Downforce Technologies, a London-based climate tech startup specializing in soil fertility measurement tools for farmers, has secured $4.2 million in funding to expand its product offerings in Africa and other new markets.
The company aims to democratize access to its technology and empower farmers to make data-driven decisions for soil health and climate action.
Investment Led by Equator VC
The funding round was led by Equator VC, an African venture firm focused on early-stage climate technology investments. Existing investors, including Tiverton Agriculture Impact Fund, Dragonfly Enviro Capital, Perivoli Innovations, and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), managed by Virescent Ventures, also participated in the round.
Founded in 2020 and led by Professor Jacquie McGlade, Downforce Technologies offers farmers affordable remote sensing software to measure soil health efficiently.
The company’s tools also enable the planning and execution of verified carbon projects, the collection and reporting of farm emissions data, and the implementation of soil health improvement initiatives.
Addressing Africa’s Agricultural Challenges
Africa currently contributes a small fraction to global food production, with exports totaling just over $60 billion in 2021, compared to $177 billion from the U.S. in the same year. While the continent possesses vast uncultivated arable land, the inability to accurately and affordably measure soil fertility remains a significant challenge. Traditional measurement methods are expensive, time-consuming, and prone to errors.
Downforce Technologies joins a growing group of climate tech startups, including AgroCares, SoilSense, Regen Technologies, and EcoPeanut, dedicated to providing solutions for soil carbon measurement, farm management, and climate sustainability for African farmers.
Catalyzing Investment in Soil Organic Carbon
Nijhad Jamal, Managing Partnerat Equator, emphasized the significance of Downforce Technologies’ contribution, stating, “Downforce has successfully introduced a compelling software platform which should act as a catalyst for increased investment in soil organic carbon globally, and particularly in Africa, to ensure food security, promote climate mitigation, and ensure resilience to climate change.”
This investment in Downforce Technologies highlights the growing recognition of the importance of soil health in addressing global food security and climate change challenges.