SOLASTA Bio, a UK-based agri-biotech company specializing in next generation green insecticides, announced it now holds 14 granted patents for its peptides, including eight in the United States and six in Europe.

SOLASTA Bio’s technology is based on insect ‘neuropeptides’, which control essential physiological functions. By disrupting these functions in target pests such as aphids, whitefly, lepidoptera and plant hoppers, the bioinsecticides eliminate pest species while remaining safe for the environment and beneficial pollinators such as bees.

Building on over 50 greenhouse and field trials to date, SOLASTA Bio has expanded its trials program to include rice and continued testing on leafy greens and high-value soft fruit crops. Recent trials in Thailand targeting rice have shown promising results against plant hoppers, while trials on berries including strawberries in the U.S., UK and Italy continue to show strong efficacy against spotted wing drosophila. The company has also extended trials to lepidoptera and aphids on leafy vegetables across multiple territories.

The company says that across almost all trials to date, its peptide candidates have consistently shown high efficacy at or above 85 percent compared to commercial standards, with many treatments achieving efficacy levels above 85 percent. Critically, no phytotoxicity has been observed in any field trial, and no negative impact on beneficial insects has been recorded.

“These patent grants represent a paradigm shift in crop protection, demonstrating that nature-inspired peptides can be effectively protected for commercial deployment,” says Shireen Davies, CEO and co-founder of SOLASTA Bio. “The breadth of our trials, from rice in Asia to soft fruit in Europe and the U.S., demonstrates the global applicability of our platform and our ability to address pest challenges across diverse crops and geographies.”

The company recently strengthened its U.S. operations with the appointment of Jansen McDaniel, new field trials manager, who will lead global external trials to support SOLASTA’s R&D pipeline for next-generation peptide-based bioinsecticides. Based in North Carolina, McDaniel brings expertise in trial design, data analysis, and regulatory support for biopesticide development. Her background includes managing field programs across the U.S. and Latin America, coordinating with CROs, growers, and academic partners.