Aphea.Bio

Aphea.Bio is a Belgian biotech company that develops microbial solutions to boost crop growth and reduce the use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers. Aphea.Bios products include biostimulants, which enhance plant nutrient uptake, and biocontrols, which protect plants from diseases.Aphea.Bios platform is based on its proprietary research and development capabilities, and leverages its partnerships with academic institutions and industry players. The company has launched its first product, a biostimulant for wheat, in March 2021, and plans to release a biostimulant for maize and a biofungicide for wheat in 2024. It also collaborates with the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation to develop biostimulants for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.The company announced a 70m Series C funding round, led by Innovation Industries, a Dutch VC firm focused on agtech and foodtech. Other investors include Korys Investments, BNP Paribas Fortis, the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, ECBF and Astanor. The round is the second largest in Belgium in 2023, and will be used to launch new products, expand the product pipeline, grow the team and scale up production.