In the Spotlight: Bruce Webb and Mary Wallace

Morning, friends - Logan here. I hope you all had a wonderful MDW 🇺🇲

Today’s episode takes us deep into Kentucky’s ag-tech ecosystem with a story that starts in a two-bedroom trailer… raising tent caterpillars.

We sat down with Dr. Bruce Webb and Dr. Mary Wallace, part of the team behind Lepidext, a Lexington-based biotech company developing a unique solution to one of agriculture’s most destructive pests: the corn earworm. Rather than using chemicals, Lepidext is harnessing a virus found in nature - dating back to the age of dinosaurs - to sterilize pest populations and protect crops without harming the environment.

Bruce, a longtime UK professor and virus researcher, shares how the research originated from a devastating horse pregnancy crisis in 2001, and how it evolved into a startup with the potential to change how farming is done. Mary, a Kentucky native and entomologist, walks us through the day-to-day science and startup grind required to bring this product to market.

What We Discussed:

How a Horse Crisis Sparked a Biotech Breakthrough

Bruce shares the origin story - from equine abortions linked to caterpillars to the team’s discovery of a virus that would change the direction of their research forever.

Rethinking Pest Control Without Chemicals

The corn earworm causes $2B+ in damage annually in the U.S. Lepidext’s approach doesn’t kill the pest - it prevents reproduction. That changes everything about how, when, and why we treat crops.

Why Farmer Partnerships Come First

Rather than chase massive scale from day one, the Lepidext team is working closely with farmers to build trust, gather real-world data, and validate their technology before rolling out nationally.

Building a Startup with Deep Science Roots

Mary shares her perspective on joining the team straight out of a PhD program, what drew her to Lepidext, and what it’s like building in a space where science meets business.

We hope you enjoy this episode! If you have any thoughts after listening, feel free to shoot me a message at [email protected]

Have a great week, friends!

LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube | MiddleTech.com

Real Estate more your speed? Check our sister brand, DevelopLex.