Key Takeaways
- Gardin raised $4.5 million in Seed 2 funding led by Navus Ventures to expand its platform and commercial team.
- The company’s optical photosynthesis sensor and AI platform is now deployed across more than 20 crop species in polytunnels and greenhouses worldwide.
- Growers report benefits including 5–15% yield increases, up to 30% improved profitability, and energy savings of 20–30%.
- The technology offers real-time insights into plant health, helping optimize crop management and resource efficiency.
- Gardin plans to use new funds to expand globally and further enhance its platform capabilities.
Gardin raises $4.5M to fuel expansion as customer adoption grows
Gardin, which develops optical photosynthesis sensors and an AI-driven platform for real-time crop health monitoring, has raised $4.5 million in Seed 2 financing to accelerate its growth. The round was led by Navus Ventures, with participation from Oxford Innovation Finance and existing investors LDV Capital, MMC Ventures, Seedcamp, Alchimia Investments, and angel investors.
The company will use the funds to expand its commercial team, enhance its technology platform, and scale customer adoption across new markets.
“Navus Ventures are in my opinion the best Ag focussed investor in Europe,” said Sumanta Talukdar, Founder & CEO of Gardin. “The whole Gardin team is very pleased to partner with Navus.”
Global growers see measurable benefits from Gardin’s technology
Since its commercial launch in June 2023, Gardin has deployed sensors across diverse production environments in Spain, Morocco, the Netherlands, Canada and more. The platform supports growers managing over 20 crop species, providing data that helps inform key decisions.
Growers using the system have reported results including improved uniformity, higher yields, and lower energy use:
| Customer | Reported Benefit |
|---|---|
| Agriculture Investments | Multi-year contract after trials demonstrated actionable insights |
| Fromboer | 5% yield increase per square meter |
| Ridder | Up to 30% profitability boost and 15% yield gain |
Focus on sustainability and operational efficiency
Gardin is also advancing trials focused on light optimization and energy efficiency, with early results showing growers can save 20–30% on energy use. This supports broader industry efforts to address energy costs and meet sustainability targets.
Beyond production, the company’s technology is also being applied in research aimed at developing more resilient seed varieties, adding another dimension to its role in securing the global food supply.
Gardin looks to next stage of growth
With new capital and a growing list of commercial partners, Gardin plans to continue expanding its reach across global controlled environment agriculture markets.
Jaap Zijlstra, Director at Navus Ventures, said, “Gardin has developed a unique affordable technology that gives growers an actual pulse on their plants and therefore business. We are looking forward to helping the company scale during its next phase.”
1 Comment