Published May 14, 2026
Breakthrough innovation often happens at the intersection of fields, where different ways of thinking, tools, and expertise collide. That principle is at the heart of research led by Dr Jeremy Owen, Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Drawing on natural products chemistry, microbiology, synthetic biology, and computational analysis, Dr Owen and his team have created a platform for developing microbial natural products. Their solution offers a faster, more efficient way to scan large libraries of microbial genomes from bacteria, then identify microbes with the genetic capacity to produce specific natural products.
Microbial solutions for sustainable agriculture
Dr Owen’s research into untapped microbes has transformative potential for crop protection. The agricultural sector is facing several pressures, climate change is intensifying pest pressures and disease spread, resistance to existing pesticides is increasing, and regulators and consumers are pushing to reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals.
“Gifted microbes” offer an effective, nature‑derived alternative. In the soil, microbes have spent millions of years locked in microscopic competition, evolving biochemical adaptations to survive. For example, a bacterium growing alongside fungi may produce a compound that is highly toxic to those fungi, giving it a competitive edge.
The platform taps into this existing chemistry by identifying microbes with the genomes that encode these defensive compounds. Once those microbes are found, their active compounds can be isolated, characterised, and developed as ingredients in new crop protection products. These compounds are highly effective drop-in replacements for synthetic chemicals, aligned with the global shift away from synthetics.
From lab to launch
With support from Wellington UniVentures, the team has been exploring intellectual property protection, commercialisation strategy, and pathways to market, particularly through partnerships with established agricultural companies. KiwiNet Tier 1 funding enabled the team to further develop the platform and participation in the Sprout Agritech Accelerator facilitated the transition from research into a startup business. In parallel, Dr Owen’s PhD student, Da Jing, took part in KiwiNet’s Emerging Innovator Programme, gaining entrepreneurial skills and insight into the translation of technology from university to startup.
As the team continues to scale the platform, the same underlying technology could also support the discovery of new therapeutics and other high‑value natural products. What begins with crop protection could open the door to much broader commercial and societal impact.
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