AgBiome says it could lay off all employees at RTP headquarters

Brian Gordon
·1 min read
AgBiome’s greenhouses in Research Triangle Park.

AgBiome, an agricultural technology company in Research Triangle Park, notified state officials this week that it could lay off all 123 of its employees.

On Oct. 16, AgBiome submitted a WARN Notice to the North Carolina Department of Commerce announcing that the company “has developed plans to lay off potentially all of its employees” at its RTP headquarters.

The list of potential affected positions includes the company’s two CEOs, Scott Uknes and Eric Ward. Additional top executives could also be laid of, Agbiome said, including its chief financial officer, chief business officer, and chief commercial officer. Terminations will become effective on Dec. 15, the company said.

The federal government requires companies to issue WARN reports when they shutter a plant that impacts at least 50 workers in a 30-day period.

Founded in 2012, AgBiome creates products that fight off pests and weeds. In 2021, the company raised $116 million from investors. Previous investors include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

This is a developing story and will be updated.