Moa’s discovery also opens an important pathway for biological-synthetic hybrid solutions

Moa Technology announced the discovery of an entirely new category of crop protection solutions that could help farmers safeguard harvests more sustainably, safely, and effectively. The company has identified a novel class of “amplifier” molecules that, while non-herbicidal on their own, have the potential to reduce the amount or concentration of herbicides farmers currently use—marking a major advancement in sustainable agriculture.

Over the past three years, Moa’s pioneering technology platforms have discovered 80 new herbicidal modes of action, several of which are already showing success in field trials across the US, Canada, France, Spain, the UK, Australia, and South America. The new amplifier molecules represent the next step in Moa’s mission, offering farmers solutions that can address pressing challenges such as herbicide resistance, rising input costs, and environmental impact.

Moa’s discovery also opens an important pathway for biological-synthetic hybrid solutions. Bioherbicides remain a relatively small sector within biological crop protection due to limitations in safety, affordability, and efficacy. Amplifiers could bridge this gap by enabling biologicals to work more effectively alongside synthetic chemistries, thereby reducing environmental pressure while maintaining crop yields.

In a significant milestone, Moa has partnered with the Gowan Company, a leading US-based agricultural solutions provider. Through a strategic collaboration, Gowan will invest via upfront payments, milestone-linked value sharing, and royalties, working with Moa to develop an amplifier tailored to a specific active ingredient. Both companies see substantial global potential for this new category of crop protection, given the urgent need for solutions that promote sustainable farming and food security.

Pilot field trials are already underway in Australia, where an amplifier is being tested against annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum)—one of the world’s most damaging and herbicide-resistant weeds that costs Australian grain growers an estimated A$3.3 billion annually. Additional trials in the UK are evaluating how amplifiers may combat herbicide resistance in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), where glyphosate resistance was recently confirmed for the first time.