Bionema Group, a leader in biocontrol technology and recipient of the King’s Award for Innovation in 2024, proudly announces the appointment of Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE as the new Chairman of its Board of Directors. With a distinguished background in entrepreneurship, innovation, and commercialization, Professor Jones-Evans is set to drive Bionema’s mission to deliver cutting-edge biological solutions for sustainable plant health management and significantly expand the company’s global presence.

As awareness of the harmful impacts of chemical pesticides on human health, biodiversity, and the environment grows, the demand for effective, eco-friendly alternatives is more urgent than ever. Bionema is at the forefront of this movement, recognized for its pioneering biocontrol technologies across the horticulture, sports turf, forestry, and agriculture sectors. Recently, the company expanded its portfolio with a new line of microbial biocontrol solutions designed to enhance soil health and increase crop yields by 20%.

The biocontrol market is projected to reach USD 27.8 billion by 2028, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 13.8%, according to Markets and Markets. Bionema’s strategic expansion positions it to revolutionize the agricultural biological industry, ushering in a new era of sustainable plant health management.

While the science behind biocontrol is crucial, the successful commercialization of innovative products is essential to meet farmers’ and growers’ expectations. Professor Jones-Evans brings extensive experience in this area, making his guidance invaluable as Bionema enters its next phase of growth. His deep understanding of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and strategic vision will support the commercialization of Bionema’s products and ensure the company meets and exceeds the expectations of its end-users.

Professor Jones-Evans is widely celebrated as the founder of the UK Start-Up Awards and the UK Fast Growth Index, both of which recognize and promote high-potential enterprises. He serves as a visiting professor at Turku University in Finland and Aston University in the UK and has authored over 100 academic articles as well as the best-selling textbook ‘Enterprise and Small Business.’ With a track record of generating over £50 million for innovation and commercialization projects in the university sector, his influence extends beyond academia. His leadership roles include chairing the fast-growth co-working firm Town Square and spearheading the establishment of the Development Bank of Wales. A respected authority on economics and business, Professor Jones-Evans is a regular contributor to the BBC, Western Mail, and Daily Post, and was honored with an OBE in the 2013 Queen’s Birthday Honours list. He has recently announced plans to develop a new entrepreneurship hub in North Wales to support young people in starting and growing innovative businesses in the region.

“We are thrilled to welcome Professor Jones-Evans to Bionema,” said Dr. Minshad Ansari, Founder and CEO of Bionema. “His considerable experience in entrepreneurship and high-growth firms will be instrumental as we navigate the challenges of a competitive market. With his guidance, we are poised to achieve significant milestones in our journey, driving the development of new technologies to enhance our biocontrol products and solidifying Bionema’s position as a global leader in sustainable pest and plant health solutions.”

Professor Jones-Evans expressed his enthusiasm for joining Bionema at this pivotal moment. “I am excited to support a visionary company like Bionema, which is poised to become a leading global player in biocontrol. Its early technological successes, including acquisitions by industry giants like Syngenta in late 2021, reflect a solid foundation and a clear vision for making the environment safer and food production more sustainable. In an era where sustainability is paramount, innovative companies like Bionema must lead the way. I look forward to working closely with the executive team to maximize the company’s potential and accelerate its growth.”

Bionema, headquartered at Swansea University in Wales, benefits from its location within a world-class academic environment. This unique setting enables the company to drive innovation in biocontrol technologies while providing comprehensive solutions to research partners, including technology licensing, transfer, and global registration.

Source- Bionema