ClearLeaf is a company specializing in the development of non-toxic agricultural solutions, utilizing patent-pending technology that is organic certified in the EU and Japan. The firm offers a range of environmentally friendly fungicides and bactericides designed for various crops, including coffee, bananas, pineapples, and several vegetables. ClearLeaf's flagship product, GotaBlanca®, is currently sold in Costa Rica, with plans for expansion into Central America. The company has secured an exclusive commercial agreement with Colono Agropecuario, the largest agrochemical distributor in the region, enabling it to significantly increase sales since entering the market. ClearLeaf's mission is to provide sustainable alternatives to conventional agrochemicals, promoting environmental health and worker safety on farms while supporting farmers in achieving greater efficiency and productivity.
PureNanoTech
Grant in 2024
PureNanoTech develops nanobubble technology and patented membrane-based nanobubble generator equipment and services for agriculture, water treatment, and environmental applications. Its technology enhances irrigation efficiency and nutrient uptake, promotes faster plant growth, and helps clients reduce costs and improve yields while supporting regulatory compliance. The company also applies its nanobubble systems to pond and lake restoration, wastewater treatment, and disinfection, aiming to optimize energy use and water quality.
Unibaio specializes in biodegradable nano-encapsulation technology designed to optimize the delivery of agrochemicals, thereby reducing the need for harmful chemicals in pesticide formulations. The company's innovative particles enable pesticide manufacturers to comply with stringent environmental regulations while maintaining effective chemical use. Unibaio's technology enhances the uptake of fertilizers and pesticides, minimizing runoff and lowering application doses, which ultimately decreases costs for farmers. By utilizing natural compounds such as shrimp waste and clay, Unibaio adheres to a circular model in producing its micro-nanocapsules. This approach supports the development of both traditional and organic agricultural products, improving yield and competitiveness in the sector while promoting the health and well-being of crops.
Crover
Convertible Note in 2023
Crover is a company focused on the commercialization of innovative technology for locomotion in bulk solids, including sand, grains, and powders. Its flagship product is a small robotic device designed to navigate through bulk stored grains, such as cereals, without leaving any grain unchecked. This device continuously monitors the condition of the stored grains, allowing grain storage operators to identify critical conditions early and ensure the quality of their stock. By enabling real-time condition visualization, Crover's technology not only helps maintain product quality but also enhances health and safety practices within the storage environment.
Hypercell Technologies
Grant in 2023
Hypercell Technologies specializes in developing innovative tools for controlling infectious diseases in animals. The company's core focus is on creating rapid, accurate diagnostic tools using molecular biology techniques, which enable veterinarians to detect and manage infections swiftly. Additionally, Hypercell develops monoclonal antibodies designed to proactively control viruses in production animal reservoirs, aiming to prevent potential zoonotic disease outbreaks in humans by addressing the source in animals.
SomaDetect Inc. is an agricultural technology company based in Fredericton, Canada, founded in 2016. The company specializes in providing dairy farmers with real-time analytics of milk components through advanced sensor technology. SomaDetect's innovative system measures critical indicators such as fat content and somatic cell counts in raw milk during each milking session. By offering automated and chemical-free analysis, the company empowers farmers to identify potential issues early, manage herd health effectively, reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, and ensure high-quality milk is delivered to bulk supplies. With a focus on leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence, SomaDetect aims to enhance decision-making for dairy farmers, ultimately improving the quality of milk production.
Clean Label Solution
Grant in 2023
Clean Label Solutions is a manufacturer focused on producing innovative livestock feed designed to enhance animal productivity while promoting environmental sustainability. The company specializes in soy-based animal feeds for dairy cattle, poultry, deer, and fish farms, utilizing proprietary technology to improve protein and fat digestibility. Additionally, Clean Label Solutions converts organic waste into larvae, contributing to waste valorization and providing technical support for farmers. This approach enables the development of green systems for treating industrial waste, thereby lowering CO2 emissions and energy consumption in the feed manufacturing process.
