NEW TECH FOODS

BioConsortia has raised $15 million from existing investors led by Otter Capital and affiliated funds, bringing total investment in the company to $95 million.

The funding will support the global rollout of Always-N, the company’s nitrogen-fixing seed treatment for industrial corn, and expand its research and development operations in Davis, California.

Always-N is designed to reduce reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilisers while maintaining crop yields. Applied as a seed treatment, it combines gene-editing technology with extended shelf life of more than two years. According to BioConsortia, the product has shown consistent field performance and can lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve soil health.

The product was first commercialised in New Zealand in 2024 and is now preparing for wider market entry through partnerships including The Mosaic Company in the Americas. The new investment will be used to scale manufacturing, build inventory and expand market access ahead of the next growing season.

Marcus Meadows-Smith, BioConsortia’s CEO, said: “This investment, one in a series of recurring financings from our internal investors, reflects their deep confidence in BioConsortia’s science, strategy and commercial momentum. Their investments total $95 million and bring BioConsortia to this exciting moment in the company’s history.”

He added: "Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers are essential to modern agriculture, but their overuse comes at a steep environmental cost. With Always-N, we offer a powerful, sustainable alternative – backed by cutting-edge science and built for real-world performance.”