A Glasgow-based agritech firm specialising in the next generation of green insecticides has made key appointments as it eyes expansion in the US.

SOLASTA Bio has appointed industry veteran Paula Pinto as Chief Strategy Officer to head up its US operations that will be based in North Carolina.

In addition, Chief Business Officer Dr Daphne Preuss is an experienced entrepreneur focused on bringing genetic and biotechnology innovations to agriculture.

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The move follows funding round of £4 million earlier this year to scale up the development of its nature-inspired pesticides, which the firms says is the first of their kind to be developed worldwide.

The firm develops environmentally-friendly Insect Control Agents (ICAs) that meet a global need for novel modes of action that deliver effective crop protection.

These ICAs also preserve the ecosystem by protecting beneficial insects such as bees.

Having run several successful early-stage R&D trials with commercial partners, SOLASTA Bio is on course to bring its first biopesticides to market in 2027/28, around half the time traditionally taken by conventional pest control products.

The company currently employs a team of 20 R&D, commercial staff and consultants, having added 12 new people over the past 6 months.

Shireen Davies the firms CEO said: “These appointments are a real coup for SOLASTA Bio and represent a major step forward in its growth plans.

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“With significant experience working in both major corporates and in agtech start-ups, alongside a passion for reshaping agriculture and food ingredients into more environmentally friendly, sustainable solutions, both Paula and Daphne will play a key role in helping us to forge the right partnerships with the right corporations, allowing us to achieve our ambitions of commercialising in 4-5 years’ time.

“Their knowledge of the US market, in particular, will be of great benefit as we look to step up our stateside operations in the coming months.”