AgriTech FA Bio has raised 拢5.3 million.
The Hertfordshire firm aims to protect natural ecosystems by identifying microbial bio-products that improve soil health and boost crop production.
It has been backed by three European venture capital investment funds as well as existing shareholders and new private investors.
The investment was co-led by UK-based Clean Growth Fund and Pymwymic, a Dutch-based impact VC fund focused on investing in food and agriculture technologies. Ship2B Ventures, a Spanish impact VC fund investing in early-stage companies addressing key environmental and social issues, has also invested in the round.聽
Based at the Rothamsted Research Centre in Harpenden, a world-leading research facility that focuses on agricultural science, FA Bio – previously known as FungiAlert – is leading the discovery and development of biocontrols, biostimulants and biofertilisers that can replace chemical inputs in agriculture.聽
Its SporSenZ technology, a unique targeted microbial sampling strategy, collects data and microbial isolates from agricultural fields. With its team of expert scientists, the company then looks to develop the most promising microbes into agricultural bioproducts for the most important crops in our global food systems.聽聽
The company is led by Dr Angela de Manzanos Guinot and Dr Kerry O鈥橠onnelly Weaver.聽聽
鈥淚ntensive agriculture and overuse of agrochemicals have contributed to a 70% biodiversity loss in the past 50 years, which has been made worse by the damaging effects of climate change 鈥� drought, soil warming and higher levels of CO鈧�,鈥� said CEO De Manzanos Guinot.
鈥淥ur innovative technology and game-changing bioproducts have the potential to boost crop productivity and provide a natural alternative to chemical fertilisers, protecting the world鈥檚 natural ecosystems.
鈥淲ith this latest round of investment, we can accelerate our R&D work and development of bioproducts for the agriculture sector and achieve our vision of revolutionising sustainable agriculture.鈥澛犅�
Dr Jonathan Tudor, investment partner at Clean Growth Fund, said: 鈥淲e are excited to be supporting FA Bio鈥檚 next phase of growth.聽
鈥淎ngela and Kerry, and all of the FA Bio team, have achieved so much, and given the challenges 鈥� natural and man-made 鈥� that agriculture is facing across the world, FA Bio has significant growth potential.聽
鈥淲e are delighted to be investing in the UK BioTech sector and excited by the carbon emissions reduction that FA Bio鈥檚 technology can achieve in agriculture.鈥澛�
Sophie Pickering, investment manager at Pymwymic, said: 鈥淲e truly believe FA Bio’s innovative discovery method promises game-changing products for sustainable agriculture. We鈥檙e thrilled to welcome the team to our portfolio to support them in their journey of creating greater impact.鈥