Tokaora Diagnostics

What Tokaora Diagnostics does

Tokaora Diagnostics Ltd is a privately held New Zealand agritech company founded in late 2021 in Taranaki by Frey Livingston, following his Master of Science research at Victoria University into facial eczema biomarkers. The company is developing a single core product: a rapid diagnostic test (designed in a RAT/lateral-flow format) that detects biomarkers associated with facial eczema — specifically gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and phytoporphyrin — enabling low-cost, on-site detection of the disease in ruminants before clinical signs appear. Facial eczema, caused by the toxin sporidesmin from Pithomyces chartarum spores, is described as causing approximately NZD $250 million in annual losses to New Zealand agriculture through production losses, animal deaths, and welfare impacts, and the company positions its test as the first reliable on-farm rapid diagnostic for a disease that has historically remained 'invisible' until clinical symptoms emerge.

The product is designed to be used by farmers on-farm without laboratory infrastructure, and to function as a tool for veterinarians in their diagnostic kits, supporting pre-purchase screening, end-of-season decisions, and selective management (prevention, breeding, culling) rather than blanket zinc dosing. Tokaora's intended go-to-market is a dual-channel model: primary distribution through livestock veterinarians, complemented by direct farm sales for self-administered testing. The company is pre-revenue and pre-commercial, having concluded its Proof of Concept in 2024 and now seeking additional funding to move into field trials and commercial deployment. To date, Tokaora has been funded entirely by non-dilutive grants from New Zealand government and trust sources — including Callaghan Innovation, AGMARDT, Vernon Willey Trust, MPI Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures, and The Prince's Trust Aotearoa — with no institutional equity investment disclosed.

The company operates with a small, family-led team of approximately four core members (the Livingston family) and draws on expert validation partnerships with Dr Emma Cuttance of Epivets Ltd, Professor Richard Laven of Massey University, and Dr Axel Heiser of AgResearch. No patents, trademarks, or proprietary IP filings have been disclosed, and product pricing has not been publicly set. The current geographic focus is New Zealand only, with the addressable market potentially expanding as facial eczema spreads into the South Island under climate change.

Name

Tokaora Diagnostics

Legal name

Tokaora Diagnostics Ltd

Website

https://tokaoradiagnostics.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tokaora Diagnostics is a New Zealand agritech company developing a rapid, on-farm antigen-style diagnostic test for facial eczema in ruminants (cattle and sheep), targeting New Zealand sheep, beef, and dairy farmers and their veterinarians as a pre-commercial, grant-funded venture founded in 2021.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Livestock Diagnostics

SIC

In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary POCT & Rapid Diagnostics (Animal health rapid tests) (HLAHAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Microbiology & Infectious Disease Testing (Culture/PCR/Serology) (HLAMADAC), Pathogen & Disease Diagnostics Services (Plant, Soil, Water) (AFACAKAG)

Keywords

• Livestock diagnostic tests
• Facial eczema testing
• Ruminant animal health
• Rapid antigen test kits
• Veterinary diagnostics

Headquarters

HQ city

New Plymouth

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Diagnostic Kit Sales: Revenue is expected to be generated through the sale of diagnostic kits to veterinarians and directly to farmers. The product is conceived as a commercial off-the-shelf (similar to a RAT test) format, sold per unit. Revenue model type is inferred as one-time / unit-based product sales.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Core offering

Tokaora Diagnostics is developing a commercial rapid antigen test (RAT-style kit) that detects facial eczema biomarkers in ruminants at low cost and onsite on the farm. The test enables farmers and veterinarians to identify the disease early, before clinical signs appear, supporting informed management, breeding, and culling decisions. The product targets sheep, beef, and dairy cattle producers in New Zealand and is currently in the prototype/proof-of-concept stage.

