Bontia Bio
Accessing nature’s bioactive armoury for animal health and agritech
About Bontia Bio
Bontia Bio is a Wellington-based synthetic biology company that is accessing nature’s bioactive armoury to address problems in animal health and agriculture. The company is utilising its proprietary synthetic biology platform technology and biosynthetic pathway reconstruction to access compounds that nature has created for plant protection, and to improve these for commercial applications. This is achieved via the creation of proprietary microbial strains that can be grown using classical fermentation, minimising the use of synthetic chemicals for more sustainable outcomes. Our initial focus is on a family of compounds that have extremely potent activity against invertebrate pests without any associated mammalian toxicity.
Bontia Bio’s first commercial product will be an orally delivered animal health medication for the treatment and prevention of fleas and ticks in companion animals.
Based on nature
Our products are derived from microbes found in nature.
Backed by science
We access natural products using our patented Fungal Factories™ synthetic biology platform.
Benefiting animals
Our pioneer flea and tick product has no observed mammalian toxicity and is manufactured using sustainable methods.
Bontia Bio was founded on technology developed at the Ferrier Research Institute, hosted at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, nestled in the hills of Wellington, New Zealand.
Our team
Bontia Bio’s founding team of world class researchers in synthetic and chemical biology is based in New Zealand at the Ferrier Research Institute of Victoria University of Wellington. Members of the wider team bring broad experience in the animal health industry, in product development, parasitology, and regulatory expertise. From discovery to product development, they are bringing to market the next generation of products for animal health and crop protection.
