Key Highlights
- Barnwell Bio raised $6 million in seed funding to expand its metagenomic biosurveillance platform for poultry producers.
- The platform analyzes the entire microbial ecosystem of a barn rather than testing for single pathogens.
- Early detection enables proactive disease management before clinical symptoms appear.
- The technology supports reduced reliance on routine antibiotics while maintaining profitability.
- Funding will accelerate U.S. expansion and investment in bioinformatics, data science, and AI.
Barnwell Bio, a precision animal health intelligence company, announced it has closed a $6 million seed financing round to scale its metagenomic biosurveillance system for the poultry industry. The round was led by Twelve Below, with participation from multiple agriculture- and technology-focused investors.
Founded by the team that helped build the U.S. COVID-19 wastewater monitoring infrastructure, Barnwell Bio applies similar large-scale biosurveillance principles to livestock production. Its platform captures and analyzes the complete microbial environment of a poultry barn, generating a unique “microbiome fingerprint” that provides early warning of emerging disease risks.
The new capital will be used to expand operations across the U.S. poultry belt, with a focus on the Midwest and Southeast. In parallel, Barnwell Bio plans to strengthen its proprietary insights engine by recruiting talent in bioinformatics, data science, and AI to deliver predictive, actionable intelligence to veterinarians and producers.
The investment comes as poultry producers face increasing pressure from regulatory efforts to reduce routine antibiotic use alongside heightened threats from infectious diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza. By detecting pathogen shifts before birds show symptoms, Barnwell Bio’s platform enables earlier intervention, improved biosecurity, and more sustainable flock management.
Barnwell Bio is already working with partners including Mississippi State University, West Liberty Foods, and Vital Farms, and will showcase its platform and recent data insights at the International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta.
Information sourced from the company’s press release.
