Elaniti secures funding to accelerate soil microbiome intelligence

• Round closed with participation from biotopeby VIB, Planetary Impact Ventures and PINC

• Company to accelerate development of digital tools for agribusiness and R&D efforts 

UK agritech startup Elaniti has closed its recent funding round with participation from early-stage biotech investor biotopeby VIB, Planetary Impact Ventures and Paulig Group's CVC arm, PINC. 

The investment marks a significant milestone in the company's plans to accelerate the development of its flagship product - a soon-to-launch digital decision support tool for agribusinesses that uses AI and DNA sequencing to decode the microbial composition of soil, enabling farmers to optimise productivity in both the short term and long term while reducing reliance on synthetic inputs.

The latest round contributes to previous non-dilutive funding received by the company in January 2025 from Innovate UK, bringing the total amount raised to €1.5M.

Soil intelligence for a sustainable future

Elaniti's breakthrough technology addresses a critical knowledge gap in agriculture. While soil chemical and physical properties are often measured, biological activity—the microbes driving soil health and crop outcomes—remains largely unknown. By linking microbial data to agronomic performance like yield and disease pressure, Elaniti provides farmers with actionable insights to improve productivity while building healthier, more resilient soils. Resilient soils have always been important, but will be even more so in times of geopolitical uncertainty where more countries want to be self-sufficient.

Scott Jarrett, Elaniti CEO, said: "Soil is the foundation of our food system, but modern agriculture has strained its health. The soil microbiome holds the key to restoring fertility, resilience, and reducing reliance on synthetic inputs. By unlocking its potential, we can help farmers produce food sustainably while regenerating the land for future generations."

Biotope's strategic investment

"At biotope, we invest in pioneering biotech startups that address key sustainability challenges. Elaniti perfectly fits within our mission, as their work enables the transition to regenerative practices," said Annick Verween, Head of biotope. "Their technology holds significant potential for improving soil health while ensuring economic viability for farmers. Our biotech ecosystem will help accelerate their development through expertise, partners, and access to early adopters."

Industry backing and investor confidence

Planetary Impact Ventures and PINC have also joined this round, recognising Elaniti's potential to drive systemic change in agriculture.

"We urgently need to understand soil microbiomes to transition towards regenerative farming. Elaniti's ability to decode this complexity and translate it into practical guidance for farmers makes them a key player in this shift," said Mikkel Lehmann, Board Member at Elaniti and investor at Planetary Impact Ventures. "We believe these insights will play a fundamental role in reducing pesticide usage and improving soil stewardship globally."

PINC, the venture arm of Paulig, emphasised the relevance of Elaniti's work for sustainable food production.

"Elaniti's traction demonstrates that they are tackling a crucial challenge in agriculture. We are impressed by their ability to generate revenue from day one and by their courage to take on a highly technical and disruptive field," said Rosemari Herrero, Senior Investment Manager at PINC. 

Scaling up for impact

With this investment, Elaniti will strengthen its team and expand its research efforts to accelerate the launch of its predictive analytics platform. The company continues to forge partnerships with agribusiness leaders, ensuring its insights are actionable and validated in real-world conditions.