As Emilien Rottiers, crop manager at Domaine de Graux, explains, frigid temperatures, less sunlight, and winter conditions bring challenges for farm management. But winter has its purpose. Snowpack that accumulates in distant elevations becomes a reservoir of reliable moisture for fields below and a source of surface and groundwater recharge as temperatures warm. Freeze-thaw cycles weather rock and help form soil. Cold temperatures regulate pest populations, disrupt disease and parasite cycles, and prevent the spread of invasive species. Orchard trees and many other plants require vernalization to break bud dormancy, bloom in spring, and produce fruit.
Winter’s harshness is essential for building adaptation and resilience, and for bearing fruit. In this deepest part of winter, we pause and celebrate the similar ways our portfolio and foundation partners meet challenging seasons, adapt, and together grow a more resilient food system.
The Nest at RFSI
The Nest team will be attending RFSI Europe, 4-5 March, at the Maison de la Poste in Brussels. Anouk Schoors and Hallie Fox will be hosting a breakout discussion on 4 March, “Lessons Learned While Building a Systems-Based Investment Portfolio.” Register for RFSI Europe with the code THENEST10 to receive 10 percent off registration.
RFSI hosted a webinar on 4 February, “How Investors Are Evaluating the Regenerative Agriculture Opportunity.” The Nest’s Hallie Fox was a featured panel member for the free event, which covered how investors evaluate regenerative strategies, including the trade-offs across risk, return, and long-term resilience. Register to watch the webinar on demand here.
From the Farm
January’s Domaine de Graux blog post, noted above, features our farmer, Emilien. The post provides insight on how winter crops, cover crops, grazing and ecosystem thinking support long-term farm viability. Emilien shares his reflections on the importance of using the quiet of winter to refine skills, evaluate the farm’s economic model and prepare experiments for the next growing season. Those reflections can also be seen in a photo gallery shared by Domaine de Graux with images from 2025, and all the happenings at the farm.
Domaine de Graux recently sold 640 bunches of purslane to organic grocery stores this week through our recent collaboration with Biofresh Belgium. This strategy provides a mix of sales channels, local and regional, small and large, which supports the farm’s ability to thrive as an agro-ecological operation.
Food as Medicine Foundation launches new call for projects
Following a successful first call, the Food as Medicine Foundation is launching a new project call to support initiatives in Belgium that engage children aged 0–12 with healthy and sustainable food in an accessible, hands-on way.
The call is open to non-profit organisations working on food awareness and/or food access, contributing to a more sustainable food system. Special attention is given to projects that take a systemic approach, involving multiple actors such as schools, local farmers, kitchens, associations, public authorities and other partners.
The aim is to support solutions that are sustainable, context-driven and scalable - going beyond financial support to foster knowledge sharing, collaboration and long-term impact.
The call will be published on 23/02 on the Food as Medicine Foundation website.
Portfolio News
Ardo
Ardo shared a reflection of the past year, 2025 through the lens of Ardo.
Agricarbon
Agricarbon provided the soil carbon quantification for the eAgronom Sustainable Farming in Central and Eastern Europe soil carbon project, which achieved Verra VM0042 verification. The achievement reflects the potential for growth for carbon removal standards in EU carbon markets.
Antler Bio
University of Nottingham’s School of Veterinary Science posted an opening for a fully funded pHD position in partnership with Antler Bio. The UK-based pHD candidate will evaluate and enhance the user experience and real-world impact of the Epiherd digital platform for dairy cow health and welfare.
Epiherd was recently shortlisted for the Royal Dairy Innovation Award 2026, to be announced at Dairy-Tech February 4.
Atomo Coffee
Atomo Coffee’s “recipe to revenue” story was recently featured in a podcast by Sinuate Media, an article in The Movement Report, and Atomo was also featured in Startup Savant’s 12 Coffee Startups to Follow in 2026.
Edacious
The latest case study from the Edacious partnership with the Regenerative Organic Alliance shows significant nutritional differences in broccoli powder from Pocono Organics compared to conventionally grown broccoli powder. Key differences for the regenerative product included nearly 5x protein, and 4x for key micronutrients and minerals with no traces of heavy metals.
Quick Organics
Quick Organics shared milestones for 2025 including their launch of the Common Organic System Plan (OSP), an effort in collaboration with multiple certifiers that supports the organic sector’s industry-wide move to a standardized OSP. In 2025, Quick Organics surpassed 200 active users and expanded partnerships covering nearly a third of the U.S. certified organic market while receiving rave reviews from certifiers.
