At BugBiome, our mission is to create safer pest control solutions by harnessing natural microbiomes through our high-throughput screening platform.
Products
Safer bioinsecticides to protect from pests
We're focused on developing microbial repellents for key pests:
Our products are designed to protect humans, animals, and crops, reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals and fostering environmental resilience.
Growers
Supporting Growers with Sustainable Solutions
In an era of increasing environmental challenges, our biorational microbial solutions empower growers. We develop effective, sustainable pest protection without negative impacts on humans, the environment or non-target insects.
Harnessing the Power of the Microbiome
Our cutting-edge research focussed on the largely untapped potential of crop surface microbiomes, utilising cutting-edge microbiology, engineering biology, and ‘omics to find novel biopesticides. Our innovative approach leverages the microbiome to offer a new class of pest control solutions.
People
Collaborating for a Sustainable Future
Our team, comprised of experts in microbiology, entomology and commercialisation. With previous commercial experience at microbial generation and insect screening start-ups. We're committed to creating a paradigm shift in pest control, prioritizing safety, sustainability, and community in every step
Our Partners & Investors
Media and News
Careers
Join us
As a team, we’re passionate about the potential for science to shape human health and sustain the future of our planet. We’re always searching for talented individuals to join us.
About
Redefining Pest Control through Microbial Science
At BugBiome, we're transforming pest control by using advanced microbial science. We develop eco-friendly bioinsecticides that are effective and safe for humans, animals, and the environment. Our approach ensures sustainable pest management, contributing to a healthier planet.
Building a Safer and Sustainable Future
As environmental and health concerns rise, our focus is on creating a sustainable pest control system. We aim to minimise the use of harmful chemicals, protect ecosystems, and promote the well-being of all species.
As the population grows, we need a way to feed it. Our technology is opening up a new way of working. One that connects the dots between production and consumption and gives growers the tools to meet the environmental pressures of today.
Natural protection
Our products, derived from natural microbial communities, offer a revolutionary alternative to traditional pest control methods. These bioinsecticides are safer for users and the environment, aligning with our commitment to sustainability.
HAPPIER COMMUNITIES
Our solutions support healthier living spaces, reducing the impact of pests while minimising the use of chemical products.
GREENER PLANET
BugBiome's innovations contribute to a more sustainable world, reducing chemical solutions and fostering ecological balance.
Leading the Way with Microbial Technology
Our state-of-the-art research in microbiology and synthetic biology empowers us to develop unique and effective bioinsecticides, setting new standards in pest control.
Technology
Innovative Science for Effective Pest Control
BugBiome leverages cutting-edge microbiology and ‘omics technologies to address one of our planet's most pressing issues - pests!Through high-throughput screening of microbes from surface microbiomes we harness nature's own pest defences, developing innovative biopesticides faster, as a sustainable alternative to chemical insecticides. Applied through foliar application.
Microbial Derived Technology
We culture microbes from a range of crop surfaces and the environment using novel technology to culture previously unculturable microbes.We capture a wide range of insect behaviours in response to microbial challenges for efficient, cost-effective screening utilising our patent pending AvidX hardware. BugBiome can collect multiple insect behaviors simultaneously, saving time and resources. This high-throughput approach enables the screening of a larger number of microbial candidates and the faster identification of promising leads.Our biopesticide actives will offer farmers an effective, environmentally friendly solution starting with aphids to slash crop losses caused by aphid transmitted yellow viruses.
People
Science with impact
Our work has global impact, and we're a team with a global outlook. We are proud of our diverse team and work hard to create a rich and meaningful workplace. Just like a healthy ecosystem.
We're all about the power of people.
We work to remedy the challenges faced daily by local growers and consumers by listening carefully to what they have to say, in order to learn from and adapt to the specific needs of our farmers on the frontline.
Our Team
Chief Executive Officer
Dr Alicia Showering
Alicia has a BSc in Biosciences from University of Liverpool, MSc in Epidemiology and a PhD in Disease Control from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is motivated by the damage insects cause in agriculture and human health and founded BugBiome to bring microbial alternatives to market.
Chief Commercial Officer
Chris Mosedale
Chris Mosedale has a BSci in Molecular & Cellular Biology, before joining a microbiome start-up in and supporting their journey through research and development management. With a background in commercialising early stage biotechnology, he supports the company in its commercial goals.
Microbiologist
Bob Jones
Bob holds a MSc in Medical Microbiology from the prestigious London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Known for his enthusiasm and exceptional organizational skills, Bob plays a pivotal role in managing the strain collection and spearheading the discovery of novel microbes.
Entomologist
Caitlin Mitchell
MSc in Tropical Disease Biology. Caitlin is using her entomology skills to design assays to test insect behaviour against microbes.
Caitlin has recently graduated from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine with an MSc in Tropical Disease Biology. During this time she developed an interest in entomology, and gained knowledge and experience of working with a variety of insects, including mosquito rearing.
