Windfall Bio, an agtech/climate startup, announced today the formation of a team of industry leaders to launch the first-ever methane-to-organic fertilizer solution. The company aims to transform dilute methane emissions, a significant contributor to global warming, into value-added products for farmers.
Frank Crespo, the co-founder of Windfall Bio, has been appointed as the chief operating officer, and Jordan Smith will serve as the vice president of engineering. Both will lead the team in addressing the challenge of diluting methane emissions.
The company also announced the creation of a Board of Advisors to support its growth and commitment to empowering farmers of all sizes to be part of the methane solution. The Board includes Steven Chu, former U.S. Secretary of Energy; Lori Giver, chief science and sustainability officer at Calysta, Inc.; Lance Ruppert, Strategic Market Development Manager for GROWMARK, Inc.; Ilya Sokolov, a general manager specializing in healthy and sustainable foods; Nick Schwanz, brand strategy and co-founder of Solar Punk Farms; and Daniella Taveau, former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulator.
Josh Silverman, co-founder, and CEO of Windfall Bio, expressed his pride in gaining the support of big-name investors and strategic executives. “As we establish a new market and create a new category of methane capture and transformation into organic fertilizer for the agriculture sector, this is incredibly important,” said Silverman.
Windfall Bio’s solution uses proprietary technology that enriches natural methane-eating microbes from the soil. These microbes consume methane and capture nitrogen from the air to produce an organic fertilizer that potentially offers better bioavailability, reduced runoff, and reduced downstream emissions compared to synthetic ammonia fertilizers.
As COO, Crespo will work closely with the leadership team to execute Windfall Bio’s strategy, drive company growth, and establish its product supply chain. Crespo brings over 30 years of operational expertise in driving innovation in supply network capabilities and performance.
As vice president of engineering, Smith will leverage his extensive experience in agricultural engineering to develop innovative solutions that address agriculture’s methane emissions problems.
Steven Chu, former U.S. Secretary of Energy and member of Windfall Bio’s Board of Advisors, praised Windfall Bio’s dedication to building an ecosystem of driving ambition and inspiring continual breakthroughs in the solution.
The company recently announced a $9 million raise led by Mayfield and UNTITLED, with participation from additional investors, including B37 Ventures, Baruch Future Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Cavallo Ventures, and MCJ Collective.
Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash
