Rabobank Food & Agri Innovation Fund

MiAlgae Ltd, founded in 2016 and based in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, specializes in producing microalgal products aimed at replacing fishmeal in livestock feeds. The company focuses on creating nutrient-rich microalgae, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids and proteins essential for aquaculture and other livestock. By utilizing wastewater remediation in their production process, MiAlgae implements a circular economy approach that lowers operating costs and enhances sustainability. Their innovative methodology not only provides a viable alternative to traditional fishmeal but also supports more sustainable practices in the livestock feed industry, which is valued at £340 billion globally.

EarthOptics is a developer of a global soil cloud platform aimed at sustainable agricultural management. The company utilizes advanced sensors and machine learning techniques to create highly accurate soil maps based on minimal soil samples. Its technology provides insights into various soil attributes, including compaction, fertility, and carbon levels. This information enables farmers, ranchers, and land managers to make informed and sustainable soil management decisions, which can lead to improved profitability and environmental stewardship. Additionally, EarthOptics offers near-real-time actionable data that enhances soil health management and provides cost-effective verification for carbon credits.

Enko Chem, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Woburn, Massachusetts, that focuses on discovering and developing innovative small-molecule products designed to protect crops from pests and diseases. Founded in 2017, the company utilizes a proprietary technology platform that enables the rapid identification of safe and cost-effective solutions aimed at promoting sustainable food production. Through its efforts, Enko Chem seeks to address the challenges faced by farmers in maintaining crop health while ensuring environmental sustainability.

Full Harvest operates an online marketplace designed to reduce food waste by connecting large farms with food businesses to sell surplus and imperfect produce at discounted prices. Each year, approximately 20 billion pounds of produce in the U.S. go to waste due to strict retailer standards regarding appearance. By providing a platform for farmers to sell this unutilized, yet perfectly edible, produce, Full Harvest aims to create a sustainable food system. The marketplace not only offers farmers an additional revenue stream but also lowers the cost of healthy food production and minimizes waste. Through its innovative supply chain model and proprietary technology, Full Harvest seeks to improve the overall management of surplus produce in the food industry.

30MHz is a company that specializes in developing a sensory data platform aimed at enhancing agricultural and horticultural practices. Their primary product, ZENSIE, is designed to provide real-time monitoring of crops, allowing users to access comprehensive insights into environmental conditions. By offering historical context and live alerts, the platform enables clients to respond swiftly to changing circumstances, thereby improving productivity and reducing operational costs. Through its innovative technology, 30MHz aims to help businesses unlock hidden potential in their physical environments, ultimately leading to increased profit margins and more efficient resource management.

BeeHero is a company that has developed an innovative beehive technology platform aimed at enhancing crop yields through effective pollination. Utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, the platform employs low-cost sensors to gather data from within beehives. This information helps stimulate optimal productivity during critical pollination periods, assisting farmers in safeguarding their beehives against colony collapse and improving overall pollination efficiency. Founded in 2017 by Itai Kanot, Omer Davidi, and Yuval Regev, BeeHero operates from locations in Tel Aviv and Silicon Valley, with a workforce of 50 employees, including 30 at its research and development center in Israel.

Ecto specializes in technology that merges data and biology to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the aquaculture industry. By collaborating with farmers, Ecto streamlines production and health management through advanced molecular tools and digital technologies. Their innovative solutions have helped farmers generate over 51 million additional healthy servings of protein. The company operates offices in Boston, Atlanta, and Stavanger, Norway, serving a global customer base. Founded in 2013 at Harvard Innovation Labs by Dmitry Kozachenok and James Webb, Ecto has secured competitive research grants from prominent organizations such as the US National Science Foundation, the US Department of Agriculture, and Innovation Norway. Their farm management platform simplifies data recording and offers real-time insights, enabling farmers to monitor operations effectively, detect diseases, and manage production cycles in challenging environments.

Aromyx has built a platform for the digital capture of scent and taste – including the EssenceChip™ taste and scent sensor – that puts the human olfactory and taste receptors onto a disposable biochip, with a digital readout. The Aromyx platform includes the Allegory software suite, AromaGraph family of visual analytics, recommended taste/scent recording standards, access to the growing Aromyx online database of taste and scent data and related machine-learning algorithms. Unlike chemical sensors or mass spectrometry, the Aromyx EssenceChip system shows the biochemical signals that a cup of coffee, a sniff of perfume or a glass of wine send to the brain, as mediated by the human nose and tongue.

Vence is a company that has developed a livestock management platform designed to enhance the control and management of cattle. Their innovative solution combines hardware, such as sensors and GPS technology, with application software, allowing farmers to remotely manage their livestock through virtual fencing. This technology enables farmers to optimize the use of available grazing land by increasing the number of animals on a farm while simultaneously reducing costs associated with traditional fencing and labor for moving animals. Additionally, Vence's platform provides valuable insights into animal behavior, health, and fertility, ultimately helping livestock breeders improve efficiency and increase protein yield.

TeleSense, Inc. is an Agtech company that specializes in real-time environmental monitoring solutions for the food and grain industry. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, TeleSense offers a range of products designed to provide actionable insights for grain managers. Their advanced sensors continuously monitor conditions such as temperature, humidity, and moisture in storage facilities, sending alerts directly to users via the TeleSense app on various devices. The company also retrofits traditional temperature cables to wireless systems, allowing for constant, remote monitoring. By utilizing machine learning algorithms and cloud-based technology, TeleSense aims to digitize the post-harvest grain supply chain, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing human error. Their solutions cater to various sectors, including agriculture, food supply chains, and commercial cooking, promoting better management of perishable commodities and minimizing spoilage risks.

