Vdtech raises 1M CHF for soil protection and regeneration

💵 Funding News: SeaCrete, a spin-off from Wageningen University & Research, has secured €100K in pre-seed funding from StartLife to scale its bio-inspired concrete coating designed to restore marine ecosystems. Traditional concrete in marine environments often harms biodiversity, but SeaCrete is flipping that narrative. Their bio-sourced, ocean-friendly coating transforms concrete surfaces into living habitats where corals, oysters, and algae can attach and thrive. With this new investment, SeaCrete will: 🧪 Advance from lab-scale research to pilot applications 🌍 Test its coating in real-world ocean conditions 💡 Accelerate the path toward regenerative marine construction This announcement also marked a wider milestone for StartLife, which has now distributed €10 million in early-stage funding to Dutch agrifood startups since its founding, driving innovation from food systems to ocean restoration. Why it matters: From sea walls to offshore platforms, marine infrastructure is expanding and innovations like SeaCrete’s ensure these structures work with nature, not against it. 👉 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ewMhniEe #OCVN #OceanInnovation #BlueEconomy #MarineTech #OceanRestoration #ClimateAction #CircularEconomy

A National-Global Partnership to Shape a Greener Future for the Kingdom! Tasamy Agricultural Solutions, in collaboration with our technology partner, the Swiss company Inverto Earth, is proud to announce its readiness to launch a revolutionary service in the world of mangrove forest rehabilitation. By integrating leading national expertise with cutting-edge Swiss technology, we offer an unprecedented production capacity of up to 100 hectares per day. This partnership is part of our firm commitment to supporting the vision of our inspiring leader, the Crown Prince, to plant 100 million mangrove trees by 2030. Together, we are contributing to building a sustainable future for our nation. Get ready to be part of this achievement. Request the service now and participate in building a #GreenSaudi. #TasamyAgriculturalSolutions #InvertoEarth #SaudiVision2030 #Sustainability #Innovation #MadeInSaudi

🚀 Nature and Forest Startup Pitching Competition – semi-finalists announced! We are excited to reveal the innovative teams moving forward in the competition: ✨ KOKO Forest – Advanced forest analytics for monitoring forest health and biodiversity ✨ VacuumWood.tech – IoT-monitored dryable wood construction modules ✨ Nature2Bond – Non-toxic bioadhesive for wood-based panels ✨ FireSafe – Bio-based fire retardant technology turning coatings into effective fire-retardant solutions ✨ LignoSphere – Lignin-based high-performance alternative for adhesives and industrial coatings ✨ HYGRON – Energy-saving cooling membranes from nanocellulose ✨ Carbon Twins – Digital twins for forest carbon farming ✨ Laukansaari Giants – Production technology for elite conifers The first stage takes place at National Forest Days / Metsäpäivät on 23 October 2025, where the teams will pitch their solutions to leading experts, companies, and decision-makers. The top teams will then advance to the final at Y-Science, a Slush side-event on 19 November 2025, connecting with investors, innovators, and global networks. 🌍 These startups represent cutting-edge solutions at the intersection of forests, nature and innovation – from bio-based materials and sustainable construction to digital tools for climate-smart forestry. 💡 Read more about the competition: https://lnkd.in/dzxQTaX8 #Innovation #Sustainability #Startups #GreenTech #Bioeconomy #Climate #Science

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥. Because when a 𝐂𝐓𝐎 says it on camera, it hits different. Grateful to Neil Schonwald CTO of Coastal Measures for the trust, the vision, and the chance to build something that matters. At Iqonic Design, we’ve worked on multiple projects in the environmental space before. But with Neil and his team, we stepped into a new frontier aquaculture. A sector where a single data point can mean healthier oceans, stronger food systems, and livelihoods protected. We worked with Neil because his approach matched ours: focus on clarity, build confidence, and design technology people can actually use. That’s what great design means to us. Projects like these remind us why we love what we do turning complex challenges into simple, meaningful solutions and building products that make a real difference. Because in the end, what we build lasts but who we build it with makes the real difference. #clientreview #buildwithiqonic #productteam #aquaculture #environmentaltech #scalingstartups

When technology shapes oceans and livelihoods, the impact goes far beyond code. That’s why hearing Neil Schonwald, CTO of Coastal Measures, share this on camera feels special. His trust and vision pushed us into a new frontier: aquaculture where a single data point can mean healthier oceans, resilient food systems, and stronger communities. Projects like this remind us what great design really is: clarity, confidence, and technology people can actually use. At Iqonic Design, what we build matters but who we build it with makes the real difference. #IqonicDesign #Aquaculture #OceanTech #EnvironmentalImpact

