Maumee Ventures are the venture capital arm of The Andersons Inc. Founded in Maumee, Ohio, in 1947, The Andersons Inc. is a diversified public company rooted in agriculture conducting business across North America in the grain, ethanol, and plant nutrient sectors, railcar leasing, turf and cob products, and consumer retailing

Maumee Ventures

1855 Capital is a seed and early stage venture capital fund investing in companies with an affinity to Penn State University. They develop investment opportunities by actively engaging with current faculty/staff and students involved in world-class research efforts and the 600,000+ alumni network.

1855 Capital Partners

Ospraie has developed internal expertise and an extensive network investing in agriculture, in public and private markets, including successfully building and profitably exiting multibillion-dollar ventures. By bringing to bear our commercial experience and extensive network across the agricultural value chain, OAS is uniquely positioned to source a differentiated pipeline and build ESG-compliant, upstream companies.

Ospraie Ag Sciences

Bunge Ventures is an investment arm of Bunge Ltd.

Bunge Ventures

UPL is a leader in global food systems, reshaping the industry with OpenAg, feeding sustainable growth for all.

Continental Grain Company is dedicated to working with its existing agricultural businesses pursuing strategic opportunities in protein-based businesses while taking advantage of new investment opportunities. Established in 1813 as a grain trading firm based in what is now known as Arlon, Belgium, Continental Grain Company grew to become one of the largest privately held companies in the world. Through its diversified operations and investment activities, Continental Grain Company builds long-term value in partnership with exceptional management teams. The Company's goal is to attain financial success in ways that reflect favorably upon its employees and business partners. With a rich entrepreneurial legacy and significant permanent capital, Continental Grain Company continues to seek new global growth opportunities across the food and agriculture landscape through its various investment groups, including CGC Ventures, Corporate Investments, and its middle market investment group, Arlon.

Continental Grain Company

Ag Ventures Alliance is a company that offers agriculture business support services.

Ag Ventures Alliance

Tekfen Ventures invests in early-stage companies that have uniquely impactful technologies and business models we believe will change the world. Our primary investment focus is in industrial and enterprise software and hardware technologies.   As the corporate venture arm of Tekfen Holdings, a multinational industrial conglomerate, they leverage their unique assets and resources to be a true partner and strategic ally to their portfolio companies.

Tekfen Ventures

Phospholutions

Phospholutions has developed a patented technology to alleviate the environmental impact of phosphorus fertilizer.  Current commercial products aim to deliver phosphorus more efficiently to the plant within the soil and reduce unwanted losses to the environment, ultimately minimizing the effect on water quality. Phospholutions is a State College, PA-based sustainable fertilizer startup.

Pennsylvania-based Phospholutions has developed a fertilizer technology called “RhizoSorb” for agricultural and turf applications. RhizoSorb is a granular fertilizer additive that is designed to increase phosphorus uptake and efficiency in plants by attracting excess nutrients in the soil and providing only the required nutrients to the plants. The company initially offered its fertilizer to turf and ornamental plants and expanded to include agricultural crops such as corn and soybean in 2021. The company claims that its fertilizer reduces fertilizer usage by up to 75%, improves plant health and profitability, and reduces nutrient runoff and water usage. In addition, the fertilizer claims to have a controlled nutrient release mechanism that releases nutrients based on the requirements of the plant.

Natural Fertilizers

Phospholutions announces James Ortíz as Chief Commercial Officer

Pennsylvania-based Phospholutions has developed a fertilizer technology called “RhizoSorb” for agricultural and turf applications. RhizoSorb is a granular fertilizer additive that is designed to increase phosphorus uptake and efficiency in plants by attracting excess nutrients in the soil and providing only the required nutrients to the plants. The company initially offered its fertilizer to turf and ornamental plants and expanded to include agricultural crops such as corn and soybean in 2021. The company claims that its fertilizer reduces fertilizer usage by up to 75%, improves plant health and profitability, and reduces nutrient runoff and water usage. In addition, the fertilizer claims to have a controlled nutrient release mechanism that releases nutrients based on the requirements of the plant.Key customers and partnershipsThe company’s go-to-market strategy includes selling RhizoSorb with other inputs through retailers and distributors and through phosphate producers to incorporate RhizoSorb during production. As of May 2022, Phospholutions customers include large phosphorus producers and farmers, while operating two headquarters in Pennsylvania and St. Petersburg (opened in May 2022).Funding and financialsIn August 2023, Phospholutions received a USD 10.15 million <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20959">investment</a> led by Advantage Capital for the commercialization of its RhizoSorb fertilizer additive in the US row crop market.&nbsp;

