Earth and Habitat (Commonwealth Union) _ Iyris, a startup based in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Delaware (USA), recently secured a $16 million Series A funding round to advance its innovative agricultural technologies aimed at adapting to extreme climates. The funding, led by Ecosystem Integrity Fund (EIF) and including contributions from Global Ventures, Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF), Kanoo Ventures, Globivest, and Bonaventure Capital, will help Iyris expand the sales of its technologies designed to enhance crop resilience and reduce energy and fertigation costs.
Iyris’s SecondSky technology mitigates the harmful effects of radiation on crops by allowing the necessary light spectrum for photosynthesis while blocking damaging infrared heat radiation. Additionally, the company has developed plant genetics through a novel hybridization process to breed resilience to salinity, heat, and drought across various crops. Initial trials with tomato growers have shown promising results, ensuring stress-resistant and reliable food production.
The company’s products have already shown positive results in 11 hot climate territories. In hydroponics, growers using Iyris technologies have seen a 30% reduction in energy and fertigation costs. Executive Chairperson John Keppler emphasized the company’s goal to extend growing seasons and increase profitability for farmers without requiring significant changes to existing farming practices.
Sasha Brown, a partner at EIF, highlighted the importance of Iyris’s solutions for growers in harsh and volatile conditions, noting that these innovations offer significant potential to become critical partners for growers adapting to climate change. Developed by scientists and professors at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, Iyris’s technologies represent some of the most significant advancements in agriculture over the past few decades.
Keppler, initially an investor in Iyris before becoming its chairperson, pointed out that by providing drop-in solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing farming infrastructure, Iyris enables farmers to maintain their traditional practices while benefiting from increased yields and extended growing seasons. As the planet continues to heat up, the need for innovative agricultural solutions like those offered by Iyris will only grow, positioning the company as a key player in the future of sustainable agriculture.Earth and Habitat (Commonwealth Union) _ Iyris, a startup based in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Delaware (USA), recently secured a $16 million Series A funding round to advance its innovative agricultural technologies aimed at adapting to extreme climates. The funding, led by Ecosystem Integrity Fund (EIF) and including contributions from Global Ventures, Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF), Kanoo Ventures, Globivest, and Bonaventure Capital, will help Iyris expand the sales of its technologies designed to enhance crop resilience and reduce energy and fertigation costs.
Iyris’s SecondSky technology mitigates the harmful effects of radiation on crops by allowing the necessary light spectrum for photosynthesis while blocking damaging infrared heat radiation. Additionally, the company has developed plant genetics through a novel hybridization process to breed resilience to salinity, heat, and drought across various crops. Initial trials with tomato growers have shown promising results, ensuring stress-resistant and reliable food production.
The company’s products have already shown positive results in 11 hot climate territories. In hydroponics, growers using Iyris technologies have seen a 30% reduction in energy and fertigation costs. Executive Chairperson John Keppler emphasized the company’s goal to extend growing seasons and increase profitability for farmers without requiring significant changes to existing farming practices.
Sasha Brown, a partner at EIF, highlighted the importance of Iyris’s solutions for growers in harsh and volatile conditions, noting that these innovations offer significant potential to become critical partners for growers adapting to climate change. Developed by scientists and professors at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, Iyris’s technologies represent some of the most significant advancements in agriculture over the past few decades.
Keppler, initially an investor in Iyris before becoming its chairperson, pointed out that by providing drop-in solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing farming infrastructure, Iyris enables farmers to maintain their traditional practices while benefiting from increased yields and extended growing seasons. As the planet continues to heat up, the need for innovative agricultural solutions like those offered by Iyris will only grow, positioning the company as a key player in the future of sustainable agriculture.
