We are pleased to share the announcement that VP Capital has invested in RegenRate, the ESA BIC incubatee that is bridging regenerative farming and climate innovation. Offering a pathway for scaling the use of cover crops while building a new value chain for low-carbon fuel alternatives, the startup is the newest addition to VP Capital’s impact portfolio. “RegenRate offers an elegant solution to two systemic challenges: how to incentivise regenerative agriculture; and how to meet the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel,” says Jobien Laurijssen, impact manager at VP Capital.
The following is an extract of the news release issued VP Capital
VP Capital has invested in RegenRate, a Dutch startup working at the intersection of regenerative agriculture and the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market. The company’s approach offers an innovative pathway for scaling the use of cover crops while building a new value chain for low-carbon fuel alternatives. RegenRate enables farmers to plant camelina as a second, revenue-generating crop during a period when fields would normally lie fallow. This practice delivers the soil-health benefits of a traditional cover crop while providing a new income stream. The startup takes on a coordinating role across the supply chain: supplying seeds, supporting farmers during cultivation, proc essing the harvested crop, and certifying and delivering the resulting oil to SAF producers.
Startup offers economic incentive for farmers
“Farmers we work with already understand the value of cover crops for their soil, but it was a line item in their budget,” says Alice Henry, CEO at RegenRate. “We are making soil regeneration a profitable part of their business model for the first time by creating a new value chain that connects their fields to the sustainable aviation fuel market.”
The first offtake agreement has been secured, and the company is already working with early adopter farmers and partners in the sector. By offering a set purchase price and free seed, RegenRate provides a clear economic incentive for farmers to integrate cover crops into their rotation – a practice that improves soil health and biodiversity but has historically been financially unattractive.
“RegenRate offers an elegant solution to two systemic challenges: how to incentivise regenerative agriculture; and how to meet the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel”
Jobien Laurijssen, VP Capital
Aligning with impact strategy
This investment aligns well with our Impact strategy, which focuses on early-stage companies operating within our thematic domains and with a clear impact orientation. RegenRate contributes to multiple impact themes, including:
- Biodiversity – by promoting a practice that improves soil health, reduces erosion, and provides vital habitat and forage for pollinators during its flowering season;
- Climate – by contributing to the decarbonisation of aviation through SAF feedstock;
“RegenRate offers an elegant solution to two systemic challenges: how to incentivise regenerative agriculture; and how to meet the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel,” says Jobien Laurijssen, impact manager at VP Capital. “We were drawn to their integrated approach, the quality of the team, and their willingness to build for both impact and long-term resilience.”
Read the full news item on the VP Capital website
ABOUT REGENRATE: RegenRate is a steward-owned company building scalable, market-driven solutions for regenerative agriculture. Founded in 2023, the startup helps unlock the environmental and economic potential of cover crops by transforming them into a viable source of income for farmers. The company focuses on intermediary crop systems that improve soil health, support biodiversity and generate sustainable biomass for the SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) sector. RegenRate is currently participating in the European Space Agency’s business incubation programme (ESA BIC Noordwijk). regenrate.com
ABOUT VP CAPITAL: VP Capital is the investment company of family van Puijenbroek, which is driven by impact. The company deploys capital and network for sustainable progress. The VP Capital team is based in Belgium and the Netherlands and is endowed with extensive knowledge in business strategy, entrepreneurship, corporate finance, ESG (environmental, social and governance), impact, financing, accountancy and company valuations. The company aspires to build an even more diverse team, encompassing a wide range of expertise and backgrounds. vpcapital.eu
The investment news was shared this week by VP Capital via LinkedIn
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