UK Invention Agency Funds Tree Vaccines, Gene‑Edited Butterflies

The UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria) has announced a £54 million accelerated adaptation programme aimed at speeding up the evolution of wild species to cope with climate change and disease. The initiative, described as a “tax‑funded brainchild” of former UKIP strategist Dominic Cummings, will fund 14 high‑risk, high‑reward projects that explore the use of biotechnology to help nature adapt more quickly to new threats.

Among the funded projects are vaccines for ash trees, skin treatments for newts, and gene‑edited swallowtail butterflies, all designed to enhance resilience against warming temperatures, pests and pathogens. By leveraging cutting‑edge genetic and biotechnological tools, the programme seeks to accelerate natural evolutionary processes, offering a proactive strategy to preserve biodiversity in the face of the ongoing climate crisis.