Arevo raises €7.3 million to scale bio-based fertilizer production and expand globally

Swedish agricultural technology company Arevo has raised €7.3 million (approx. $7.9 million) to expand production of its bio-based fertilizer and support international growth. The round was backed by existing investors Industrifonden, Fort Knox Förvaring AB, Navigare Ventures, and Stora Enso, who also participated in the company’s €6.8 million ($7.3 million) raise in 2024.

Arevo develops arginine phosphate, a bio-based fertilizer designed to improve soil nutrient retention while reducing nitrogen leakage and greenhouse gas emissions. The company’s technology offers a sustainable alternative to traditional nitrogen-based fertilizers, which account for roughly 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, almost double that of the aviation sector.

The innovation is based on the research of Professor Torgny Näsholm at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, a pioneer in plant nutrition. Arevo’s approach leverages arginine—a natural amino acid—to deliver nitrogen in a form that binds to soil particles rather than washing away with rainfall. This results in stronger root systems, healthier soils, and lower emissions, according to the company.

Strengthening leadership for growth

In conjunction with the new funding, Arevo has expanded its board with several new members. Maria Wetterstrand, former spokesperson of Sweden’s Green Party and now CEO of Miltton Europe, joined the board in March. Her experience in EU sustainability and regulatory affairs is expected to play a key role as the company navigates environmental and climate policy developments in Europe.

Other board members include David Sonnek, CEO of Navigare Ventures; Diana Henningsson, deputy member representing Navigare; Henrik Lenning, deputy CEO at Stora Enso; and Anna Haupt from Industrifonden. Together, they bring expertise spanning venture capital, forestry, and sustainability policy.

“Our focus is on moving faster toward replacing conventional fertilizers with something that works with plant biology, not against it,” said Niklas Åström, CEO of Arevo. “The new capital and board expertise will help us transition from pilot-scale to industrial-scale production.”

Expanding product portfolio

Earlier this year, Arevo also entered the consumer market with a sustainable lawn fertilizer based on its core arginine phosphate technology. The product aims to offer homeowners a low-emission alternative to synthetic lawn fertilizers while maintaining visible results.

Investor interest in fertilizer innovation has been growing globally amid pressure to decarbonize agriculture. Similar ventures include US-based Nitricity, which recently raised $50 million to scale renewable-powered fertilizer production, and Norwegian startup NZN (NetZeroNitrogen), which secured €5.6 million (about $6.0 million) this year to produce fertilizer from captured nitrogen.

With its latest funding and strengthened leadership team, Arevo aims to industrialize production and play a larger role in the global transition toward low-emission, biologically based agriculture.