MycoLogic is a company that specializes in controlled environment technology for the cultivation of specialty mushrooms. Its primary product is a drop-in solution that optimizes mushroom farming by utilizing embedded systems and proprietary software. This system is adaptable for use in shipping containers or existing facilities, allowing for the semi-autonomous cultivation of 23 varieties of specialty mushrooms, including Shiitake, Oyster, Lion's Mane, and Reishi. In addition to its hardware and software offerings, MycoLogic provides comprehensive biological support and consultation services. These include assistance with substrate preparation, spawn development, isolate selection, strain-specific program development, and infrastructure automation, enabling clients to start or expand their mushroom cultivation operations efficiently and profitably.
Mush Foods, based in New York, specializes in cultivating edible mushroom mycelium as an innovative food source. Their debut product line, 50CUT, is a unique blend that integrates seamlessly with real animal meat, offering consumers a more sustainable and nutritious option. By utilizing fermentation and artificial intelligence, Mush Foods efficiently produces its fungi-based ingredients, aiming to reduce the carbon footprint by half while enhancing taste and affordability.
Ascribe Bioscience
Grant in 2021
Ascribe Bioscience, established in 2017 and based in Ithaca, New York, specializes in developing crop protection products. Their primary focus is creating seed treatments that bolster plants' innate defenses against pathogens like Rhizoctonia, without leaving a negative environmental footprint. The company's innovative approach involves studying the molecular interactions between microbes and plants to identify immunity-activating signaling molecules.
Every Body Eat
Grant in 2021
Every Body Eat is a specialty food company dedicated to producing clean, plant-based, and gluten-free snacks. Their product portfolio includes a variety of flavors such as cheese-less chia seeds, chive and garlic, fiery chile lime, snack thins variety packs, craver pack, crispbreads in sea salt, tart cherry, white pepper and garlic flavors, and crispbread variety packs. The company caters to diverse dietary needs and preferences by offering allergen-free options, allowing consumers to enjoy their products regardless of restrictions or preferences. They also operate an e-commerce platform for convenient online shopping.
Soos is a company focused on advancing poultry production through its innovative incubation system. This system utilizes AI-driven software to monitor and control environmental conditions during the incubation of chicken embryos. By transmitting sound waves to the embryos, Soos can influence the sex development process, transforming genetic male chicks into functional female layers capable of laying eggs. This technology aims to enhance the efficiency of the egg production industry, addressing global nutritional security challenges by increasing the production capacity of female layers.
Leep Foods is an organic mushroom farming company that emphasizes sustainable agriculture through regenerative soil methods. By cultivating premium mushrooms such as lion's mane, blue oysters, and shiitake on nutrient-enriched American hardwoods, Leep Foods aims to provide consumers and restaurants with high-quality, sustainably grown products. The company's commitment to promoting healthy eating is reflected in its focus on delivering mushrooms that not only offer significant health benefits but also enhance culinary experiences.
Candidus specializes in providing cost-effective supplemental lighting strategies and control systems tailored for commercial greenhouse operations. The company offers an adaptive lighting control system that enhances traditional greenhouse lighting by responding to changes in sunlight. This innovative approach allows growers to optimize energy usage, reducing costs while ensuring that crops receive adequate light for growth. By implementing these dynamic lighting solutions, Candidus supports cultivators in improving their operational efficiency and sustainability in greenhouse production.
Zetifi is a wireless networking company focused on addressing connectivity challenges in rural and remote areas. The company has developed innovative wireless network technology designed to extend mobile broadband coverage for farms, vehicles, and machinery. Zetifi's solutions include solar-powered wireless network devices that deliver reliable, high-speed connectivity, allowing farmers to adopt advanced agricultural technologies more easily and at affordable prices. By enhancing connectivity in underserved locations, Zetifi aims to improve access to essential resources and support the modernization of agricultural practices.
AvantGuard creats innovative solutions that manage surfaces and provide long-term protection against viruses, bacteria, and fungi/mold, in a variety of applications.
