AgroSustain Raises 1.1 Million to Certify Organic Antifungal Spray
18.12.2018
AgroSustain SA, which is developing organic sprays to stop fresh food going moldy while in storage, raised 1.1 million Swiss francs ($1.1 million) to certify its antifungal and conduct tests with supermarkets and distributors in Switzerland.
 AgroSustain SA's co-founders.
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AgroSustain, a spin-off from the University of Lausanne, developed its spray in conjunction with the Swiss agricultural research center Agroscope. Its plant-inspired spray can be used on more than 1,600 crops and extends the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables by as long as seven days, according to initial tests.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that $60 billion of fruits and vegetables is spoiled by fungal pathogens between harvest and stores. Mold in food storage warehouses can also harm humans and rotting food produces carbon dioxide emissions that are harmful to the atmosphere.
Epalinges, Switzerland-based AgroSustain won 130,000 francs in Venture Kick in May. Chief executive officer Olga Dubey built global contacts taking part in Venture Leaders pitches and roadshow in South Africa in June and in Brazil in December.
“Venture kick was the main supporter at the beginning of our journey. The two-day kickers camp helped us open our minds when investigating potential markets and find the right niche to begin developing our business,” Dubey said in an interview.