Agrobiomics secures $4.3M investment from NOON Ventures to combat soil salinity with innovative biostimulant

By Agroempresario.com

Agrobiomics, a Denmark-based startup, has secured €4 million ($4.3 million) from NOON Ventures to combat the pressing issue of soil salinity with its innovative plant biostimulant, Fortify. Soil salinization, driven by rising sea levels, industrial farming, and poor land management, affects over 800 million hectares worldwide and poses a significant threat to food security.

Founded in 2022, Agrobiomics has made strides in plant resilience with Fortify, a biostimulant made from a soil microorganism compound and bacterial fermentation. This cutting-edge product enhances plants' ability to withstand drought and salinity, addressing worsening growth conditions exacerbated by climate change.

“Fortify is designed to make food supply more sustainable despite increasingly challenging growth conditions,” explains Agrobiomics CEO Ejner Bech Jensen. The biostimulant has demonstrated the ability to increase plant yields by 20% under stress conditions, though it shows no improvement in non-stressed environments.

The technology behind Fortify involves a signaling compound produced naturally by soil microorganisms. Dr. Cheryl Mitchell, SVP of ingredient manufacturing at Steuben Foods, notes that Fortify’s unique HydroRelease process allows for effective plant response at low temperatures. “The product creates a texture and functionality similar to muscle meats, leading to faster and more robust plant growth,” she adds.

The startup's previous funding, including $2 million from the BioInnovation Institute (BII), supported initial validations on tomatoes and soybeans. The latest investment from NOON Ventures will enable Agrobiomics to advance regulatory approvals and conduct extensive field trials. The company aims to demonstrate Fortify’s efficacy across various crops, including broadacre, fruits, and vegetables, and in different soil types and climates.

Mathilde Nordgaard, co-founder and R&D director, highlights the importance of field validation: “While greenhouse trials showed promise, we need extensive field data to convince major agribusinesses. This funding will help us conduct trials across diverse regions and soil types.”

Agrobiomics targets markets in Southern Europe and developing countries, where soil salinity and poor growth conditions are increasing due to climate change. The company’s next steps involve gathering comprehensive data to support scaling up and expanding its reach in the agricultural sector.

Jensen concludes, “We are confident that our technology has the potential to scale and significantly impact the agriculture industry, addressing critical challenges in soil management and plant resilience.”