SparkLabs Cultiv8 showcases 2024 participants

The 2024 accelerator brought the number of companies supported by SparkLabs Cultiv8 to over 50. More than $AUD 750 million has been raised by their portfolio companies, which boast a combined value of more than $1.75 billion and have created over 750 jobs globally.

ORANGE, Australia, Oct. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Close to 200 agtech investors, innovators and researchers have gathered in Orange this week as part of SparkLabs Cultiv8 2024 Showcase, a pitch event for the companies supported by the accelerator this year.

This year marked the second clean-technology specific program which focuses on agriculture and food production. SparkLabs Cultiv8 Co-founder and Partner Jonathon Quigley said the companies offered a range of ways to reduce emissions from the global agri-food system.

"We're really excited by the range of innovations we're showcasing in Orange this week," he said. "From companies making high-value nutraceutical ingredients from food waste; to brewing palm oil from yeast; to reducing methane from cattle – all these companies can help us produce food more sustainably and support a more climate resilient agriculture system."

Participant Tom Collier, whose company, Levur, is developing a sustainable, yeast-based alternative to palm oil, said the program is helping them drive global traction.

"SparkLabs Cultiv8 has been a game-changer as we progress on our journey to market," he says. "Their access to world-class strategic and technical expertise has been essential in positioning Levur for rapid growth."

Created in 2017 in partnership with Asia's largest accelerator, SparkLabs Group, SparkLabs Cultiv8 has become a leader in supporting sustainable agriculture and food production through innovation. The 2024 graduating companies are:

Alkiira Therapeutics specialises in Australian grown, Australian made botanical extracts and nutraceutical ingredients for global markets, valorising untapped waste streams from local agriculture.

Bovotica^[1] is adding mass and reducing gas in cattle via a proprietary technology probiotic/prebiotic feed supplement that decreases methane production by 80% and increases weight gain by 10%. 

Carbon Friendly^[2] provides end-to-end carbon technology solutions that enable the agricultural industry to develop and monetise large-scale carbon inset and offset projects.

Levur^[3] is revolutionising the oil industry with its sustainable, yeast-based alternative to palm oil to replace unsustainable plant and animal oils in the cosmetics and food sectors, offering a scalable solution to pressing environmental challenges.

Nitronic^[4] is developing technology to produce on-site, zero-carbon fertilisers, reducing the emissions associated with the production and transport of nitrogen-based fertilisers.

NonTox^[5] has developed plant-based bioherbicides and disinfectants to replace more harmful chemicals in agriculture, food production and community applications.

Pyx Global^[6] is developing advanced digital architecture to ensure secure exchange of data and credentials along supply chains.

Teramax has developed environmentally-compliant biodegradable mulch films for agriculture, replacing plastic with a compostable, soil-friendly alternative in a range of horticultural production settings.

Unibaio^[7] has created a microparticle from natural origins that makes agricultural chemicals more effective. Unibaio's particles can be added to herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and fertilisers to reduce the amount required by 80%.

References

1. ^{^} Bovotica (bovotica.com)
2. ^{^} Carbon Friendly (carbonfriendly.io)
3. ^{^} Levur (levur.com.au)
4. ^{^} Nitronic (www.nitronic.co)
5. ^{^} NonTox (nontox.au)
6. ^{^} Pyx Global (www.pyx.io)
7. ^{^} Unibaio (www.unibaio.com)