Enhance farming with nitrogen-fixing techniques

BioConsortia, Inc., a pioneer in microbial solutions for sustainable agriculture, has announced a fresh US$15mn funding round led by long-standing investors, including Otter Capital and affiliated funds

Marcus Meadows-Smith, CEO of BioConsortia,“This investment, one of a series of recurring financings from our internal investors, reflects their deep confidence in BioConsortia’s science, strategy, and commercial momentum. “Their investments total US$95mn and bring BioConsortia to this exciting moment in the company’s history.”

The latest funding will accelerate the global rollout of Always-N, the company’s next-generation nitrogen-fixing seed treatment for industrial corn. It will also support the continued development of BioConsortia’s microbial research platform at its Davis, California headquarters.

Designed to reduce farmers’ dependence on synthetic fertilisers, Always-N allows for consistent crop yields while lowering environmental impact. Applied as a seed treatment, it is the only nitrogen-fixing biofertiliser that combines advanced gene editing with a shelf life of more than two years.

“Synthetic nitrogen fertilisers are essential to modern agriculture, but their overuse comes at a high environmental cost,” Meadows-Smith explained. “With Always-N, we offer a powerful and sustainable alternative—backed by cutting-edge science and engineered for real-world performance.”

Roughly 50% of synthetic nitrogen applied to crops is lost to runoff or breaks down in the soil, releasing nitrous oxide—a greenhouse gas with 300 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide. As both regulatory and market pressures increase for more climate-smart farming practices, interest in sustainable solutions like Always-N is rapidly rising.

After a successful commercial launch in New Zealand in 2024, Always-N is preparing to expand into broader markets across the Americas. BioConsortia has partnered with key global players, including The Mosaic Company, to introduce the product into row crop systems. The latest investment will be used to scale up production, build product inventory, and enhance market reach in time for the next planting season.

Always-N is the result of BioConsortia’s proprietary research platform, which includes tools like Advanced Microbial Selection (AMS), GenExpress, and GenePro. These systems help discover, refine, and optimise beneficial microbes that improve nitrogen fixation, crop resilience, and product longevity.

Beyond Always-N, the company is advancing a strong pipeline of microbial biostimulants, fungicides, insecticides, and nematicides—all designed for long shelf life, ease of use, and reliable field performance.

Since its inception in 2014, BioConsortia’s solutions have shown proven effectiveness across different crop types, climates, and soils, offering farmers practical tools for more sustainable and productive agriculture.