Purespace specializes in innovative technology aimed at enhancing the shelf life of fresh produce throughout the supply chain. The company has developed a nanotechnology-based photocatalytic coating that effectively decomposes ethylene gas and airborne bacteria. This technology significantly improves the safety and longevity of food products during storage and transportation, making it particularly beneficial for grocery stores and the logistics sector. By addressing the challenges associated with food preservation, Purespace contributes to a fresher and safer food supply chain.
SoFresh manufactures a packaging material with an organic vapor to extend the shelf life of fresh foods such as bread, berries, and cheese.
DropCopter is a pioneering agricultural technology company that specializes in automating the pollination of orchard crops using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). By employing multi-rotor drones, DropCopter precisely distributes pollen across orchards, which significantly enhances crop yields and ensures optimal fruit set. The company's innovative approach allows farmers to increase their harvests while reducing the need for manual labor, thereby improving overall farming efficiency. In 2015, DropCopter successfully completed its patent-pending prototype and conducted the first-ever UAS pollination of orchard crops, resulting in a notable 10% boost in crop set.
Tiliter Pty Ltd., established in 2017, specializes in developing computer vision solutions for the retail industry. Based in Parramatta, Australia, with additional offices in Kensington, Australia, and Munich, Germany, the company designs and manufactures Point of Sale (POS) and Self-Checkout (SCO) systems. Tiliter's flagship product, Tiliter Vision Smart Checkout System, employs AI-driven computer vision to identify products without barcodes at the time of checkout. The system uses cameras and lighting to scan fresh produce in real-time, delivering accurate results directly to the checkout. Tiliter offers its technology in API form for seamless integration, aiming to make computer vision accessible and affordable for retailers.
Combplex is a technology company that specializes in digital agriculture solutions for commercial beekeepers, leveraging remote monitoring technology and big data to enhance bee health. The company has developed a laser-based mite control system specifically designed to eliminate harmful mites from honey bee colonies. This innovative system provides real-time notifications to beekeepers about issues within their colonies, allowing them to prioritize their attention effectively. By integrating temperature sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, Combplex empowers beekeepers to create a more resilient ecological network, ultimately contributing to improved health and sustainability of bee populations across various communities.
Capro-X Inc., founded in 2017 and based in Ithaca, New York, is an ag-tech company focused on improving sustainability within the dairy industry. The company specializes in developing a fermentation bioprocess technology that converts acid whey, a byproduct of Greek yogurt production, into bio-oils. Capro-X offers WheyAway, a treatment technology utilizing naturally occurring, non-GMO microbes to transform dairy waste streams into clean water and natural bio-oils. This process occurs at the site of waste generation, addressing the environmental challenges posed by acid whey while producing valuable bio-oil from what would otherwise be discarded material. The company serves the dairy industry by providing a solution that enhances sustainability and increases yield over time.
Whole Healthy Food
Grant in 2019
Whole Healthy Food focused on producing a white kidney bean protein that can be added to foods and beverages.
The Perfect Granola
Grant in 2019
The Perfect Granola is a producer of healthy food products, specializing in granola-based snacks. The company focuses on creating gluten-free and vegan options made from organic ingredients, emphasizing clean eating principles. Their offerings include granola bars and recipes that are rich in superfood ingredients, without the inclusion of refined sugars, corn syrups, chemicals, or preservatives. By providing these nutritious snacks, The Perfect Granola aims to cater to health-conscious consumers who seek convenient and wholesome food options. Their products are available through an online retail store, making them accessible to a wider audience.
RealEats is a food technology company specializing in premium meal prep delivery services that focus on providing healthy, convenient meals while minimizing food waste. The company offers a range of chef-designed meals made from whole, unprocessed ingredients, including vegetables, grains, meats, and fish. These meals are prepared using responsibly sourced components, with a significant portion obtained from local farms in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, where RealEats operates its kitchen. Delivered directly to consumers in single portion sizes, the meals are vacuum-packed to ensure freshness and convenience, allowing customers to easily access nutritious and handmade food options.