Hi, climate friends 👋 

Welcome to another issue of The Climate Scout!

Today at a glance:

• Introducing Crop Intellect

• Detailing their business model, tech, traction and team

• Why do we need this now?

• What is the climate impact?

• How you can help them!

-  Angelica 💜

Featured Startup: Crop Intellect

Today’s climate startup feature is Crop Intellect. Crop Intellect’s breakthrough technology, R-Leaf, turns pollution in the air into fertilizer for plants. This reduces the need for synthetic fertilizer, increases crop yields, and removes GHG emissions from the atmosphere.

Crop Intellect Fast Facts

How was Crop Intellect Born?

Crop Intellect’s Founder and Scientist, Apostolos Papadopoulos, has developed patented technology for agriculture companies. Having prior knowledge of work done on converting NOx into nitrate (plant-ready fertilizer) under controlled conditions, he got to work trying to replicate those results outdoors to work for crops.

Headquarters

Lincoln, UK

Technology

R-Leaf is a titanium dioxide photocatalyst that is sprayed onto crop foliage. It reacts with sunlight to convert N2O into N2 and O2, removing GHG from the atmosphere. It also transforms NOx pollution into nitrate, which is absorbed by the plant through daily solubilization by air moisture. This provides a continuous supply of nitrate to the plant instead of a single large application.

Their trial results show that farmers can reduce their application of synthetic fertilizer while increasing their crop yields, plant protein content, and removing GHG emissions.

Crop Intellect believes R-Leaf can play a significant role in helping farmers feed a growing population while reducing their use of polluting fertilizers and help companies reduce.

Business Model

R-Leaf generates revenue from product sales. Carbon credit generation will add to profitability and be used to promote sales and adoption of the technology. The company aims to be the first to offer a subscription model for carbon credit generation in farming. Sales will primarily be through existing distribution networks, allowing for faster market capture. Different formulations for amenity and vegetable markets will provide higher margins. This business model demonstrates the potential to disrupt the market and benefit food production and the environment. Clearly defined steps are necessary for global reach and maximum value in the supply chain. Carbon credits will increase profitability and enable localized trading. The project will support scaling up, creating new formulations, and activities that support commercialization.

Traction

• Total funding: $500,000 (grants)

• Breakthrough Energy Fellow

• Backed by the European Innovation Council and Innovate UK

• Tesco Agri T-Jam 2021 Winner, In-Vivo Winner

• Efficacy trials in wheat and other crops and further trials in progress in the UK, EU and US

• Distribution through Hutchinsons, AIVA, Agrovista, Woldmarsh, Edaphos

• MoU agreed with the third largest distributor in the US

• IP at PCT stage

• 15,000+ liters sold in 2022-2023

Founder

Apostolos Papadopoulos - Founder & Scientist

• PhD crop and soil scientist with experience developing and selling patents to multinational agriculture companies

Why Now?

Nitrogen pollution (NOx) is a global environmental issue, including in Europe. It contributes to global warming. Crop Intellect’s solution converts NOx into nitrate as plant feed, using specially designed photo-catalysts that work in daylight. The product (R-LEAF) can be sprayed on crop leaves to capture and convert NOx into nitrate, increasing crop yield. R-LEAF improves nitrogen efficiency, reducing the need for synthetic N applications. It aims to remove NOx, improve air quality, provide efficient nitrogen fertilizer, increase food production, combat climate change, enhance human health, and promote sustainable and profitable farming.

Climate Impact

R-Leaf applied at 2lt per hectare mitigates climate change by removing 5.4 tons CO2 eq. per year.

Support Crop Intellect

• Advisors - Crop Intellect needs help in a lot of areas in order to grow fast and effectively.

• Investors - Crop Intellect is actively raising a round

Recent Climate Rounds

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• Vaulted Deep raised a $8M Seed round to sequester organic waste for permanent carbon removal

• Carbon Atlantis raised a $2.36M Seed round to offers energy-efficient solutions for removing ocean-based carbon dioxide

• Twig raised a $3.76M Seed round to use AI to create sustainable ingredients that don’t cost the earth

• Build to Zero raised a $2.69M Seed round to address the central challenge of the power sector

• Wesky was awarded $1.18M to allow airlines to provide enhanced In-flight experiences and operating efficiency through lowering fuel consumption.

Cool Tools

• #OpenDoorClimate - Find climate professionals that are willing to chat

• Net Zero Insights - Market Intelligence on Climate Tech Startups

• Moonarch - Meet investors for your startup for free

• Remote Climate Jobs - Get remote jobs specific to your expertise delivered to your inbox every Wednesday

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