Invaio Sciences, a Flagship Pioneering company, accelerating the leap to nature-positive agriculture, announced the appointment of Dr Magalie Guilhabert, as Chief Science Officer, effective immediately. With a career spanning over two decades in research, development, and operations leadership, Guilhabert brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of transforming innovation into impactful solutions for agriculture and sustainability.

Invaio Sciences, a Flagship Pioneering company developing breakthrough biological solutions for sustainable agriculture, today announced the appointment of Dr. Magalie Guilhabert as Chief Science Officer. Dr. Guilhabert brings over two decades of leadership experience in agricultural biotechnology and microbial innovation, most recently serving as Vice President and Head of Research & Development and Operations for the Agriculture Business Unit at Ginkgo Bioworks.

At Ginkgo Bioworks, Dr. Guilhabert led the transformation of the agriculture division into a fully integrated business unit, managing a $41 million revenue target and overseeing a team of 100 scientists and technicians. Her leadership spanned synthetic biology, microbial genetics, and data science—driving the development of a cutting-edge portfolio of biological agricultural solutions aligned with commercial success.

“We are thrilled to welcome Magalie to the Invaio team as our Chief Science Officer,” said Amy O’Shea, CEO of Invaio Sciences and CEO-Partner at Flagship Pioneering. “Her track record of building high-performing scientific teams and delivering impactful, biology-based innovations directly supports Invaio’s mission to transform crop health and sustainability. Her strategic vision and expertise will be invaluable as we accelerate the development of nature-positive technologies that benefit farmers and ecosystems worldwide.”

Prior to her tenure at Ginkgo, Dr. Guilhabert held several senior leadership roles at Bayer US LLC, including Vice President and Global Head of Microbial Research Technologies Biologics from 2018 to 2022. There, she led a team of 70 scientists in developing a robust pipeline of microbial-based active ingredients, contributing to a market potential exceeding $1 billion. Earlier in her career, she contributed to pioneering work in crop efficiency and plant-microbe interactions at Bayer CropScience and AgraQuest.

Dr. Guilhabert holds a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from the University of California, Davis, an M.S. in Biology and Agronomy from the University of Rennes, and a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Tours. A recognized expert in her field, she holds 15 patents and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the International Alliance for Phytobiome Research.

“This is an exciting and pivotal moment for agriculture,” said Dr. Guilhabert. “Invaio’s commitment to advancing biological innovation to address global challenges aligns deeply with my passion for sustainable, customer-focused solutions. I look forward to collaborating with the team to drive scientific progress that supports both growers and the planet.”

As Chief Science Officer, Dr. Guilhabert will lead Invaio’s research and development efforts and define the company’s scientific direction. Her appointment reinforces Invaio’s dedication to delivering environmentally sustainable crop protection technologies and shaping the future of agriculture.