Students behind a biotech spin-out company that aims to provide the agriculture world with an alternative to pesticides have won a business competition run by the University of East Anglia.
Simon Lloyd, 26, and Stuart King, 24, postgraduate research students in UEA’s School of Biological Sciences and the John Innes Centre, secured the top prize of an internship in the Caribbean with their business Frontline Agriculture, which is dedicated to connecting academic research with agriculture.
The company is in the process of developing its first product, the Beacon delivery system, which will deliver natural plant compounds to enhance crop disease resistance in the field. It is hoped this technology will significantly reduce the use of harmful chemical pesticides, and so improve the sustainability and environmental impact of modern agriculture.
The university joined forces with Hotel Chocolat to look for creativity and innovation through its EUREKA business plan competition, with a top prize of a week’s all expenses paid internship at Hotel Chocolat’s Rabot Estate in St Lucia.
Stuart said: "Through participating in the EUREKA competition, and working with our mentor Graham Gannon, Frontline Agriculture has been transformed from fundamental research into a viable and exciting business opportunity with huge potential. We are both extremely pleased to have actually won the EUREKA competition, and the business support will definitely give our business the best possible start. The nature of agriculture is changing, and we believe that Frontline Agriculture is now set to provide the technology to achieve this change."
The pair will also receive in-kind business support to the value of £4,000 from Barclays Bank, accountants Lovewell Blake, The Click Design Consultants and solicitors Mills and Reeve.
Undergraduate and postgraduate students from the university and its Norwich Research Park partners were invited to submit their ideas - from developing scientific research, to not-for-profit social enterprises, eco-friendly inventions, lifestyle businesses or simply new ways of doing old business.
Entrants had to present details of their business concept identifying market potential, competitors, a marketing strategy, financial plans and necessary investment. The judging panel included representatives from The Click, Mills and Reeve, Barclays, Breckland Orchard, the Eastern Daily Press, and Lovewell Blake.
