Damian Curtis

Senior Vice President of Research & Development at Bioconsortia, Inc

Speaker

Damian Curtis combines deep expertise in microbiology, genomics, and gene editing with the strategic vision to translate cutting-edge science into commercially impactful agricultural products.

Damian brings nearly two decades of scientific leadership spanning biopharma and agricultural biology. His career is built at the intersection of biology and commercial impact. Damian spent close to eight years at Bayer, where he developed deep expertise in microbial biology, genomics, and agricultural applications. Earlier in his career, he spent five years at Exelixis, broadening his capabilities in drug discovery, before transitioning to agricultural research.

Damian played a key role at AgraQuest — the pioneering biocontrol company that achieved a successful exit through its acquisition by Bayer — where he gained formative experience in developing and commercializing biological crop protection products.

Since joining BioConsortia, Dr. Curtis has been central to advancing the company’s proprietary microbial discovery platform, strengthening capabilities in genome-informed strain selection, gene editing, trait optimization, and functional characterization. His focus on Gram-positive microorganisms — valued for their durability, formulation advantages, field stability, and consistent performance across diverse environments — aligns directly with BioConsortia’s strategic priorities.

Dr. Curtis is currently advancing BioConsortia’s pipeline of seed treatment products, targeting nitrogen efficiency, crop productivity, and sustainability outcomes across major global crops. Damian is also leading a world-class team of over 50 scientists, including 17 at the PhD level, who are developing genomic technologies and data-driven microbial characterization to enable the rapid identification and optimization of elite microbial strains — spanning nitrogen-fixing, biocontrol, and biostimulant technologies designed to reduce dependence on synthetic agricultural inputs.