Case Study
SOLASTA® Bio: Advancing Sustainable Crop Protection from the West of Scotland Science Park
Protecting global food supplies while safeguarding the natural world is one of the defining challenges facing agriculture today. Traditional insect control methods have played a role in feeding the world, but often at a cost to biodiversity and environmental health.
SOLASTA® Bio is working to change that.
Founded as a University of Glasgow spinout in 2021, the company is developing a new, nature-inspired approach to crop protection and is now scaling rapidly from its new home at the West of Scotland Science Park.
Reimagining crop protection
At the heart of SOLASTA Bio’s work is a simple but powerful belief: agriculture and biodiversity must coexist. We spoke to Emma Axelson, Chief of Staff:
“The future of farming and global food security depends on effective crop protection – but we can’t achieve that without also protecting biodiversity. One simply doesn’t work without the other.”
SOLASTA Bio’s technology is based on precision bio-engineered peptides. These are very small proteins that are bio-safe, biodegradable and highly selective. This means their solutions can target specific pest species while remaining safe for pollinators, other wildlife, humans and the land itself.
“Our peptides offer a clear alternative to traditional chemical insecticides. They’re designed to be effective, sustainable, and highly selective – which is critical for protecting essential pollinators.”
By rethinking how crop protection works at a molecular level, SOLASTA Bio is addressing a major gap in the global agricultural market.
From university spinout to scaling biotech
SOLASTA Bio’s rapid growth has been driven by a strong scientific foundation, clear commercial vision and early access to the right support.
The company spun out of the University of Glasgow following four years of internationally competitive research by founders Professor Shireen Davies and Professor Julian Dow, who recognised the urgent need for environmentally responsible pest control that could meet real-world agricultural demands.
Emma tells us: “University spinouts play a vital role in the UK innovation ecosystem, but success depends on many factors such as strong science, the right support, and the ability to translate research into real-world solutions.”
Early commercialisation support from Scottish Enterprise, UKRI funding, and targeted investment helped SOLASTA Bio de-risk the business and attract high-quality investors.
This momentum culminated in an oversubscribed $14 million Series A round in 2024, led by global agri-tech and life sciences investors. Alongside funding, the company has made rapid technical and regulatory progress including successful field trials and a growing global IP portfolio.
Why the West of Scotland Science Park
SOLASTA Bio’s move to the West of Scotland Science Park in September 2025 marked a major milestone in its journey from spinout to scale-up.
Leaving its original base at the University of Glasgow gave the company a dedicated standalone facility with the space, infrastructure and capacity needed for its next phase of growth.
“The Helix Building was identified as ideal for our needs in terms of size, location, amenity and cost at a time when suitable lab space was extremely limited.”
Working closely with Speyroc, SOLASTA Bio completed a full relocation and bespoke fit-out in under three months: a tight timeline that was critical to maintaining momentum.
“Having the ability to custom-fit the Helix Building for our laboratories and offices was game-changing. Speyroc’s support and experience made a huge difference.”
Beyond the facilities, being based at the park, alongside other emerging technology companies and within landscaped grounds, has had a positive impact on both the business and employees.
Momentum, milestones and what comes next
2025 has been a year of strong progress for SOLASTA Bio. The company now holds 14 granted patents across the US and Europe, strengthening its global protection strategy and supporting the commercial rollout of its products.
“These patents represent a real paradigm shift in crop protection and support our long-term value creation for growers and partners worldwide.”
With the relocation complete, the focus now turns firmly to commercialisation:
“Now that we’re fully settled into our new home, we can focus on linking our pioneering R&D work to commercial milestones and building on the momentum of 2025.”
A long-term vision for agriculture
SOLASTA Bio’s mission is clear: better for crops, vital for our planet.
By offering pollinator-safe, sustainable crop protection solutions, the company aims to reduce the environmental harm caused by traditional synthetic pesticides: lowering ecological toxicity, reducing chemical residues, and supporting healthier ecosystems.
“Our goal is to give growers access to effective, cost-efficient pest control solutions that also protect food, families and biodiversity worldwide.”
The West of Scotland Science Park is proud to support SOLASTA Bio at this pivotal stage, providing a base for innovation, growth and global impact.
Find out more about SOLASTA Bio here: https://solastabio.com/.