Oxford News
Wild Bioscience ramps up efforts to futureproof food supply
Wild Bioscience has expanded its operations on Milton Park, Oxfordshire, after securing £45 million in funding.
The University of Oxford spinout focuses on developing climate-resilient crops and will use the funding to scale up its laboratory facilities and advance its commercial plans.
Ross Hendron, CEO and co-founder of Wild Bioscience, said: “Since founding Wild Bio, we’ve been building a powerful design engine to create resilient crops.
“AI is now dramatically accelerating that capability, but to realise its full potential we need to scale pipelines that turn predictions into validated crop products and feed real-world results back to continuously improve our models.
“This expansion in infrastructure, team, and technology is a key step in developing the engineering loop that bridges computational design and plant biology.
“We’re starting with the world’s most widely grown crop: wheat.
“We’re excited to welcome Lisa and Stuart to the team as we deploy our Series A to fundamentally change how crops are designed, enabling agriculture to keep up with our rapidly changing planet.”
The latest funding round was led by the Ellison Institute of Technology, with continued backing from investors including Oxford Science Enterprises, Braavos, and the University of Oxford.
Wild Bioscience has signed a new lease to expand its laboratory and office space by 4,560 sq ft at Milton Park, bringing its total footprint to 16,000 sq ft.
The expansion includes new facilities at 115 Olympic Avenue and a recently equipped gene-editing laboratory at 127 Olympic Avenue.
This additional space has enabled the company to triple its plant output within a matter of months.
The company employs 40 staff and has been growing organically at Milton Park since 2021.
It uses AI-driven modelling and molecular biology to identify and harness traits from wild plant species, with the goal of boosting crop resilience, increasing yields, and reducing carbon intensity.
Recent partnerships include collaborations with The Traits Company, KWS, Dyson Farming, and Pairwise Plants to support the international development and deployment of improved crop varieties.
The company has also strengthened its leadership team.
Lisa Flashner, chief operating officer at the Ellison Institute of Technology, has joined the board as a non-executive director.
Dr Stuart Harrison has been appointed chief business officer.
Tom Booker, asset manager at Milton Park for Federated Hermes Real Estate, said: “Wild Bioscience’s continued growth is a strong example of how companies can start, scale and specialise at Milton Park.
“Their expansion reflects both the strength of their science and the momentum behind the business, supported by significant recent investment, the addition of senior leadership and a clear pathway to commercialisation.
“It’s exactly the kind of journey the park is designed to support.”
The group, formed in 1986 after a Bicester School evening class exploring the 1851 census, has grown into a cornerstone of the community, with three original committee members still involved today.
Chairman Bob Hessian said: “We’re very proud of the programme of activities we’ve provided for our members over the years.
“These include a series of regular talks, visits to places of interest and historical walks in local towns and villages.”
Over the years, the society has held major exhibitions, developed a comprehensive website, and run oral history sessions to preserve the memories of long-standing residents.
Mr Hessian added: “It’s been a privilege to be asked to participate in oral history work conducted by Oxford University for their ‘Lest We Forget’ (WW2) and ‘Their Finest Hour’ (WW1) projects.”
The society has restored Bicester’s mid-18th-century fire engine, produced books and DVDs, and published a tri-annual magazine, The Bicester Historian.
Engaging young people remains a priority, with primary school classes and Brownie groups taking part in history walks.
The society’s largest event was its 25th-anniversary exhibition in 2011, featuring more than 50 exhibitors, vintage vehicles, and guided tours.
Current projects include a book on the origins of Bicester’s street names, due for publication later this year.
The group continues to celebrate and preserve the town’s heritage through community engagement and historical exploration.
More information can be found on their website, www.blhs.org.uk.
Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following the collision in East Ilsley, approximately six miles south of Didcot.
At around 3pm on Friday, April 24, a collision occurred between a silver BMW motorcycle and a white Peugeot minibus on Fiddlers Lane at the junction of the A34.
READ MORE: Police appeal for footage of fatal crash near Banbury
The rider of the motorcycle, a man in his 70s, was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition.
PC Mark Sanders of the Joint Operations Road Policing Unit, based in Abingdon, said: “We are carrying out an investigation following the injury to the motorcycle rider.
“If you witnessed the collision or saw these vehicles in the area at this time, I would ask you to contact the police on 101, quoting 43260200485.”
The man, who was in his 60s, was riding a blue Kawasaki motorcycle when he was involved in the collision at around 7.50am on Friday, March 24.
The next of kin of the rider who died at the scene have been informed and are being supported by officers, police said.
READ MORE: Teen delivery driver who died in A34 crash remembered
It urged anyone who witnessed the collision, or the moments leading up to it, to contact them.
Anyone with more information or dash‑cam footage from the area around that time should call 101 or make a report online, quoting reference 43260199539.
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