Entomologist
Mille Small
Millie graduated from the University of Birmingham with a Biological Sciences degree, undertaking a final year project exploring the neuronal pathways underpinning mating behaviours in drosophila.
At BugBiome, Millie will be responsible for rearing insects and driving the screening program to identify compounds of interest.
Careers
Find your purpose
We are on the lookout for professionals with complementary skills to support us in making an impact discovering sustainable pest protection.
Open roles
| JOB TITLE | DEPARTMENT | LOCATION | EMPLOYMENT TYPE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internship & placement enquiries | N/A | N/A | Fixed Term Contract |
| Future talent pool | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Apply using the form below to find out more about these roles
Products
Extracting actives from the plant phyllosphere involves identifying microbes living on leaf surfaces that have activity against pests and the metabolites they produce. These include bacterially derived volatiles, antifungal agents, and insect deterrents. Discovering these compounds is challenging due to the complex interactions within the microbial community and the need for advanced analytical techniques. However, the advantages of these natural compounds over synthetic chemicals are significant: they are often more biodegradable, less likely to cause resistance in pests and pathogens, and generally safer for non-target organisms, including humans and beneficial insects.
Repellents
Utilising microbial actives from bacterially derived compounds, BugBiome's repellents offer a natural alternative to synthetic chemicals. These actives target specific pest behaviours without harming non-target species, ensuring safety and environmental sustainability.
Biostimulants
Our biostimulants, derived from beneficial microbes like mycorrhizal fungi, enhance plant growth and resilience. They improve nutrient uptake and stress tolerance, leading to healthier crops with reduced need for synthetic fertilisers.
Pesticides
BugBiome's microbial-based pesticides use naturally occurring bacteria and fungi to target specific pests. These biopesticides are biodegradable and less likely to lead to resistance compared to traditional pesticides.
Post-Harvest Protection
Our post-harvest products utilise microbial agents to inhibit spoilage and pathogens, extending shelf life naturally. This approach reduces food waste and reliance on chemical preservatives, offering a safer, more sustainable alternative.
Terms and privacy
Website Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy sets out how BugBiome UK Ltd (“BUGBIOME”, “we” or “us”) uses and protects any personal data that you provide to us when you use this website (“https://www.bugbiome.com/”) (“Website”) and/or via the services we provide to you. We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time by updating this page. Please check back frequently to see any updates or changes to this Privacy Policy.BugBiome UK Ltd, with its address at Babraham Hall, Babraham, Cambridge CB22 3AT, is the controller of your personal data. For any questions on how we handle your personal data, please contact us using the details in the “How To Contact Us” section below.1. Personal Data We CollectWe collect personal data in the following ways:Communications via our Website: We collect personal data when you provide it to us through communications via our Website. This includes where you have contacted us through the “Contact Us” section on the Website and similar situations in which you have chosen to provide the information to us, including for customer services support.Goods or services you request: Where you request goods or services from us, we will collect your personal data in order to process your request and otherwise contact you following a purchase.Automated technologies or interactions: As you interact with our Website, we may automatically collect technical data about your equipment, browsing actions and patterns. We collect this personal data by using cookies, server logs and other similar technologies. Please see section 3 below, for further details.Job applicants: We also collect and process your personal data if you apply for a position at BugBiome. We hold the applications from unsuccessful applicants for up to 6 months.The type of personal data we may collect includes identity data (including name), contact data (including email address and telephone number), country, location, language preference, employment data (including job description), you CV and covering letter (when you apply for a position with us) and any other personal data you provide to us via the “Contact Us” section page on the Website.2. Purposes For Processing Your Personal DataWe process any personal data you provide to us to enable us to perform the contract we are about to enter into or have entered into with you, to ensure compliance with local legal and regulatory requirements and for the purposes of our legitimate business interests, including:to enable us to carry out our obligations arising from any contracts and to provide you with the information, products and services that you request from us;
to enable us to respond to an enquiry or other request you make when you contact us via our Website;
to notify you about changes to our service;
to enable us to issue a notice or corrective action to you in relation to any of our products or services, if required; and
to enable you to use our Website, including securely, and to improve your user experience and ensure that content is presented in the most effective manner.3. Cookies(a) Our use of cookiesA cookie is a small data file that is placed on your computer or mobile device by your web browser when you visit a Website. It is a tool that stores information about website visits, recognises you and your preferences each time you visit our Website, and ensures website functionality and generally improving your experience of the Website.A cookie file can contain information such as a user ID that the Website uses to track the pages you have visited, but the only personal data a cookie can contain is information you supply yourself. A cookie cannot read data off your hard disk or read cookie files created by other sites. Our Website uses Google Analytics and cookies to track user traffic patterns. BugBiome does this in order to determine the usefulness of our Website information to our users and to see how effective our navigational structure is in helping users reach that information. BugBiome does not connect this information with data about individual users.BugBiome uses the following categories of cookies on this Website:Strictly Necessary Cookies: these cookies are essential in order to enable you to move around the Website and use its features. Strictly necessary cookies are also necessary for security reasons.
