NetZeroNitrogen (NZN), a Nottingham-based AgTech firm on a mission to finish reliance on artificial nitrogen fertilisers (SNFs), has raised a €5.6 million Seed spherical to make key hires in ASEAN markets, move certification, and finalise business offtake and biomanufacturing agreements.
The spherical was co-led by World Fund, Europe’s main local weather VC, and Azolla Ventures, a US ClimateTech VC investing in firms with the potential for gigaton-scale local weather impression. The spherical brings NZN’s complete funding up to now to €7 million, together with funding from current backers Zero Carbon Capital, Revent and Kibo Make investments, along with early help from the UK’s innovation company, Innovate UK. Ananke additionally joined as a brand new investor in NZN.
Justin Hughes, NZN Co-founder and CEO, mentioned: “Most alternate options include a inexperienced premium however that is successfully a inexperienced low cost – we’re greener and cheaper on the similar time. The time is totally ripe for our product: the dependency on SNF is unsustainable. We’re taking up a problem with international penalties, and I’m excited to have the unbelievable groups at World Fund and Azolla supporting us alongside the best way.”
NZN was launched in 2022 by biologists Gary Devine (CSO), Alan Burbidge (Hd Corp Affairs) and former Crimson Arrows pilot-turned-entrepreneur Justin Hughes (CEO). The workforce is growing a biofertilizer (bioinoculant) that makes use of endophytic micro organism that ‘colonise’ the plant, delivering a variety of advantages.
Subject trials reportedly present {that a} single utility of the product can considerably scale back farmers’ use of SNF, enhance yields, and enhance crop visible high quality.
As a result of NZN’s product entails no genetic modification (GM), the corporate says they’ve an edge over rivals: it complies with EU rules and has a transparent international regulatory pathway. It’s also apparently simple to use and doesn’t require any new farm equipment, permitting farmers to chop prices whereas decarbonising processes – a “inexperienced low cost”.
Dr Nadine Geiser, Principal, World Fund, mentioned: “Widespread use of urea, ammonium and nitrate-based fertilisers is without doubt one of the world’s largest sources of GHG, and it’s leaving soil microbiomes in a dire state internationally. NZN provides the best resolution. This thrilling BioTech firm faces no regulatory limitations to quick adoption, and it has a robust founding workforce with the right mixture of scientific and entrepreneurial experience to succeed. Justin and Gary’s success up to now is exceptional, and we’re thrilled to be supporting the workforce as they scale globally.”
NZN is providing an answer to an business that’s a bigger carbon emitter than aviation: conventional nitrogen-based artificial fertilisers.
The widespread Haber-Bosch course of was invented over a century in the past, serving to tens of millions keep away from famine by creating ammonia from contemporary air. The method nonetheless feeds 50% of the world’s inhabitants, but it surely reportedly has a devastating local weather impression. Manufacturing and use of SNF is without doubt one of the largest sources of greenhouse fuel (GHG) emissions at the moment, accounting for 2% of total GHG emissions, and emitting 8 million metric tons of nitrous oxide (N₂O) – a GHG nearly 300 times more potent than CO2 – yearly.
The corporate says that SNFs have additionally left soil microbiomes in a dire state, made waterways poisonous, and contributed to biodiversity loss.
NZN provides a cheap different, on the proper time: McKinsey expects the fertiliser market to grow around 2.1%pa, and World Fund calculations counsel NZN delivers an 88% discount in fertiliser manufacturing emissions in comparison with SNFs.
“If the Haber Bosch course of was invented at the moment it could be banned, like alcohol or tobacco,” Hughes mentioned. “With our product, there is no such thing as a transmission loss and due to this fact no nitrate or nitrous oxide air pollution. You’re putting the gas (micro organism) subsequent to the engine (plant cells). The dimensions of this chance is gigantic. We’re speaking about an concept from a small lab within the UK remodeling a $200BN international market.”
The corporate, which employs 9 folks, is now in product trials and plans to go to market in 2026. The contemporary capital can be used to make key hires in ASEAN markets, move certification, and finalise business offtake and biomanufacturing agreements.
Amy Duffuor, Co-founder and Common Companion at Azolla Ventures added: “We’re proud to co-lead NZN’s spherical and help the corporate’s efforts to deal with greenhouse fuel emissions from fertiliser. NZN’s breakthrough expertise stands aside from different options with the trifecta of deploying the proper micro organism, on the proper crop, on the proper value. Past local weather impression, NZN’s innovation holds transformative potential for smallholder farmers throughout ASEAN.
“By providing a less expensive product that reinforces crop yields and reduces pricey fertiliser inputs, the corporate might assist elevate farmer incomes and contribute to poverty discount throughout the area.”