🌿 Beyond Pilots: Making Nature-Based Projects Truly Investable 🌿 Inspiring morning at the #CIFBLondon Conference, where we explored what it really takes to move from #pilots to #scale in the #naturebased carbon space. We kicked off with Julia (Osterman) Strong from Symbiosis Coalition, who shared how the coalition is delivering on its first long-term offtakes — bringing much-needed predictability and price transparency to the demand side. A crucial driver if we want to see nature-based carbon markets scale responsibly. We also “travelled” this morning to #Paraguay with LEIFF, hearing about opportunities in #forestry, #reforestation, and #sustainablecattle production — a great example of how diversified land-use models can deliver both environmental and commercial returns. On our panel — “Beyond Pilots: Investable Projects and Outcomes Achieving Scale” — with Jan Fehse from VALUE FOR NATURE LTD., Amy Refaat from IFC - International Finance Corporation), and Sil Lanckriet from Climate Lab, we discussed how to align project and investor perspectives to unlock scale. Great to see such a packed room and engaged discussion around what it really takes to turn promising projects into investable ones. 💬 Our key takeaways included: ✅ Scaling integrity takes time and patience — community-based projects evolve at the pace of trust, not quarterly IRRs. ✅ Readiness must be measurable — investors need visibility across five dimensions: counterparty, policy, ESG, technical, and commercial. ✅ Structuring is the bridge — matching the right type of capital to each stage (grants → blended → commercial) is what turns feasibility into investability. ✅ Human capacity matters as much as capital — credible teams, local legitimacy, and aligned incentives remain the foundation for long-term success. Projects won’t scale through high-integrity standards and methodologies alone — they’ll scale when finance itself is structured with that same level of integrity: long-term, fair, and aligned with both community and investor goals. Excited for the conversations going forward and for continued collaboration to make high-integrity, investable nature-based projects the norm rather than the exception. 📖 You can read more on this topic in our latest paper "Unlocking Finance for Nature-Based Carbon Projects Along the Capital Continuum" : 👉 https://lnkd.in/e64J6m3P #CIFB #NatureBasedSolutions #CarbonMarkets #ImpactInvesting #ClimateFinance #CapitalContinuum

Farm491 LAUNCHES SECOND INNOVATION CHALLENGE TO TACKLE UK LAND-USE PRESSURES Farm491 , the Royal Agricultural University's innovation hub, kicks off its second annual Challenge—backed by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation—with a 'Mixed Land Use' theme. Think balancing food, housing, carbon capture, biodiversity, and renewables on finite UK soil! Calling early-stage UK companies (under 7 years old) with prototypes in agroforestry, regenerative housing, intercropping, or food-energy co-production. Top prizes: £40K cash + 12 months mentoring for the winner, £20K for runner-up. Applications open now—deadline Oct 23! Shortlist by Oct 31, finals Dec 12 at RAU's Alliston Centre. Got a game-changing idea? Apply and shape sustainable land's future https://lnkd.in/d4eJXkhb Do well to follow Agritech Digest and Check out agritechdigest.com for more updates #AgriTech #SustainableLandUse #InnovationChallenge #UKAgriculture #GreenSolutions

💡🌱 Investing in the future of agriculture We’ve begun developing our own soil moisture sensor—a cornerstone in our vision to build Caribbean-grown agritech solutions. This innovation will allow farmers to track soil conditions in real time, optimize water use, and increase productivity. Why it matters: 📊 Data-driven farming = higher yields + lower costs 💧 Smarter resource management = climate resilience 🌍 Locally built tech = scalable solutions for emerging markets This is just the first step in a pipeline of technologies designed to transform farming in Barbados and across the region. We’re looking to connect with partners and investors who believe in the power of agriculture + technology to drive sustainable growth. #AgriTech #ImpactInvestment #SustainableDevelopment #DataDrivenAg #CaribbeanInnovation

🌱 Urban Farming by Design: A Strategic Path to Sustainable Growth Sustainability isn’t just about reducing impact — it’s about creating strategic value. Urban Farming by Design offers a regenerative farm-to-city model that delivers measurable ROI, aligns with ESG goals, and strengthens community resilience. This is more than farming; it’s a business-by-design strategy. 🔑 Strategic Highlights: Asset-light, partner-heavy model: scalable prototypes for campuses & business parks Financial performance: 5-year ROI ~129%, strong IRR & NPV growth potential Sustainability impact: circular economy, carbon reduction, energy self-sufficiency Engagement hub: enhances employee well-being and institutional reputation By integrating architecture, agriculture, and circular economy systems, UFbD bridges the gap between vision and action. 📌 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gwqAKvpx For leaders exploring high-impact ESG investments, Urban Farming by Design isn’t just an idea — it’s a strategic advantage for the next decade. #strategy #sustainability #ESG #urbanfarming #circularEconomy #futureofcities

Precision, Speed, and Scale - The Art of Greenhouse Roofing The roof is one of the most defining elements of any greenhouse, and at Growhub we take pride in getting it right. In our latest project, our team took on a 16-meter arch structure with integrated butterfly windows and insect nets, successfully installing an impressive 20,000 m² of polyethylene roofing in just 2 weeks. This achievement wasn’t just about speed, it was about precision, innovation, and building a structure designed to maximize efficiency and protect crops. It’s a true example of what happens when expertise meets execution. Watch the video to see the transformation unfold. #Growhub #GreenhouseConstruction #Agritech #SustainableFarming