ECBF supports Series C of Aphea.Bio to the tune of 70 million euros

ECBF is once again supporting Aphea.Bio, a company that develops agri-biological products to improve fertilization and fungal control in agriculture. The investment contributes to the objectives of the EU Green Deal by reducing the use of fertilizers and reducing dependence on chemical pesticides.

Luxembourg - Aphea.Bio, a Belgian agri-tech company, has successfully closed a €70 million Series C financing. The financing round was led by Innovation Industries and joined by Korys Investments, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, SFPIM and BNP Paribas Fortis, the ECBF and existing shareholders. The main objective of this investment is to promote sustainable agricultural practices.

Thanks to this financing, Aphea.Bio will be able to drive its growth and consolidate its position in the development of organic products. The company will use the funds to drive research and development of organic solutions, scale product launches, expand market reach and increase distribution of its products.

We are pleased to have secured Series C funding that furthers our mission to enable sustainable, profitable and reliable agriculture

Isabel Vercauteren, CEO Aphea.Bio

Aphea.Bio's CEO, Isabel Vercauteren, emphasizes the importance of this financing for the company. She is excited about the opportunity to expand the company's activities and bring its products to market on a larger scale to address the pressing challenges in agriculture and meet the needs of farmers worldwide.

The ECBF, which was already involved in the Series B financing of Aphea.Bio, supports the transition to a sustainable bioeconomy and bio-based circular economy. The fund recognized Aphea.Bio's potential early on and participated again in the Series C financing.

Thanks to the oversubscribed Series C, Aphea.Bio will be able to revolutionize agriculture through science-based microbial solutions.

Stéphane Roussel, Partner ECBF

Stéphane Roussel, Partner at ECBF, comments that thanks to this financing, Aphea.Bio will be able to revolutionize agriculture with science-based microbial solutions. He is proud to support Aphea.Bio's experienced team on its way to becoming a global company and emphasizes the joint efforts of both parties for a more sustainable agri-food sector.

The €70 million funding comes at a time of growth for Aphea.Bio. The company has built a team of over 50 scientists and industry specialists and is expanding its research facilities. The company also plans to open a new pilot plant later this year. Aphea.Bio has also made progress in its product portfolio, including the launch of ΛCTIV, a novel biostimulant seed treatment. Further products, such as a biostimulant for maize and a biofungicide, are already in the pipeline.

The ECBF is a fund in the field of bioeconomy and circular economy initiated by the European Union. The fund invests in visionary European entrepreneurs who are driving the transition to a bio-based economy. The ECBF was established in 2020 with a €100 million commitment from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and aims to strengthen Europe's leading expertise in circular technologies.