Downforce secures $4.2m for soil fertility assessment tools in Africa
TLDR
- Downforce Technologies, a London climate tech startup, secured $4.2 million funding to enhance products for African markets.
- Funding led by Equator VC, an African venture firm, with support from key investors like Tiverton Agriculture Impact Fund and Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
- Downforce specializes in remote sensing software for soil health assessment and tools for carbon projects and farm emissions data collection.
Downforce Technologies, a London-based climate tech startup focused on soil fertility measurement technology for farmers, has raised $4.2 million to develop new products targeting Africa and expand into additional markets.
The funding round was led by Equator VC, an African early-stage venture firm focused on climate tech. Existing shareholders include Tiverton Agriculture Impact Fund, Dragonfly Enviro Capital, Perivoli Innovations, and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), with its investment managed by Virescent Ventures.
Founded in 2020 and led by Professor Jacquie McGlade, Downforce provides cost-effective remote sensing software that enables farmers to assess soil health quickly. The company also offers tools for planning and executing verified carbon projects, collecting and reporting farm emissions data, and implementing soil health improvement initiatives.
Key Takeaways
Africa contributes only a small fraction of global food production. In 2021, the continent's total food exports amounted to just over $60 billion, compared to the U.S.'s $177 billion. Despite having substantial uncultivated arable land, Africa faces challenges in measuring soil fertility, which is often costly, time-consuming, and prone to errors. Downforce is among a rising group of climate tech startups—alongside AgroCares, SoilSense, Regen Technologies, and EcoPeanut—providing innovative solutions for soil carbon measurement, farm management, and climate sustainability for African farmers. These companies aim to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability by offering accessible and accurate soil health assessments.
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