<div>
 
 Based in Michigan, Gantec offers plant-based liquid fertilizers, micronutrient supplements, concentrates and biopesticides using a proprietary process called “Bio-Adaptive Supplementation” (BAS). BAS extracts properties from plants that thrive in extreme environments such as the neem tree and converts them into fertilizers. Gantec’s products can be applied to a range of crops, including field crops, root crops, vegetables, and tree and bush crops. The company initially began sourcing its raw materials from West Africa, and, as of May 2022,  sourced it from six continents.  
 
 
 Gantec’s BAS solutions claim to improve plant resiliency, nutrient uptake, yield, and growth. For instance, based on a trial conducted by the Saginaw Valley State University, applying the company’s GantecPro liquid fertilizer to cherry tomatoes increased the yield by 17%. For potatoes, based on another trial conducted by the Michigan State University, applying GantecPro increased the yield by 11%. 
 
</div>

Gantec Inc

<div>
 
 Based in Washington, Impact Bioenergy manufactures portable systems that convert organic waste to produce electricity and fertilizer. The company started manufacturing its own biofertilizer product called “ProBiotic Plant Food” (PBF)  in July 2020. PBF is a compost biofertilizer, which is made by first creating a “smoothie” from waste food such as spent yeast, curds, whey, and trub. This is then digested by microbes in a 30-day process to convert it into PBF. The final product is dried and pulverized to create a mix called “PBF Mix No 7.” Based on a trial conducted by Forest Garden Farm for a butternut squash tree, PBF increased yields by almost 30% compared to using a standard fertilizer. 
 
 
 The company also adds fish bone meal, poultry feather meal, biochar, and mealworm frass to the base product to produce different blends of PBF, which is offered as a dry blend or concentrated liquid blend that can be mixed with water to make a fertigation liquid. PBF initially was available to B2B customers on a subscription basis and then later targeted B2C customers selling online via ecommerce sites such as Amazon.  
 
</div>

Impact bioenergy

Based in France, Toopi Organics converts human urine (which is naturally high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) into fertilizer called “BACTIPI" using a proprietary patented fermentation process. The process involves collecting and filtering ‘pure’ urine (not mixed with water) from public places including schools, stadiums, and amusement parks before fermentation. The company ferments the cleaned urine at its production facility in Loupiac de la Réole France using 5,000 liter fermentation tanks along with sugar and Lactobacillus paracasei lactic bacteria to create a 100% organic fertilizer.“BACTIPI” can be applied to field crops, vine crops, home gardening, and industrial crops and promotes the growth of microorganisms and solubilizes phosphorus in the soil, increasing plant and root growth. The company has demonstrated that its fertilizer has similar efficiency and is a cheaper alternative to other chemical fertilizers in the market.Toopi aims to partner with local companies including farmers, fertilizer distributors, and sanitation companies to set up and operate urine processing plants. Toopi will handle the production of the fertilizer, while the partnering company will handle distribution. As of May 2022, Toopi states had set up a subsidiary in Belgium and was actively working with companies in Benin and Kenya to commercialize its products. The company had also signed an agreement with a large fertilizer distributor in France (name undisclosed) to sell its fertilizer for the following three years. Toopi has received approval to sell its products in Belgium and expects to obtain the same in France in 2022.Financials and Funding:In <a href="https://techfundingnews.com/french-startup-toopi-organics-raises-95m-to-turn-human-urine-into-crop-biostimulants/">November 2023</a>, Toopi Organics raised EUR 8.4 million (~USD 9 million) from EIC Accelerator, a European innovation programme for deep tech startups. The funding comprises a EUR 2.4 million non-dilutive grant and EUR 6 million in equity to be invested in 2025. Also, in <a href="https://techfundingnews.com/french-startup-toopi-organics-raises-95m-to-turn-human-urine-into-crop-biostimulants/">September 2023</a>, the company raised EUR 16 million (~USD 17 million) in funding to expand its urine collection network.&nbsp;Previously, In <a href="https://www.eu-startups.com/2021/04/bordeaux-based-toopi-organics-scales-up-urine-recycling-network-in-france-with-e3-8-million-funding">April 2021</a>, The company received a EUR 3.8 million (~USD 4.1 million) grant from ADEME (The French Agency for Ecological Transition). The company planned to use the funds to build a network of urine recycling plants in partnership with toilet manufacturers, installers, and collectors.

