August 30, 2023

By Lynda Kiernan-Stone, Global AgInvesting Media

Advances in biological solutions for agriculture and human pharmaceuticals have shown remarkable interconnectedness and mutual benefits, fostering a symbiotic relationship between these two domains. This convergence has opened up new avenues for innovation, sustainability, and improved well-being for both humans and the environment.

One company making strides in both areas is biotech startup Botanical Solutions Inc. (BSI) – an award-winning developer of sustainable, consistent, and cost-effective Advanced Botanical Materials (ABMs) for the pharmaceutical and agriculture industries. 

The first ABM produced through the company’s proprietary platform is ABM-01, an active ingredient based on the plant Quillaja saponaria that is used in two gold-standard products, BSI’s biopesticide Quillibrium® and the vaccine adjuvant QS-21, used in three vaccines: a Shingles blockbuster vaccine, a recently launched RSV vaccine, and a Malaria vaccine.

“BSI is in a privileged position to solve major issues affecting the supply chain, cost and sustainability of the vaccine adjuvant QS-21 and addressing major challenges associated with disease control in modern agriculture,” said Gaston Salinas, CEO, BSI. 

And investors agree. The company announced it has successfully secured an additional $7 million in capital, bringing its total Series A funding to more than $13 million. Led by Otter Capital, this round was joined by Latin American investors Boldo SpA and Quebec LP, controlled by the Casanueva and Saval family offices.

“BSI is fortunate to have a strong group of investors who are enthusiastic about our progress and vision to impact multiple industries through our breakthrough technology and truly sustainable products,” said Salinas.

The capital from this new investment will enable the company to boost the expansion plans it has for agriculture, which includes the roll out of its flagship product Quillibrium® in Mexico, Brazil, the U.S., and the EU. BSI went on to note that the successful partnership with Syngenta established in 2019 has shown more than 50 percent year-on-year growth of effective growers’ adoption of the product in Chile and Peru, accumulating over 100,000 acres treated to-date. 

It also will be used to develop a thoroughly sustainable supply chain for its gold standard vaccine adjuvant QS-21, with the company on track to begin delivering GMP materials to be used in the development of human vaccines later this year. 

This collaboration between seemingly distinct disciplines underscores the potential for transformative breakthroughs that address challenges across multiple fronts—enhancing food security, human health, environmental sustainability, and overall well-being.

~ Lynda Kiernan-Stone is editor in chief with GAI Media, and is managing editor and daily contributor for Global AgInvesting’s AgInvesting Weekly News and  Agtech Intel News, as well as HighQuest Group’s Unconventional Ag. She can be reached at lkiernan-stone@globalaginvesting.com.

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