Functionality Cookies: these cookies are used to remember registered users to improve their user experience.
Strictly necessary cookies are necessary to provide the Website to you. We use such cookies without your prior consent.You can find out more about how Google uses cookies here: https://policies.google.com/technologies/cookies(b) Opting out of cookiesYou may also configure the settings of your browser to activate, disable or delete cookies. Detailed instructions are provided by your browser. If you disable or delete cookies, however, you may have to manually adjust some preferences every time you visit the Website and some services and functionalities may not work.4. Disclosure of Your Personal DataWe may share your personal data with:our partners which can be found on our Websites
a prospective seller or buyer in the event of a sale or purchase of BugBiome business or asset so that the buyer can continue to provide you with information and services;
our service providers that we engage to provide services for us, such as banking, legal, audit, or other service providers which assist BugBiome with its general business. Where we provide your personal data to third party services providers, they are required to keep your personal data confidential and secure, and must only use your personal data as instructed by us.
We may also disclose your personal data where required to respond to authorised requests from government authorities or where required by law. Where we are required by law, we may also disclose your personal data where it is necessary to enforce or apply this Privacy Policy or other agreements, to investigate or protect the rights, property or safety of BugBiome, our products and services and our customers, distributors or partners or to prevent or take action regarding illegal activities or fraud, situations involving potential threats to the safety of any person or as evidence in litigation.5. Storing Your Personal DataYour personal data collected via our Website will be stored on servers located in the [UK] and will not be transferred to any location outside of the UK.6. Data RetentionWe will only retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.To determine the appropriate retention period for personal data, we consider the amount, nature, and sensitivity of the personal data, the potential risk of harm from unauthorised use or disclosure of your personal data, the purposes for which we process your personal data and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means, and the applicable legal requirements.7. Keeping Personal Data SecureWe will take all reasonable steps (including appropriate technical and organisational measures) to ensure your personal data is processed securely to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of your personal data and in accordance with this Privacy Policy.The nature of the internet is such that we cannot guarantee or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us via the internet and any transmission is at your own risk.8. Your RightsYou may have the right to: request (a) access the to your personal data we hold about you; (b) request we correct any inaccurate personal data we hold about you; (c) request we delete any personal data we hold about you; (d) restrict the processing of personal data we hold about you; (e) object to the processing of personal data we hold about you; and/or (f) receive any personal data we hold about you in a structured and commonly used machine-readable format or have such personal information transmitted to another company.We may ask you for additional information to confirm your identity and for security purposes, before disclosing information requested to you.To exercise any of your rights in connection with your personal data, please contact us using the “Contact Us” section of the Website. We will process any request in line with any local laws and our policies and procedures. You have the right to lodge a complaint about how we process your personal data with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (https://ico.org.uk/).9. How To Contact UsIf you have any questions about the processing of personal data via this Website, please contact us using the “Contact Us” section on the Website. If you contact us, we will do our best to address any concerns you may have about our processing of your personal data.This Privacy Policy was last updated 222nd September 2023.Terms of UseBy accessing this website, you agree to the following terms and conditions and other applicable law. If you do not agree to be bound by these terms and conditions, please do not use this site.All the information and material provided on this web site is solely for illustrative purposes. It is not intended to and does not create any business, contractual or employment relationship with BugBiome UK Ltd.The site is provided “as is” and BugBiome UK Ltd expressly disclaims all warranties of any kind whether express or implied including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.All trademarks used or referred to in this site are the property of their respective owners.Links on this site may lead to services or sites not operated by BugBiome UK Ltd. No judgement or warranty is made with respect to such other services or sites and BugBiome UK Ltd takes no responsibility for third party sites or services. A link to another site or service is not an endorsement of that site or service.Except as specifically stated on this website, to the fullest extent permitted at law, neither BugBiome UK Ltd nor any of its affiliates, directors, partners, employees or other representatives will be liable for damages arising out of or in connection with the use of this website or the information, content, materials or products included on this site. This is a comprehensive limitation of liability that applies to all damages of any kind, including (without limitation) compensatory, direct, indirect or consequential damages, loss of data, income or profit, loss of or damage to property and claims of third parties. For the avoidance of doubt, BugBiome UK Ltd does not limit its liability for death or personal injury to the extent only that it arises as a result of the negligence of BugBiome UK Ltd, its affiliates, directors, partners, employees or other representatives.Any use you make of the information provided on this site, or any site or service linked to by this site, is at your own risk.Data Location & Third-Party InvolvementBugBiome UK Ltd is based in the United Kingdom.Some of our third-party service providers and partners operate internationally. We take appropriate measures to ensure your data is protected in accordance with European Union data protection (GDPR) law when transferred or processed outside of the European Economic Area (“the EEA”, which consists of all EU member states plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein).Terms & Policy ChangesWe reserve the right to make changes to our website, policies and these conditions at any time.This Terms of Use Policy was last updated 25th June 2021.