Discover more about SugaROx
The global population is expected to reach 9.8 billion people by 2050 and to meet the increase in food demand, crop production must increase by up to 60% in developed nations and up to 200% in developing ones
SugaROx has exclusive access to a game-changing platform technology developed by Rothamsted and Oxford University. This stimulates the key metabolic processes associated with crop yields by boosting the concentration of molecules found in plant cells.
SugaROx synthesises those natural molecules with small chemical modifications to encourage the plant to absorb them. Once inside the plant cells, the natural molecules revert to their biologically active form, stimulating the desired processes.
The innovation is particularly significant because it boosts natural plant processes with precision – differently to the traditional biostimulants available today.
Each product is designed to give farmers a simple, high-performance tool: a concentrated liquid that mixes easily in the sprayer tank and is applied to the crop at the right time to deliver powerful results in the field.
In more detail
SugaROx targets two natural processes in plants:
- Source capacity: How efficiently a plant captures and produces nutrients and energy
- Sink strength: How effectively it allocates nutrients and energy to developing tissues (e.g. grains, fruits, forage)
Every active ingredient in the SugaROx sprays is a proprietary version of a natural plant molecule – selected for its critical role in activating crop metabolism. The lead active ingredient is a modified version of trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P). T6P helps plants shift from survival mode to productivity mode by inhibiting an enzyme that signals energy scarcity. The result: a metabolic shift from famine to feast. When applied late in the crop cycle, T6P directs carbon and nutrient allocation to grain filling.
SugaROx has the potential to target any commercial crops grown in the world but for now, wheat is the most advanced area, with proof-of-concept work on maize, barley, millet and sorghum completed.
The results that Rothamsted and Oxford generated through their research have been published in high-impact peer-reviewed academic journals (e.g. Nature, PNAS, Plant Physiology, Nature Biotechnology).
A short history of SugaROx andT6P science and innovation
2016 Publication in Nature magazine
Plant biologists Dr Cara Griffiths and Dr Matthew Paul (Rothamsted) and organic chemist Prof Ben Davis (Oxford), had the ambition to use their groundbreaking invention to form a venture
2020 Business plan preparation
Dr Griffiths partnered with Rothamsted’s innovation and commercialisation manager, Bianca Forte, and Michael Peagram, a serial entrepreneur, to assess the opportunity and develop case for investment
2021 SugaROx was founded
Pre-seed funding secured through Rothamsted’s SHAKE Climate Change Accelerator and matched by additional Angel funding from Michael Peagram’s Angel network plus grant from Defra and Innovate UK’s Farming Innovation Programme
2023 HQ established at Rothamsted
Additional funding secured from the UK Science and Innovation Seed Fund, a VC fund supported by BBSRC and managed by Future Planet Capital, and Regenerate Ventures, via introduction from a SHAKE mentor.
2024 Innovation Prize at the World Biostimulants Congress 2024
Winner of leading award at most prestigious industry conference
The technology licensed by SugaROx from Rothamsted and Oxford is protected by 18 granted patents. The synthesis process is protected as secret know-how. SugaROx has exclusive world-wide access to this IPR.
Since licensing the technology, SugaROx has won 3 industry awards, including the Innovation Prize at the World Biostimulants Congress 2024 – the most important conference for the sector globally.
Why Rothamsted?
“Rothamsted and Oxford were not only the source of SugaROx’s core technology; they were the convener that enabled a team to come together to start the company.Basing ourselves at the Rothamsted hub now gives us access to a whole ecosystem of people, funders and organisations driven by a common interest in realising impact from great science.” Bianca Forte, Business Development Director
SugaROx benefits from
| Lab & Office Space |
We have an excellent office in the Russell Building on a beautiful campus with free parking and a canteen on site, and within walking distance from Harpenden’s town centre.
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| Kit |
We have used or accessed a range of scientific equipment or facilities directly or through staff services, from growth chambers and glasshouses, to analytical chemistry facilities.
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| Location |
30 minutes to central London by train. Easy access to motorways and just over an hour’s drive to science and innovation hubs in Oxford and Cambridge. Within easy reach of key airports (e.g. Heathrow and Luton).
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| Collaboration |
To date, we’ve had 8+ collaborative projects of all shapes and sizes with Rothamsted scientists.
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| Opportunities |
Being at Rothamsted has opened up funding opportunities with private and public investors.
The initial money required to launch our venture was accessed through Rothamsted’s accelerator (SHAKE). Experts involved in that programme later introduced us to the two VC Funds that came to support our seed round.
To help de-risk our business plan for private investors, we won several competitive grants from BBSRC and Innovate UK. Together, our projects with Rothamsted have received £3.5M in support for all parties involved in the translational work.
The Rothamsted Enterprises team is proactive in organising visits for influential stakeholders, and we often get invited to meet e.g. funders, investors, corporates, and farmers.
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