Eindhoven-based startup Vitalfluid has raised €17.2 million to develop more sustainable ways to protect crops. The company helps growers use plasma technology as a natural alternative to chemical fungicides.

Vitalfluid’s technology is designed to protect crops without leaving harmful chemical residues. The startup wants to make this approach available to growers around the world.

The funding round was co-led by Invest-NL and Alder Tree Investments. Existing investors including Horticoop, BOM, Future Food Fund, Graduate Ventures, Innovation Industries, VDL Groep and Goeie Grutten Impact Fonds also participated.

The round includes a €2.7 million innovation credit from RVO. Invest-NL contributed €4 million to the funding. Vitalfluid will use the new investment to speed up the global development and adoption of its sustainable crop protection technology.

Erik Hertel, CEO of VitalFluid, explained, “This investment confirms the potential of our technology to make a fundamental contribution to a more sustainable and future-proof food system. It allows us to accelerate our commercial rollout and give more growers access to an effective alternative to chemical crop protection.”

Vitalfluid was founded in 2014 by Paul Leenders and Polo van Ooij. The company started as a spin-out from Eindhoven University of Technology and focuses on developing Plasma Activated Water (PAW) for agriculture.

PAW is designed to provide farmers with a more sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides and fertilisers. The company says demand for such solutions is growing because of stricter regulations, increasing resistance to chemicals, and concerns about biodiversity, water quality and chemical residues in food.

Vitalfluid uses water, air and electricity to produce Plasma Activated Water, which can help improve plant health. The idea is inspired by thunderstorms, where lightning naturally triggers similar processes in water. The company describes its technology as “lightning in a box.”

By producing PAW directly on farms, Vitalfluid aims to offer a natural and sustainable alternative to traditional crop protection products. The company says its technology has shown that it can be safe, effective and scalable for vegetable farming without harmful side effects.

Daan Meijer and Florentine Beelaerts van Blokland, investment team at Invest-NL, said, “With this investment, Invest-NL supports a company that contributes to the structural sustainability of agriculture. In this way, we help create a more future-proof food system.”

Vitalfluid will use the new funding to grow its business in the UK and expand into the US market.

The company also plans to bring its technology to more crops, including strawberries, apples, and grapes.