AgroSpheres' Journey: From Campus Concept to $37M in Funding, Joining Forces with FMC and BASF, Leading Sustainable Agriculture with AgriCell Technology

Editor’s Note: ″2024 has been a year of milestones and momentum. AgroSpheres earned regulatory approval for AgriCell and our first biofungicide with a commercial partner. AgroSpheres announced major partnerships with FMC and BASF and closed our Series B round with $37M in funding,″ said Payam Pourtaheri, CoFounder and CEO of AgroSpheres in a recent interview with AgroPages.

In this interview, we delve into a comprehensive conversation with Payam Pourtaheri, CoFounder and CEO of AgroSpheres and Ameer Shakeel, CoFounder and CTO of AgroSpheres, to explore the company's innovative journey and future blueprint in the field of agricultural biotechnology. Starting from the campus of the University of Virginia, AgroSpheres has created a comprehensive biomodality platform with a range of active ingredients and products in the works, injecting strong momentum into the sustainable development of global agriculture. 

During the interview, the two founders elaborate on the company's core strengths, technological features, market strategies, as well as the challenges faced and solutions adopted, allowing us to clearly see how AgroSpheres stands out in the competitive agricultural biotechnology sector and leads industry transformation. Looking ahead, the company’s vision and solid planning  make us even more confident in its potential to promote the green transformation of agriculture and achieve efficient and ecological agriculture.

Payam Pourtaheri CoFounder and CEO of AgroSpheres	Ameer Shakeel   CoFounder and CTO of AgroSpheres

AgroPages: Can you briefly introduce AgroSpheres and its development history? In your opinion, what competitive advantages does AgroSpheres possess compared to other companies offering similar solutions?

Payam Pourtaheri: AgroSpheres started at the University of Virginia, where Ameer and I first met while studying biomedical engineering. We were both really concerned about the impact of pesticides, especially in places where protective measures just weren’t enough. That led us to develop a spray designed to break down these chemicals. Talking to industry experts and hearing directly from local vineyard growers really opened our eyes to the challenges of global food production. It also showed us how much farmers need better tools to reduce their reliance on chemicals.

Today, AgroSpheres is built on that practical understanding. We’ve created a comprehensive biomodality platform with a range of active ingredients and products in the works. What sets us apart really comes down to three things. First, we’re vertically integrated, handling everything from product development to manufacturing in-house. Second, we have a strong product pipeline backed by significant intellectual property, and we’re gearing up to launch a biofungicide in 2025. Third, we’ve built solid partnerships with major industry players who trust us because we collaborate well and deliver on our promises. This combination is what gives us our edge.

AgroPages: Can you describe in detail AgroSpheres' novel platform technology system and its development and application process? What are its unique features and advantages?

AgroSpheres has created a fermentation-based manufacturing and delivery technology that makes biomolecules work as sprayable biocontrols. For example, with the Fall Armyworm—a multi-billion-dollar global pest problem—our AgriCell technology helps biomolecules penetrate the pest’s gut, reach the target site, and kill it quickly.

AgriCell is the first and only technology enabling this level of performance, thanks to several key features. Its streamlined production process allows for one-step manufacturing and encapsulation, improving both efficiency and results. The technology enhances biomolecule delivery, making them sprayable, stable in the field, and capable of reaching the target site. AgriCell also supports dual modes of action by combining RNAs and proteins, providing stronger pest control and improved resistance management. Its patented, proprietary, and biodegradable design ensures farmers have access to reliable, eco-friendly solutions on a global scale.

AgroPages: As you wrap up 2024 and look to 2025 and beyond, how do you think AgroSpheres' technology will transform the crop protection industry? What are the future development plans of AgroSpheres?

Payam Pourtaheri: 2024 has been a year of milestones and momentum. We earned regulatory approval for AgriCell and our first biofungicide with a commercial partner. We announced major partnerships with FMC and BASF and closed our Series B round with $37M in funding. Looking into 2025, we are ready for major expansion, which means more milestones and momentum. We plan to have a highly effective biofungicide commercially available. Our new manufacturing facility is on track for commercial production launch in 2025. These manufacturing facilities will accelerate the capabilities of our biomodality platform and enable access to a greater array of partners and markets globally. In the long run, we plan to be a leader in bridging agriculture from current practices to a more sustainable future.

