Equinom produces non-GMO technology-based nutritious seeds and legumes with high protein content
Image: Equinom’s workforce. (Credit: Equinom, Ltd.)
Equinom, an Israeli seed breeding technology startup, has secured $10m in Series B funding, led by BASF Venture Capital, to speed up seed breeding capabilities.
Roquette, Trendlines Group and Equinom’s existing investor Fortissimo Capital have also participated in the funding round.
Equinom claims that its non-GMO technology can help in designing smart seeds through fast-track, technology-driven breeding methodology harnesses natural genetic variation in plants.
By using a new business model, Equinom aims to support the whole supply chain, while collaborating with top-tier food companies to bring products to consumers.
Equinon seeds are more nutritious than commercial varieties
The smart seeds produced by Equinon are touted to be more nutritious than traditional commercial varieties. The protein and oil content in the seeds is also claimed to be among the highest in the market.
The company had achieved such characteristics and organoleptic properties by combining sensory technologies with high-throughput protein analysis systems.
Equinom CEO Gil Shalev said: “This investment round has been highly successful and combines financial investors as well as strategic investors, as well as VCs from multiple regions around the world.
“It will accelerate Equinom’s expansion globally and allow us to build talent and infrastructure to better serve our clients locally. Already, we have enjoyed phenomenal sales growth across four continents in 2019.”
Shalev continued saying: “We also plan to launch our high-protein pea variety in 2021. Equinom will continue working with plant-based food ingredients and food companies to help create tasty, ‘cleaner’ plant-based applications.
“We already have clients producing products with our smart grains, which provide higher quality, improved nutritional values, and lower production costs.”