Greentech TOOPI Organics

Reazent is a Canadian company that has developed a patented technology to organically replace agrochemicals. The company focuses on loading plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) to treat the soil and the plant. The company states that its technology can be applied across a wide range of crops such as soybean, peanuts, wheat, kale, and lettuce.Studies show that only 0.1% PGPR strains have been commercialized to date. Reazent claims that its competitive advantage is that it can work with up to 116 PGPR strains and has identified that soil bacteria have a second metabolite that can be used to up-regulate plant defense and root growth genes in plants. The company further claims that its technology helps in achieving an improvement of 5x in the plant’s immune system, thereby providing protection against pesticides as well.As of June 2022, the company has not commercialized and is actively working on obtaining regulatory approval for the sale of its products in Canada and the US. Based on trials conducted in 2020 across different growing conditions, its product has demonstrated a 400% increase in soybean root nodules, a 30% increase in peanuts above-ground biomass, and up to a 35% increase in peanuts pod dry weight when compared with synthetic and other organic products. In October 2020, the company reported that it had many trials underway, including for tomato, and was expecting results by December 2021. The company noted in November 2021 that it would be extensively trialing its fertilizer product for soybeans in North America, Brazil, and India during the following growing season.Funding and financialsIn May 2020, the company received CAD 350,000 (USD 250,000) in seed funding as part of joining IndieBio’s accelerator program. The funds were to be used to conduct trials for its prototype fertilizer product at the <a href="http://www.verschurencentre.ca/">Verschuren Center for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment </a>at Cape Breton University ass well as to develop its product for large-scale trials. In <a href="https://crushdynamics.com/news/natural-products-canada-supports-over-4m-in-commercialization-activity-for-seven-promising-canadian-food-and-agriculture-companies/">February 2023</a>, the company raised USD 15,600 from Natural Products Canada, a non-profit organization that supports Canadian bio-based innovation and commercialization to fast-track the development of a regulatory plan.

Reazent

<div>
 
 Based in Spain, Ficosterra is a marine biotechnology company that offers seaweed and algae-based fertilizers and biostimulants, with applications in agriculture, landscaping, and turf. The company offers fertilizer under the brands “Ficosterra-g” (algae-based) and “Ficosgreen” (algae and seaweed-based), made using its “Biological Crop Booster” (BCB) technology. BCB combines microbes and algae extracts to produce soil-regenerating microbes.
 
 
 As of June 2022, Ficosterra operated two manufacturing facilities in Mexico and Spain and sold its products via its own online store, serving the local and overseas markets (launched across the US and Europe in 2019). 
 
 
 To expand the reach of its products in Spain, in October 2018, the company partnered with Sipcam Jardin, a Spanish multinational distributor of fertilizers, nutrients, and biostimulants, for the distribution of “Ficosterra-g,” Ficosterra’s algae-based fertilizer. In January 2021, Ficosterra also partnered with Algas Marinas (AlgaMar), a Mexico-based company producing algae-based products for agriculture and human consumption, to jointly launch “Ficosterra America,” which would serve both the American and European markets. Ficosterra and AlgaMar were to combine their seaweed and algae nutrient-extracting technologies to develop and produce fertilizer.
 
</div>

Focisterra

Contain bacteria such as Rhizobia, Azotobacter, Azospirillum, and blue-green algae that transform nitrogen into organic compounds that can be absorbed by the plant

Contain bacteria and fungi capable of breaking down insoluble phosphates to make them available to crops

Contain rhizobacteria that can act as biofertilizers, bioprotectants

Contain organic matter such as animal dung which enriches the soil with microorganisms

Fertilizers derived from animal materials such as cow manure, crushed animal bones, animal blood, shellfish, and fish meal

Fertilizers made with plant material such as compost produced from plant waste, seaweed, cottonseed meal, and soybean meal

Fertilizers developed from natural elements like greensand, rock phosphate, and nitrogen from air

Provides a natural alternative to chemical fertilizers

Phospholutions

EDGE Insights

About EDGE

Contact Us

Resources

Area of Focus

Technology Research Made Effortless