Innovating to improve lives
ABOUT SENESINO
Senesino delivers value through innovative product design and engineering. We are an IP and technology development company with core expertise in producing and commercializing novel drug delivery and packaging solutions. Our team has over ten years of sector experience in farm animal applicator product development, collaborating with CSIRO & Moredun Research Institute. Our user-centered design approach tackles problems from the perspective of the person at the point of use; farmer, vet, contactor, doctor or human patient.
In 2019, Senesino launched its flagship product Numnuts®. By 2020, 1 million Australian lambs have benefitted from improved welfare and farmers have seen faster mothering up and greater ease of mustering.
Our ambition is to see Numnuts® roll out globally in addition to re-purposing the intellectual property, knowledge and experience to improve lives in other animal species, medial and consumer markets.
HISTORY
Early 90s
The Start
At the University of Edinburgh, Prof. Vince Molony and colleagues identified the methodology for measuring pain in lambs and started to investigate the effectiveness of the use of pain relief during tail docking and castration.
Mid 90s
Proven
It is scientifically demonstrated that pain caused by Castration and Tail Docking can be significantly reduced by using local anaesthetics.
Late 90s
Early Trials
A prototype multi-jet injection mechanism was developed and trialled successfully in the UK.
The cost of the prototype system was too high. Concern for farm animal welfare was less abundant than with today’s ethical consumer. When project funds dried up, the research was shelved.
2009
New Start
4c Design and Moredun Research Institute partner to look into the feasibility of a novel solution. Vets & Design Engineers collaborate and the start of the technology for Numnuts is born. Consumer and retailer interest in farm and animal welfare increases.
2012
Australia joins in
Industry bodies Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) recognise the need for an on-farm solution and provide funding for the research and development work.
2013
CSIRO gets involved
R&D team is enhanced by the involvement of Alison Small RCVS and Ian Colditz BVSc. CSIRO Armidale Chiswick brings the Australian/NZ experience and perspective to the project.
2014
Early R&D
Concept design developed & patent filed. R&D process begins in earnest. We begin to dial in the parameters of the technology and the various markets it could transfer to.
2017
Impact
Positive results from scientific animal behaviour studies. The team begin transitioning the project from R&D project to commercially available product.
Senesino receives private investment and utilises the MLA, MDC fund.
2018
Farm trials
Commercial trials carried out on 5 sheep farms in Australia. Over 20,000 lambs benefit from Numnuts pain relief. Engineers validate the design before mass production.
2019
Production
APVMA approval, Numnuts production begins, vet portal goes online for Australian pilot season.
Pilot year milestone
Pilot year administers NumOcaine to 250,000 lambs.
Additional investment
Merlin Vet joins Senesino as investors.
2020
Commercialisation
Numnuts wins ‘Best New Release’ at Woolarama, and ‘Technical Innovation Commendation’ from the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.
Milestone
1,000,000 doses of NumOcaine administered to lambs!
Tesco T-Jam
Senesino wins the Agritech Agri Tesco T-Jam with access to their supply chain and assistance with additional trials.
SHAREHOLDERS
4c Design Ltd
An employee owned, design and innovation consultancy who invented and spent 10 years developing Numnuts® with additional relevant experience working on Barbervax (with MRI) and Tag Faster (Roxan – now owned by Datamars). 4c continues to support Numnuts® in R&D, technical and manufacturing support.
Moredun Research Institute (MRI)
MRI provided initial trials to prove the principles of the technology. MRI is a 100-year-old Scottish research Institute led by farmers. Committed to livestock health and welfare through research and application of science.
Dr. David Smith
Fellow of the Moredun Foundation. Private investor with a background in veterinary science and inventor of Barbervax.
Robert Anderson and David Taylor
Private investors and veterinary surgeons who have been assisting with the introduction of Numnuts® into the UK.
ADDITIONAL STAKEHOLDERS
Meat and Livestock Australia
An early funding partner and champion of Numnuts® that helped fund trials through levy funds and their Meat Donor Company fund.
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Australian Government
CSIRO provided scientific validation of the technology.
Australian Wool Innovation
AWI provided the pilot funding required to carry out trials.
SENESINO LOCATION
Senesino is headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland and has distribution offices in Queensland Australia and New Zealand.
Scotland Phone: +44 1413 535 492
Australia Phone: +61 1300 646 413
E-mail: info@senesino.co.uk
