Simple feedstocks like sugar water and amino acids—not toxic solvents—are used to grow the fungi that the compounds are created from, making it less expensive and environmentally-friendly to produce.
Dr Emily Parker, Victoria University of Wellington and Dr Matthew Nicholson, Wellington UniVentures
Chemical pesticides can set damage in motion that reverberates through the environment for years, but now - thanks to innovative research from Ferrier Research Institute - there is a way to kill parasites and insects with less collateral damage. Scientists have engineered a way to biologically synthesise a variety of antiparasitic compounds that are found in nature.
To bring this innovation to market, Wellington UniVentures spun out Bontia Bio - a company founded on technology developed at the Ferrier Research Institute hosted at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.
Bontia Bio is harnessing the protective power of plants by creating ‘fungal factories’ to produce natural and sustainable antiparasitic compounds. Its first commercial product is an orally delivered animal health medication for the treatment and prevention of fleas and ticks in companion animals, like cats and dogs. With a global companion animal treatment market worth several billion dollars and dominated by synthetic compounds, there is strong commercial potential for this breakthrough. Outside of animal health, Bontia Bio’s patented synthetic biology platform also has potential applications in human health and crop protection.
Bontia Bio uses synthetic biology to re-create nature’s defenses in a more efficient way. Scientists have figured out how to mimic production of rare, powerful natural compounds by identifying and using the exact enzymes that create them.
Instead of extracting tiny amounts from nature, they insert the relevant genes into a fast-growing fungus to produce these compounds quickly and at scale. This process happens in custom bioreactors and avoids traditional chemical methods, making it more eco-friendly.
Features and benefits
Environmentally friendly
Safe for pets and humans
These natural compounds are extremely potent pesticides but are not toxic to mammals, meaning that they are safe for the animals and humans who are exposed to them.
Scalable
The provisional bioprocess means it can be easily scaled-up for efficient production of lead compounds.
Next steps
Bontia Bio spun out in 2025 following the successful completion of an NZ $1.25m seed funding round led by Sprout Agritech and supported by Booster and Callaghan Innovation.
The team is using their unique methodology to bring a natural, microbial-derived flea and tick treatment to market, ahead of other possible future applications. The compound has already undergone successful testing against fleas, ticks and other pests, with promising results for broader application in agriculture.
Bontia Bio will be seeking further venture investment in the early part of 2026 to help bring its initial product to market and support the development of products for other opportunities in animal health and crop production.
Get in touch to find out about ongoing opportunities in this venture.
