Aardaia raises $5.9 million to develop nitrogen-fixing, protein-rich potato alternative

Dutch agtech startup Aardaia has raised €5 million (about USD 5.9 million) in a seed funding round to accelerate development of the aardaker (Lathyrus tuberosus), a protein-rich, nitrogen-fixing tuber that could reduce agriculture’s reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and imported protein crops. The investment was led by Point Nine, with participation from Astanor, Grey Silo, returning investor FoodLabs, and a group of angel investors.

Founded in Wageningen, Aardaia is pursuing an alternative approach to crop development by domesticating wild edible plants rather than modifying existing staple crops. Its flagship crop, the aardaker, was historically consumed across Europe but was never cultivated commercially. Unlike potatoes, the legume-derived tuber naturally fixes atmospheric nitrogen, allowing it to produce protein without synthetic nitrogen fertilizer while offering yields comparable to conventional root crops. The company says this combination could help lower fertilizer use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease Europe’s dependence on imported plant protein.

Aardaia uses genome sequencing, high-throughput phenotyping, speed breeding, and genomic prediction to accelerate crop domestication, compressing a process that traditionally required centuries into a matter of years. The company is screening about 750,000 unique aardaker genotypes this year and plans to expand that effort to 2 million with the new funding. Because historical records show the crop was consumed in Europe before May 1997, it is not classified as a novel food under European regulations, potentially simplifying commercialization.

The startup has expanded to 14 employees representing 10 nationalities, with half of its team holding doctoral degrees. The new funding will support additional genotype screening and breeding as Aardaia works to move the aardaker from experimental production toward commercial-scale cultivation. The tuber has already attracted interest from the food sector, with the two-Michelin-star restaurant De Nieuwe Winkel purchasing nearly the company’s entire recent harvest.

Source: AgroPages