AgroPages: What are your target markets and target clients? Are there any specific standards and requirements in choosing partners?

Ameer Shakeel: Our target market is farmers seeking to achieve strong, reliable and affordable field performance with less environmental impact. In terms of partners, we work with companies who are well-positioned to deliver products farmers will actually use, so distribution capacity is a keen focus for us right now. We find the best partnerships with companies who lean heavily into R&D, invest in innovation, are committed to performance and want to positively augment their business model with biological products.  We find there are benefits on both sides to our best collaborations. We can help accelerate their innovation and de-risk their R&D. And on our side, we gain access to high through-put testing and a commercialization pipeline.  

AgroPages: What are the most significant challenges currently faced in developing and commercializing relevant products based on the novel delivery system? How does AgroSpheres contribute to overcoming these challenges?

Ameer Shakeel: The gap between the market demand for biological solutions and the dominance of chemical solutions highlights both the challenge and the opportunity. Reliable biocontrols that can fully replace chemicals are still rare, so that is the space we are keenly focused on. 

Field efficacy is a top priority, and we address it by identifying potent biomolecules, stabilizing them, and ensuring effective delivery in the field. Manufacturing cost is another critical hurdle, which is why we invested in owning and expanding our manufacturing capabilities. This decision has allowed us to achieve best-in-class COGS and build deep expertise.

Registration timelines, though competitive for biological solutions, can be tough for emerging companies waiting up to two years for product launch. We have worked closely with the EPA to minimize delays and partner with larger companies to help bridge that gap. Lastly, market access is a challenge in a crowded, highly consolidated farmgate. To maximize reach, we strategically partner with distributors and corporate players for commercial launches.

AgroPages: You're developing your own biopesticide products in addition to partnering with other companies. How do you balance those two strategies?

Payam Pourtaheri: We partner with companies that have strong distribution networks and a commitment to R&D, innovation, and performance, ensuring farmers get products they’ll actually use while integrating biological solutions into existing models. We offer end-to-end product development through our proprietary platform, using our active ingredient library to manufacture and develop products. These are then either launched with distribution partners or licensed to strategic partners.

Partnerships fall into two categories: licensing our products for development and launch or combining our technology with a partner’s active ingredient. Partner contributions can range from providing molecule data to supplying commercial formulations, while our role spans encapsulation to full-scale manufacturing.

Whether developing in-house or collaborating, our goal remains the same: delivering AgroSpheres’ innovative solutions to farmers.

AgroPages: AgroSpheres raised significant funding in recent years. What is the appeal of AgroSpheres to investors? What are your top priorities for using that funding to advance the company?

Payam Pourtaheri: We are honored to have deeply knowledgeable investors, advisors and board members who are helping us build and execute on a novel biotechnology enabled business strategy applied to Agriculture.  Zebra Impact Ventures, Lewis and Clark, Ospraie Ag Science, BIDRA and Cavallo Ventures have been valuable partners. 

We are also especially grateful for the support and board counsel from Dr. Robert Fraley, considered the father of ag biotech, and mentorship from Craig Mello, who won a Nobel for his work pioneering RNAi. Our backers believe AgroSpheres has credibly demonstrated breakthrough technology that can revolutionize agriculture. Perhaps more importantly, we value their tough questions and suggestions more than their praise. 

Ameer Shakeel: One special investor we have is the state of Virginia, who partnered with us to support the building of our manufacturing facility. Having a press conference with the Governor announcing their grant and seeing our home State excited about AgroSpheres leading the way in agtech was a great moment for our team. From a long-term perspective, there is a real opportunity to build a biological solutions company that competes with the traditional synthetic chemistry companies both at the farmgate and at the stock market. AgroSpheres is poised to build a global investor base to achieve remarkable growth. 

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