Bionica

As part of the Scientists for Nature Class of 2025, the team at Bionica, led by Prof. JJ Joseph Richardson and Richard Mond, presented their groundbreaking nanocoating technology, which has the potential to dramatically reduce pesticide use while safeguarding ecosystems. Their work addresses a global challenge: conventional pesticides, which contribute to environmental pollution, biodiversity loss, and threats to human health.

Bionica’s initiative is built on cutting-edge research led by Professor Richardson and the team in Australia, developing ultra-thin, natural nanocoatings that protect crops from pathogens and adverse conditions. The team’s technology ensures pesticides adhere to plants more effectively, drastically reducing the volume and frequency of chemical applications. The results are transformative. Trials conducted by the Bionica team indicate that their coatings use roughly 200 times less material per treatment, require five times fewer applications, and achieve an estimated 1,000-fold net reduction in pesticide usage.

Encouraged by these early successes, the Bionica team is now working to scale the technology globally, engaging with farmers and agricultural partners across key crop-producing regions. Their vision is to empower farmers with safer, more efficient crop protection tools, restore surrounding ecosystems, and reduce the ecological footprint of modern agriculture.

Their presentation at Scientists for Nature in Lindau 2025 can be viewed in the video below.