Sollio Cooperative Group, based in Montreal, Quebec, is an agri-food federation that serves over 60,000 members through nearly 70 cooperatives across Canada. Established in 1922, it employs more than 13,000 individuals and generates annual revenues of approximately $6.3 billion. The organization is structured into three main divisions: Olymel S.E.C, which includes brands such as Olymel, Flamingo, and Lafleur; the Agri-business division, which operates under various banners including La Coop and Agrico; and the BMR Group, known for its BMR and Unimat stores. Sollio Cooperative Group provides agricultural producers with essential goods and services, supporting them in crop production and enhancing their operational capabilities.

Enko Chem, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Woburn, Massachusetts, that focuses on discovering and developing innovative small-molecule products designed to protect crops from pests and diseases. Founded in 2017, the company utilizes a proprietary technology platform that enables the rapid identification of safe and cost-effective solutions aimed at promoting sustainable food production. Through its efforts, Enko Chem seeks to address the challenges faced by farmers in maintaining crop health while ensuring environmental sustainability.

Bird Control Group, based in Delft, the Netherlands, specializes in innovative bird control solutions aimed at reducing pest bird populations in various sectors, including aerospace, agriculture, recreation, and real estate. The company develops fully automated laser bird deterrents that effectively and harmlessly prevent conflicts between birds and human activities. By focusing on long-term sustainability, Bird Control Group addresses health and safety hazards while minimizing environmental impact. Unlike conventional methods that can be inefficient and harmful to animals, their approach integrates commercial activities with the natural environment, promoting safer and more profitable business operations. As the demand for effective bird control grows in a world increasingly concerned with food, energy, and mobility, Bird Control Group provides essential services that enhance operational safety and efficiency.

BeeHero is a company that has developed an innovative beehive technology platform aimed at enhancing crop yields through effective pollination. Utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, the platform employs low-cost sensors to gather data from within beehives. This information helps stimulate optimal productivity during critical pollination periods, assisting farmers in safeguarding their beehives against colony collapse and improving overall pollination efficiency. Founded in 2017 by Itai Kanot, Omer Davidi, and Yuval Regev, BeeHero operates from locations in Tel Aviv and Silicon Valley, with a workforce of 50 employees, including 30 at its research and development center in Israel.

BioLumic develops light signals that activate plant growth and unlock the natural genetic potential of crops. The company's photogenics platform leverages innovation in plant science, light technology and genetic insights. Demonstrated results include higher yield, improved vigor, increased disease and pest resistance, and improvements in crops composition. These results have been across a variety of seeds and seedling: soybean, cannabis and vegetable and fruit crops. It is a clean technology that does not require the use of chemicals or amendments. BioLumic is a private company and was founded in 2013.

RootWave is a company based in Kineton, United Kingdom, that specializes in developing and distributing innovative machinery for weed control in agricultural settings. Founded in 2012, the company offers hand weeders designed for growers, gardeners, and groundskeepers, as well as automated solutions that utilize visual recognition technology to effectively target and eliminate weeds in arable crops. RootWave's electric shock technology provides a chemical-free alternative to traditional herbicides, allowing users to manage invasive plants sustainably and economically. The company's products are marketed through distributors in various regions, including France, Australasia, Ireland, and South Korea.

Bird Control Group, based in Delft, the Netherlands, specializes in innovative bird control solutions aimed at reducing pest bird populations in various sectors, including aerospace, agriculture, recreation, and real estate. The company develops fully automated laser bird deterrents that effectively and harmlessly prevent conflicts between birds and human activities. By focusing on long-term sustainability, Bird Control Group addresses health and safety hazards while minimizing environmental impact. Unlike conventional methods that can be inefficient and harmful to animals, their approach integrates commercial activities with the natural environment, promoting safer and more profitable business operations. As the demand for effective bird control grows in a world increasingly concerned with food, energy, and mobility, Bird Control Group provides essential services that enhance operational safety and efficiency.

30MHz is a company that specializes in developing a sensory data platform aimed at enhancing agricultural and horticultural practices. Their primary product, ZENSIE, is designed to provide real-time monitoring of crops, allowing users to access comprehensive insights into environmental conditions. By offering historical context and live alerts, the platform enables clients to respond swiftly to changing circumstances, thereby improving productivity and reducing operational costs. Through its innovative technology, 30MHz aims to help businesses unlock hidden potential in their physical environments, ultimately leading to increased profit margins and more efficient resource management.

TeleSense, Inc. is an Agtech company that specializes in real-time environmental monitoring solutions for the food and grain industry. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, TeleSense offers a range of products designed to provide actionable insights for grain managers. Their advanced sensors continuously monitor conditions such as temperature, humidity, and moisture in storage facilities, sending alerts directly to users via the TeleSense app on various devices. The company also retrofits traditional temperature cables to wireless systems, allowing for constant, remote monitoring. By utilizing machine learning algorithms and cloud-based technology, TeleSense aims to digitize the post-harvest grain supply chain, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing human error. Their solutions cater to various sectors, including agriculture, food supply chains, and commercial cooking, promoting better management of perishable commodities and minimizing spoilage risks.

BioLumic develops light signals that activate plant growth and unlock the natural genetic potential of crops. The company's photogenics platform leverages innovation in plant science, light technology and genetic insights. Demonstrated results include higher yield, improved vigor, increased disease and pest resistance, and improvements in crops composition. These results have been across a variety of seeds and seedling: soybean, cannabis and vegetable and fruit crops. It is a clean technology that does not require the use of chemicals or amendments. BioLumic is a private company and was founded in 2013.