Arborea, a climate tech startup developing carbon-reducing food production, has raised £4.1m in a funding round. 

Headquartered in London and Portugal, Arborea will use the new funds to launch its first commercial-scale protein production facility based on its Biosolar Leaf system. 

The company’s Biosolar Leaf technology aims to produce far more protein per square mile of land than traditional agriculture while reducing the need for climate-intensive livestock practices. 

Arborea said this system is an industrialisation of photosynthesis, during which the Biosolar Leaf sequesters carbon dioxide and uses sunlight as feedstocks for thousands of species of micro-plants such as marine microalgae. 

The company claims that its cultivation process leads to a net loss of carbon in the atmosphere while releasing breathable oxygen. 

This system is also water-efficient, using five times less than soy cultivation and 40 times less water than raising livestock. The company claimed that through its technology, the projected global protein demand for 2050 could be met with a small area of non-fertile land equivalent to the size of the New York Metropolitan Area. 

Julian Melchiorri, Founder and CEO at Arborea said “This funding marks a pivotal step in our mission to revolutionise food production through our Biosolar Leaf technology.

“By sustainably and carbon-negatively producing multifunctional protein—clean in taste, colour, and adaptable to diverse food applications— we are tackling two of the world’s most pressing challenges: food security and climate change.” 

The investment round was led by Indico Capital partners and was supported by Banco Português de Fomento. 

“We believe that the investment in Arborea will have a transformative impact on the food industry, particularly in replacing animal protein,” said Stephan de Moraes, managing general partner at Indico Capital. 

“The Biosolar Leaf cultivation system from microalgae enables the production of a higher quantity of protein compared to any other food production method, including agriculture and animal production. This investment will be crucial in consolidating Arborea’s position as a leader in creating innovative solutions for a more sustainable and resilient future.” 

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