Cheshire-based AgTech startup CroBio has secured €805k in new funding to bolster its innovative living soil amendment technology. This grant, awarded through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)’s Farming Innovation Programme and supported by Innovate UK, will drive CroBio’s next phase of work in enhancing soil health and nutrient management. The funding is a partnership with the University of York and the Biorenewables Development Centre, marking CroBio’s first government-funded grant.
CroBio’s technology is designed to improve nutrient retention, water retention, and carbon sequestration in soils. The living soil amendment, applied once per growing season in liquid form, works by harnessing the power of enhanced microbes. These microbes consume root exudates from plants and produce bacterial cellulose, a carbon-rich material that can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. This sponge-like material forms a scaffold around plant roots, helping to retain water and nutrients for the plant when it needs them most. The technology has shown promising results, with greenhouse studies indicating a 200% improvement in water retention in sandy soil.
The implications of this funding are significant. The project aims to support farmers by reducing the need for fertiliser while providing benefits to soil and environmental health. By enhancing nutrient management and carbon sequestration, CroBio’s technology could contribute to climate neutrality and improved crop productivity. The funding will accelerate strain development, allowing CroBio to expand its impact in regenerative agriculture across the UK and Europe.
Dr Daniel J Upton, Senior Scientist at CroBio, expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, “This project brings together a diverse and multidisciplinary consortium and addresses key challenges facing agriculture. I am excited to get started on this project and to be supporting CroBio in developing its technology to be applicable across widespread territories and with multiple benefits.”
CroBio was founded in 2019 by Ross Mulhall during the YES19 competition at Syngenta’s Jealott’s Hill Facility. The company has since secured several rounds of funding, including a significant investment from SOSV and a spot in the IndieBio program in 2023. This latest grant from Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme underscores the growing recognition of CroBio’s potential to reshape the future of agriculture through innovative microbial technology.
