Ag-tech start-up WeedOUT, Ltd., has recently announced securing $8.1 million in A-round funding. The leading investor, Fulcrum Global Capital, a US agri-focused VC with ties to a vast network of farmers across the US, is supporting the company’s mission to combat weed resistance through its breakthrough green solution. Other participants in the equity round include Bunge Ventures, the investment arm of the agriculture and food company Bunge, and the Singapore Headquartered agrifood tech fund Clay Capital (formerly VisVires New Protein, VVNP). This new funding complements several grants received by the company from the Israeli Innovation Authority.
WeedOUT’s innovative solution addresses one of the most significant threats to agriculture and food security: herbicide-resistant weeds. The company has developed a novel and environmentally conscious approach to significantly reduce the proliferation of weeds that no longer respond to commonly used chemical herbicides.
WeedOUT’s primary target is the Palmer amaranth weed (Amaranthus palmeri), a major nuisance in the United States, Brazil, and Argentina, which can drastically reduce crop yield. The company’s green solution specifically targets this type of resistant weed, aiming to combat its detrimental impact on crops.
The prolonged use of chemical herbicides, such as glyphosate, has led to the development of multiple resistance in destructive weeds, commonly referred to as ‘super weeds.’ WeedOUT’s novel method draws inspiration from sterility techniques used since the 1940s for controlling populations of unwanted insects. It involves a proprietary weed pollen derived from male plants, which fertilizes female weed ovules, yielding nonviable seeds and effectively impeding the growth of a new generation of resistant weeds.
WeedOUT’s breakthrough in combating weed resistance has garnered significant support from investors and industry experts. With the infusion of new capital, the company is poised to further advance its mission and make a substantial impact on sustainable agriculture and food production.
