Aphea.bio specialises in developing microbial strains and biostimulant products that boost plant nutrient uptake. The company is certified as a B Corp and employs a team of over 50 scientists and specialists. New funding will be used to expand research facilities and to open a new pilot plant later this year. A partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will direct development of products for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Financially, Aphea.bio has raised just over €100 million since mid-2017, with the latest round contributing to that total. The company is based in Gent, Belgium. Aphea.Bio develops a new generation of agro-biologicals—biostimulants and biofungicides—by harnessing the plant microbiome and natural microbial biodiversity. The company uses an innovative discovery platform that combines proprietary technologies to analyze microbial collections and identify beneficial strains. Its products target reduced fertilizer application and control of fungal diseases in row crops such as maize and wheat. With the completion of its Series B to €18M, Aphea.Bio plans to advance its portfolio toward regulatory approval and first commercial launch. ECBF's equity investment will support development and commercialization efforts to substitute agricultural chemicals with biological alternatives. Aphea.Bio was founded in December 2016 as a spin-off of VIB, Ghent University and K.U. Leuven and is based in Gent, Belgium. Aphea.Bio develops next-generation biopesticides and biostimulants based on naturally-occurring microorganisms to increase crop yields and improve protection against fungal diseases. The company aims to provide farmers an alternative to chemical pesticides and to stimulate crop growth by promoting nutrient uptake. Development is focused on staple crops such as wheat, barley and maize to target European and global market opportunities. Aphea.Bio spun out of the Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) and draws on research contributions from Ghent University and KU Leuven. Headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, the startup raised €9.0M comprising a €7.7M Series A and a €1.3M R&D grant from VLAIO. Management says the financing positions the company to develop new agricultural products and to exploit the currently untapped microbial space.

Total raised

$108M

Funding rounds

4

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Jul 2023