Oxford Spin-Out Wild Bioscience Secures $60M to Decode Evolution and Feed a Warming World

The Oxford University spin-out is betting that millions of years of plant evolution hold the key to a more resilient global food system

Courtesy: Wild Bio

A new chapter for sustainable agriculture is being written in Oxford. Wild Bioscience (Wild Bio), an Irish co-founded spin-out from the University of Oxford, has raised $60 million (€51 million) in a Series A round led by the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), the research organization founded by Oracle chair Larry Ellison, with participation from existing backers Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), Braavos Capital, and the University of Oxford.

The raise marks one of Europe’s largest early-stage AgTech financings this year, signaling growing investor confidence in the use of AI-guided genetics and precision breeding to future-proof global food systems.

From Oxford Labs to Global Fields

Wild Bio was founded in 2021 by Dr Ross Hendron, now CEO, and Prof Steve Kelly, the company’s Chief Science Officer and Head of the Plant Biology Institute at EIT. Their mission: to translate evolutionary biology into tangible crop improvements that enhance productivity, resilience, and sustainability.

The company’s proprietary platform uses machine learning to decode hundreds of millions of years of plant evolution, pinpointing beneficial traits hidden in wild species. These genetic insights are then used to guide precision breeding of elite modern crop varieties that can thrive under climate stress.

“Advancing agriculture has limitless potential to help people and the planet,” says Hendron. “To achieve meaningful, scalable impact, we need the right investors who are truly aligned with that big vision. I’m deeply grateful to EIT and to our current investors for sharing our excitement about what we’ve accomplished so far, and for their united support as we embark on this ambitious growth journey together.”

A Landmark for European AgTech

With most 2025 European agritech rounds ranging between €2 million and €10 million, typically focused on robotics, AI analytics, or data-driven farm tools, Wild Bio’s €51 million Series A stands out for both its scale and scientific depth. The round also marks the first co-investment between EIT and OSE, bridging academic discovery and technology commercialization.

“Combining the groundbreaking research at EIT and Wild will create a powerful synergy that could reshape sustainable agriculture on a global scale,” says Prof Kelly. “Together, we will accelerate our ability to bring new technologies to market and deliver innovative solutions that enhance crop resilience, boost yields, and promote environmental sustainability.”

According to Ed Bussey, CEO of OSE, the partnership exemplifies the Oxford ecosystem’s strength in translating deep science into high-impact ventures: “Ross Hendron was one of OSE’s early Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, and the company is a great example of how our venture-building engine helps Oxford scientists turn breakthrough ideas into world-class businesses. EIT’s investment is a strong endorsement of Wild’s scientific advantage and will accelerate its mission to enhance crop resilience and build a more sustainable food system.”

Scaling Innovation from Field Trials to Seed Markets

Wild Bio has grown to a team of 30 at its Oxford headquarters and currently runs field trials across four countries. The fresh capital will be used to expand R&D and commercial operations, translate early field successes into market-ready seed varieties, and forge new collaborations with growers and seed developers.

Founder Larry Ellison underscored the long-term vision behind the investment: “Wild Bio is using AI to better understand the lessons learned over millions of years of evolution encoded in plant genomes. Those insights, combined with precision breeding, have enabled Wild Bio to develop new varieties of crops with both higher yields and climate resilience. The ultimate goal is to grow these new crop varieties on a commercial scale and help provide food security around the world. EIT is committed to working with Wild Bio to reach this goal.”

Decoding Nature to Feed the Future

Wild Bio’s approach represents a deeper shift in agri-innovation: moving from precision application and monitoring to precision biology. By harnessing natural evolutionary intelligence, the company aims to build crops that are not only high-yielding but self-reliant under stress, requiring fewer chemical inputs, less water, and delivering more consistent harvests in the face of climate volatility.

As governments, farmers, and investors search for scalable solutions to the intertwined challenges of food security and climate adaptation, Wild Bio’s work could prove pivotal. If successful, its model may inspire a new generation of AI-driven crop science startups focused on harnessing evolution itself to feed a warming world.