Soil salinization, a land degradation process where excessive salts accumulate in the soil, is rapidly becoming a significant global challenge. Rising sea levels, industrial farming, and land mismanagement exacerbate this issue, impacting more than 800 million hectares worldwide and threatening food security in numerous regions. In response to this critical problem, Denmark-based startup Agrobiomics has emerged with a promising solution. Recently reported by Agfunder, the company raised €4 million ($4.3 million) to advance its plant biostimulant product, Fortify, which aims to enhance plant resilience against abiotic stressors such as drought and salinity.
The Problem: Soil Salinization and Its Impact
Soil salinization poses a formidable threat to agriculture by reducing soil fertility and crop yields. This issue has far-reaching economic implications, with Europe alone incurring costs in the hundreds of millions annually due to salinity intrusion. In the United States, the USDA estimates yield losses amounting to approximately $98 billion. The urgency of addressing soil salinization is underscored by its potential to compromise food security in vulnerable regions, necessitating innovative and sustainable solutions.
Agrobiomics and Its Solution: Fortify Biostimulant
Founded in 2022, Agrobiomics has quickly positioned itself as a pioneer in the fight against soil salinization. The company's flagship product, Fortify, is a biostimulant developed from a soil microorganism compound through a bacterial fermentation process. According to Agrobiomics CEO Ejner Bech Jensen, Fortify can significantly boost plant resilience to abiotic stressors, making food supply more sustainable despite deteriorating growth conditions caused by climate change.
Fortify operates by harnessing a signaling compound naturally produced by soil microorganisms. This compound triggers a robust response in plants, enhancing their growth rate, chlorophyll content, and overall resilience. The biostimulant prepares plants to better withstand drought, salinity, and high temperatures, resulting in up to a 20% increase in yields under stressed conditions. Remarkably, Fortify is highly potent, requiring less than one teaspoon per hectare, allowing for its application on a wide range of crops, including broadacre, fruits, and vegetables.
Agrobiomics has already conducted successful field trials on tomatoes in Spain and soybeans in North America, demonstrating significant yield increases. The company's recent €4 million funding round, led by Danish firm NOON Ventures, will facilitate further development and validation of Fortify. Agrobiomics plans to conduct extensive field trials across various regions and soil types to compile comprehensive data that will support regulatory approval and market adoption.
Financial and Institutional Support
Agrobiomics' journey has been bolstered by support from the BioInnovation Institute (BII), a Copenhagen-based life sciences hub backed by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. BII provided around $2 million in convertible notes in 2022 and 2023, enabling initial validation trials. The recent investment from NOON Ventures marks Agrobiomics' first venture capital funding, positioning the company for accelerated growth and market penetration.
Agrobiomics is strategically targeting regions most affected by soil salinization, including Southern Europe and developing countries facing severe growth challenges due to climate change. The company aims to gather extensive field data to build a robust data package that will convince large agribusinesses of Fortify's efficacy. With plans to scale up operations over the next two to three years, Agrobiomics is poised to make a significant impact on sustainable agriculture.
As soil salinization continues to threaten global food security, innovative solutions like Agrobiomics' Fortify biostimulant offer a beacon of hope. By enhancing plant resilience to environmental stressors, Fortify has the potential to revolutionize sustainable agriculture and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on crop production. With substantial financial backing and a clear strategic vision, Agrobiomics is well-equipped to lead the charge in combating soil salinization and securing a more sustainable future for agriculture.
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