vining peas, cotton, lettuce, cucumber, and melon across Europe, the UK, and the US. Additionally, the company showcased the adaptability of its technology by rapidly deploying new peptides to combat leafhoppers in Greece, achieving control levels surpassing those of commercial standards.

Emphasis on Environmental Safety

A notable outcome of the trials is the confirmation of the ICAs’ safety for pollinators, a critical aspect given the global concern over the decline of bee populations and other beneficial insects. “As well as demonstrating a high degree of efficacy, the trials also showed that beneficial insects continued to thrive in crops treated with SOLASTA Bio’s pollinator-safe products,” the company reported, underscoring the environmental benefits of their technology.

Innovating for the Future of Agriculture

Founded in 2020, SOLASTA Bio has positioned itself at the forefront of agricultural innovation with its development of the world’s first technology platform for creating neuropeptide-based ICAs. This approach represents a departure from traditional synthetic pesticides, offering a nature-inspired solution for effective crop protection that aligns with environmental preservation goals.

Shireen Davies, Co-founder and CEO of SOLASTA Bio, shared her enthusiasm about the trial results: “We’re really excited by these findings which bring us one step closer to delivering safe, effective micro-peptide ICAs to market. These outstanding trial results demonstrate our ICAs consistently perform on par or better than commercial standards across multiple pests, crops and territories.”