Product overview

Tokaora Diagnostics is developing a single core product: the Facial Eczema Rapid Diagnosis Test, a rapid antigen test (RAT) for detecting facial eczema in ruminants. The product is designed for on-farm, low-cost, onsite use by farmers, allowing disease detection without specialized laboratory equipment. The test aims to detect biomarkers (GGT and phytoporphyrin) to enable timely management and treatment decisions. The company is currently in the prototype/Proof of Concept stage with plans to move into field trials and commercial deployment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Facial Eczema Rapid Diagnosis Test A commercial rapid antigen test (RAT-style kit) for detecting facial eczema in ruminants (sheep, beef, and dairy cattle). The test detects biomarkers including gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and phytoporphyrin, which accumulate as a result of liver damage caused by the sporidesmin toxin produced by Pithomyces chartarum spores. It is designed for low-cost, onsite use by farmers and veterinarians without requiring specialized laboratory equipment, enabling early disease detection before clinical signs appear and supporting management, pre-purchase, breeding, and culling decisions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Facial eczema costs the New Zealand agricultural economy approximately $250 million per year through production losses, animal deaths, and welfare impacts — representing the addressable problem size.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Epivets LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Emma Cuttance of Epivets Ltd, an expert on facial eczema, provided samples for field testing of Tokaora's diagnostic test. Epivets is a specialist veterinary consultancy providing expertise in facial eczema management.
• Massey UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Richard Laven from Massey University, a recognized expert on facial eczema, has been involved in the project, providing academic expertise and validation support.
• AgResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Axel Heiser, Chief Scientist at AgResearch, a Crown Research Institute focused on agricultural science, has been involved in supporting the project.
• Sprout AcceleratorcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTokaora completed the Sprout Agritech Accelerator Cohort IX programme, gaining mentorship, agritech network access, and visibility within the New Zealand agritech ecosystem.
• Venture TaranakiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenture Taranaki awarded Tokaora the Power Up Awards 2022, providing regional recognition and supporting the company's profile within the local innovation community.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• IDEXX Laboratories: Global leader in veterinary diagnostics with rapid in-clinic and on-farm livestock test kits (e.g., SNAP, IDEXX Catalyst). Comparable to Tokaora as it sells consumable diagnostic tests used by veterinarians and producers to detect livestock disease biomarkers.
• Bionote: Korean-based manufacturer of rapid veterinary diagnostic kits (Anigen brand) for companion animals and livestock. Highly comparable to Tokaora as a focused producer of lateral-flow / rapid antigen tests sold through veterinary channels for animal disease detection.
• Heska (Mars Petcare): Veterinary point-of-care diagnostics company (now part of Mars Petcare) producing rapid in-clinic analyzers and tests for livestock and companion animals. Comparable to Tokaora in delivering near-patient, consumable diagnostics to veterinary practitioners.
• Eurolyser Diagnostica: Austrian manufacturer of veterinary point-of-care analyzers and rapid test kits for livestock and companion animals. Comparable to Tokaora as a smaller-scale specialist in on-site animal health diagnostics sold through vet and farm channels.
• BioChek: Dutch developer and manufacturer of veterinary diagnostic test kits (ELISA, PCR, rapid immunoassays) for poultry, swine, ruminants and aquaculture. Comparable to Tokaora as a livestock-focused rapid diagnostics producer targeting animal health and production.
• Ring Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Chinese manufacturer of veterinary diagnostic test kits covering livestock diseases including bovine, swine and poultry pathogens. Comparable to Tokaora as a focused rapid-test kit producer for animal disease biomarkers sold into farming markets.

Broad incumbents

• Zoetis: Largest global animal health company with a broad diagnostics portfolio including Vetscan rapid tests. Comparable to Tokaora as a scaled incumbent that could enter the on-farm facial eczema diagnostic space as part of its wider livestock diagnostics offering.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global life sciences tools and diagnostics company supplying diagnostic reagents, immunoassays and test development platforms. Comparable to Tokaora as a scaled provider of diagnostic substances and IVD technology that could enable or compete with on-farm rapid tests.
• Bio-Rad Laboratories: Major manufacturer of clinical and veterinary diagnostic products, including immunoassay kits and quality controls. Comparable to Tokaora as a scaled incumbent in diagnostic substances with adjacent capability in rapid test development for animal health.

Emerging players

• Randox: Diagnostic company with a dedicated veterinary diagnostics portfolio (Evidence range of analyzers and Biochip panels) covering animal health, food and disease screening. Comparable to Tokaora as a diagnostics platform company with animal health applications and a focus on biomarker detection.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tokaora Diagnostics