French ag-biotechnology startup Toopi Organics has secured €8.4 million in funding for its innovative approach to agriculture, which involves the valorization of human urine into agricultural bio-solutions. The EIC Accelerator, Europe's flagship innovation program for deep tech startups funded the round; it comprises a €2.4 million non-dilutive grant and €6 million in equity, set to be invested in 2025.
This financial boost comes on the heels of the larger €16 million ($17.2 million) raised in September of this year. The funding round was led by the international fund VisVires New Protein, with notable participation from European impact funds like Edaphon, Noshaq, MAIF Impact, and BNP Paribas Dévelopment.
Toopi Organics aims to address a critical issue in EU agriculture, which remains heavily reliant on fertilizer imports and faces challenges such as drought. Annually, a staggering 200 billion liters of urine are flushed away with over 6 trillion liters of drinking water in EU toilets. Toopi Organics' innovative approach seeks to upcycle this vast quantity of urine. In 2023, the company launched its first product based on human urine fermentation in France and Belgium, an organic and low-carbon solution.
One of their notable products is Lactopi Start™, launched in France and Europe, and recognized as the world's first urine-sourced biofertilizer. This launch highlights Toopi Organics' commitment to developing sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural solutions. The company, certified by the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, is at the forefront of transforming and valorizing human urine into practical and eco-friendly agricultural products.
The success and innovation of Toopi Organics in securing such funding and launching unique products represent a significant step towards sustainable agriculture and resource management. This endeavor not only offers a novel solution to the challenge of fertilizer dependency in Europe but also contributes to the broader goal of ecological sustainability and efficient resource utilization.