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 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.

The incident occurred on the A417 Wantage Road, near Streatley (Image: Google Maps)

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.

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision at the junction of Rye Hill and Tadmarton Road in Wigginton Heath.

The collision at approximately 6.51pm on Tuesday, April 8, involved a Honda Jazz and a red Mini Cooper.

Shelley Hallam (Image: Family handout)

Tragically, Shelley Hallam, the female passenger of the Mini Cooper, died in hospital on Monday, April 13.

The family released the following tribute to her: “We are all completely in shock at the sudden passing of Shelley.

“She was the most kind and amazing wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She was courageous and strong, and always thought of others before herself.

“She was inspirational and had such a positive impact on everyone whose life she touched, however fleetingly.

“There are no words that can describe the loss we all feel and she will be desperately missed.”

A woman in her 20s from Chipping Norton has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving a motor vehicle otherwise in accordance with a licence. She has been released on police bail.

READ MORE: Police release CCTV images after Didcot criminal damage

If you witnesses the collision or have dash-cam or CCTV footage, contact the police on 101 or online, quoting reference 43260170542.