Key Takeaways:
- Aphea.Bio receives €1.9 million from VLAIO to expand its biostimulant INITIΛ by Aphea.Bio™ for maize into the US and Brazilian markets.
- INITIΛ enhances maize yield by improving germination, early vigor, root biomass, and nutrient use efficiency.
- Funding will support field trials and positioning in the EU, as well as adaptation for other broad-acre crops and potentially fruits and vegetables.
- Aphea.Bio builds on the success of its first biostimulant, ΛCTIV by Aphea.Bio™, for wheat, continuing its mission to drive sustainable agricultural solutions.
Expanding Biostimulant Applications and Global Reach
Belgium-based Aphea.Bio has secured €1.9 million in funding from VLAIO (Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship) to expand the commercial potential of its biostimulant, INITIΛ by Aphea.Bio™, currently targeting the maize market. Following three successful seasons of field trials in the EU, INITIΛ has demonstrated robust efficacy, consistently enhancing maize yields under both reduced and full fertilization conditions. With support from VLAIO, Aphea.Bio aims to scale INITIΛ’s application across key markets in the US and Brazil, with plans for broader crop applications as well.
“We’re excited to receive this substantial funding from VLAIO,” commented Steven Vandenabeele, CTO of Aphea.Bio. “It allows us to expand and maximize the impact of INITIΛ by Aphea.Bio™. Not only will this contribute to the shift towards more sustainable agriculture, but it will also further validate the successful R&D strategies that Aphea.Bio applies in the development of biological solutions.”
INITIΛ by Aphea.Bio™: Enhancing Maize Growth and Sustainability
INITIΛ by Aphea.Bio™ is a maize seed treatment biostimulant designed to enhance germination, early vigor, root biomass, and nutrient use efficiency (nitrogen and phosphorus), ultimately leading to higher grain yields. As a seed coating, INITIΛ has shown consistent yield improvements across various fertilization conditions, positively impacting environmental sustainability by promoting soil health in line with regenerative agriculture practices.
Three Levels of Expansion for INITIΛ by Aphea.Bio™
The new funding from VLAIO will allow Aphea.Bio to expand INITIΛ by Aphea.Bio™ in three main areas:
- EU Market Positioning: Further refining performance as a maize seed coating in ongoing EU field trials to effectively position the product for European farmers.
- US and Brazil Trials: Conducting trials and exploring various application methods tailored to the needs of US and Brazilian maize producers.
- Broadening Crop Applications: Extending INITIΛ’s application to other broad-acre crops and exploring potential in the fruits and vegetables sector.
Aphea.Bio’s Growing Impact in Agrobiologicals
With INITIΛ, Aphea.Bio continues to advance its mission to provide sustainable solutions in agriculture. The company builds on the success of its first biostimulant for wheat, ΛCTIV by Aphea.Bio™, aiming to establish INITIΛ as a key component in biostimulant solutions globally.
Isabel Vercauteren, CEO of Aphea.Bio, highlighted the initiative’s potential: “We are eager to explore the full market potential of INITIΛ by Aphea.Bio™. Success will involve solid product positioning for the EU maize market, gaining access to the vast US and Brazilian markets, and extending the product label to a broader range of crops. This progress will further support Aphea.Bio’s pioneering position in agrobiologicals globally and will significantly enhance our business footprint in the field of biostimulants.”
Aphea.Bio Latest News
Bags €70M In a Series C To Accelerate Its Development (2023/07/12)
Belgium-based AgTech firm Aphea.Bio has closed a €70 million Series C funding round, with funding from Innovation Industries, Korys Investments, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The funds will enable Aphea. Bio to expand its R&D efforts, scale product launches, broaden its market presence, and commercialize its innovative product lineup. The collaboration with the Gates Foundation will facilitate the development of biostimulant solutions tailored to address the unique requirements of smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Aphea.Bio CEO Isabel Vercauteren expressed excitement about the investment round, seeing it as an endorsement of the company’s mission to promote sustainable farming and accelerate commercialization.
Photo by James Baltz on Unsplash
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