The need to monitor protected species is more important than ever. NatureMetrics use environmental DNA (eDNA) to monitor biodiversity and help customers manage their impact on nature. They provide much-needed data for conservationists and businesses who risk harming local wildlife. Support from the Horizon Europe funding programme allowed NatureMetrics to take their business around the world and into new ventures.
Bringing research to wildlife
Biodiversity is essential for our ecosystem, yet many of us are unaware of our impact on nature. There’s a lot we can do to care for biodiversity and protected species, but conservation efforts require accurate data to have the best possible impact. This data is also useful for developers surveying for protected species and their habitats.
NatureMetrics use eDNA to monitor biodiversity and gather that data. Founded by Dr Kat Bruce as a University of East Anglia spin-out, the company apply academic advancements to real-world commercial applications. They began with eDNA monitoring for protected species in the UK such as great crested newts. They have since expanded into broader biodiversity assessments and now offer scalable, multi-species testing and a digital platform to visualise biodiversity trends over time.
NatureMetrics now work in 110 different countries. They extract DNA from water, soil and air samples – the latter being a new development from their Research and Development team – sequence it and determine which species are in the environment. This replaces time-consuming manual processes such as searching for evidence of species at night.
Dr Tiffany Jandreska, Head of R&D, and her team focus on developing faster, scalable and more insightful ways to measure biodiversity for their customers. Clients include businesses that have a potentially destructive impact on nature who need help to understand, manage and mitigate that impact. Their other clients are conservation charities such as the WWF who need to monitor their progress in restoring nature.
Two globe-trotting projects
InnovateUK has supported NatureMetrics’ journey as a company, allowing them to move from raw data and a list of species to providing insights that help their customers make positive choices for nature.
They have been able to diversify their services, offering multispecies monitoring for fish, vertebrates such as water moles, dormice and badgers, and overseas wildlife such as pygmy hippos. They can also look for things such as bacteria, fungi and flying insects, helping to capture the whole spectrum of biodiversity.
After positive experiences with Innovate UK programmes, including Smart Grants, the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and DEFRA, NatureMetrics’ bid manager identified Horizon Europe as a logical next step; Dr Tiffany Jandreska said “to be able to look at the biodiversity in Peru, Portugal, the UK, Germany, Finland, all in one project… I don’t think there are many funding opportunities that allow you to do that”. The company had two projects with Horizon Europe: Biodiversity Conservation to Mitigate the Risks of Emerging Infectious Diseases (BCOMING), which looks at the link between degraded biodiversity and pandemics, and BioMonitor4CAP, which is focused on biodiversity and agriculture.
NatureMetrics applied for BCOMING in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project was based on the theory that pandemic spillover events increase when biodiversity is degraded. It aimed to build models that look at the whole picture of monitoring, helping to identify biodiversity hotspots and where they could be degrading earlier. NatureMetrics monitored four hotspots: Cambodia, Guinea, Guadalupe and the Ivory Coast. Regulatory issues in Cambodia meant a pivot in the research to non-invasive air DNA monitoring, which led to new innovations.
The project took the next step along the biodiversity journey – understanding nature’s connection to other areas such as health. It looked at how biodiversity data can help us make better decisions instead of looking at these areas in isolation.
Their second project, BioMonitor4CAP, monitored the results of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy. Through this policy, farmers can get payments for improving biodiversity on their land. NatureMetrics looked at how they could make using eDNA affordable, deliver it at scale, and use data they gather to affect policy in the sector.
The company are now engaging with policy makers and governments, with their recommendations being well received by the Polish government and further interest from other EU nations.
Time and space to grow
Horizon Europe was invaluable to NatureMetrics, offering them the time and space for R&D. Both projects allowed the team to gather extensive samples from diverse habitats, with one giving them the unique opportunity to work across Peru, Portugal, Germany, Finland and the UK. Funding allowed the team to grow and bring in new capabilities such as machine learning and metric development. The programme also led to deeper collaboration with academic institutions for scientific validation of their work, increasing their credibility with clients and stakeholders.
We’re at that point where we’re now able to put things in front of our exec team, our board, and say this has come up in our R&D
– Dr Tiffany Jędrecka, Head of R&D, NatureMetrics
Dr Jandreska’s advice for future SME applicants is to begin as early as possible, dedicate time for project workload, and work with a university that’s experienced with the application process. For these project applications, her team focused contributing technical input and negotiating intellectual property and confidentiality in consortium agreements. She recommends choosing programmes that align with your current goals, taking an active role and embracing the diverse range of perspectives that a Horizon Europe project can bring you.