Wild Bioscience Raises €51 Million Series A to Accelerate AI-Driven Climate-Resilient Crop Development
AI-driven agricultural genetics startup Wild Bioscience has raised approximately €51 million ($60 million) in Series A funding to accelerate the development and commercialization of its precision breeding platform for climate-resilient, high-yield crops. The Oxford University spin-out aims to expand research, field trials, and partnerships with global seed companies, positioning itself as a major player in the European AgTech sector.
Founded in 2021 by Dr. Ross Hendron and Professor Steve Kelly, Wild Bioscience leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to decode evolutionary data from wild plant species. The company identifies valuable genetic traits that can be integrated into modern crops through precision breeding. This approach is designed to improve yield, climate resilience, and sustainability for staple crops such as wheat, soybean, and maize—traits increasingly critical under climate change and rising global food demand.
The Series A round was led by Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), with participation from existing backers including Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), Braavos Capital, and the University of Oxford. The combination of venture capital and strategic institutional support underscores investor confidence in the company’s technology and commercial strategy.
Wild Bioscience’s platform integrates evolutionary insights to guide trait discovery and breeding strategies. By simulating how evolutionary processes favored beneficial traits, the company identifies novel genetic configurations that enhance crop productivity and stress tolerance. This combination of computational biology and precision breeding aims to shorten development cycles and deliver practical field results more quickly than traditional breeding methods.
CEO Dr. Ross Hendron said the funding will enable Wild Bioscience to expand its R&D footprint, scale computational and breeding programs, and transition early field successes toward commercial crop varieties. He emphasized that investors like EIT and OSE bring both capital and strategic insight into complex, long-term product development paths that require patient investment.
Professor Steve Kelly, Co-Founder and CSO, highlighted the synergy between the company and its lead investor, noting that combining Wild Bioscience’s biological expertise with EIT’s technological resources will accelerate the development of crops capable of thriving under diverse and challenging environmental conditions.
The collaboration between EIT and OSE in this round is particularly noteworthy, as it marks the first co-investment jointly made by the two organizations. OSE, Oxford University’s venture capital arm, has a track record of supporting deep science ventures emerging from the university’s research ecosystem, while EIT focuses on addressing global challenges such as food security and climate adaptation through technology-driven solutions.
Wild Bioscience has grown into a team of around 30 specialists based in Oxford. The company is conducting field trials in multiple countries to evaluate performance across different environmental conditions. The new funding will support expanded field testing, product refinement, and preparations for commercial deployment with seed partners and agricultural collaborators.
Industry observers note that while many recent AgTech investments have focused on robotics, data platforms, or farm-management tools, Wild Bioscience stands out by targeting core crop genetics and breeding—a complex, capital-intensive domain with potentially transformative impacts on global food systems. The substantial investment indicates increasing investor willingness to support deep science companies with longer development horizons but high potential impact.
As the company scales its AI-guided precision breeding work, Wild Bioscience aims to bring climate-smart crop varieties closer to commercial realization. By offering farmers resilient and productive options for staple crops, the startup is positioning itself as a key innovator in sustainable agriculture with backing from high-profile institutional investors and a strong scientific foundation.