ReelData
ReelData will deploy its AI-based biomass measurement system at commercial scale in a freshwater hatchery in a multi-year agreement with Chilean salmon producer Invermar.
Steward
Steward successfully funded two loans in January, $1.2M to Cottonwood Farms to expanding operations and regeneratively-managed pastureland in New York, and $2.1M to Missouri-based McKaskle Family Farm to purchase the 2025 rice harvest they will mill and deliver to restaurants and families throughout the coming year.
Portfolio Funds
AgFunder
The latest posts from AgFunder include:
- Planetary health 101: what it is, why it matters for the future of the global economy
- The most impactful AI in farming ‘will not feel revolutionary,’ says Phospholutions boss. It will feel ‘dependable’
- Planetary explores collaboration to unlock low-cost mycoprotein production in India
biotope by VIB
Lore de Valck, Program Manager for biotope, shared 2026 projections with Climate Hack. Her top biotechnologies to watch: biomining to reduce chemical use and energy consumption, encapsulation for bioactives for next-generation agriculture inputs, and synbio for construction materials like self-healing concrete.
The biotope team and their portfolio were also featured across media:
- Annick Verween shared her 2026 outlook for the food and agriculture sector with vegconomist.
- Wendy Ossieur, CEO of Shelfion, was featured on the Invest in Ghent podcast.
Startup Bootcamp Applications Open
Want to be part of the next biotope startup bootcamp? Applications opened on 1 February and are available until 28 February at midnight CET.
Consider applying if you are an innovative planetary health biotech startups from all backgrounds and geographies who:
- have a unique, biotech-based solution to a clearly articulated and quantified problem (TRL 3-5)
- preferably have (pending) IP
- need a dedicated biotech support network to build a benchmarked proof-of-concept
- have a team of two or more committed co-founders
- Based in Europe, Africa, Asia or Latin America
- can get ready for the next funding round with an early-stage ticket of €350k and bespoke support
Blume Equity
Blume Equity’s January post, “Climate Investing Grew Up: What Comes After the Hype Cycle,” looks at Climate Investing 3.0, beyond energy and transportation, where efficiency, resilience, and adaptation affect every sector.
Additionally, Blume Equity’s portfolio company Aerones earned a spot on the Tech Tour Growth50 Europe 2025 list.
Buoyant Ventures
Buoyant co-led SkyFi's oversubscribed $12.7M Series A with IronGate Capital Advisors. Learn why Buoyant invested in SkyFi’s platform that delivers access to earth observation data. Buoyant also welcomed partnership with MassMutual Ventures and their investment in HData.
This month, Buoyant’s team takes a look back with a review of their 2025 predictions and a look ahead with their 2026 Outlook covering trends for energy, AI, and the risk exposure of geopolitics and trade.
Omnivore
Omnivore announced they joined Impact Capital Managers (ICM) network, a group focused on strengthening standards and credibility across the impact capital ecosystem. This month, Akshay Datt interviewed Omnivore’s Mark Kahn for the Founder Thesis podcast.
Omnivore’s news for January covers Arya.ag which raised $80.58 Mn (about INR 725 Cr) in its Series D round, plus updates on biochar and biofertilizer:
- How Arya.ag Made Agri Credit Profitable By Owning The-Post Harvest Layer
- Even as global crop prices fall, India’s Arya.ag is attracting investors — and staying profitable
- Varaha signs major offtake agreement with Microsoft for biochar carbon removal in India
- Bioprime AgriSolutions begins exporting biofertilizer, biocontrol products
Pymwymic
If you missed Groundswell in 2025, Pymwymic shared recordings of Maarten van Dam’s conversation on how AI is transforming agriculture, available on Spotify and YouTube. Pymwymic announced two promotions in January, Sophie Pickering, Associate Partner and Marleen Blanson Henkemans, Manager.
Synthesis Capital
Synthesis Capital shared a recap of their Synthesis Fund I portfolio milestones from 2025, with commercial partnerships and AI noted as key themes.
Food as Medicine Foundation
Our Food as Medicine Foundation first project call for 2026, “Food Heroes Wanted!” received over 63 submissions. Selected projects may receive a grant of up to €1,000 to bring their idea to life. The Foundation will issue a second project call at the end of February 2026. The second call will be dedicated to changemakers – education professionals, who initiate innovative projects within their schools.
Eat More Trees
We’re applauding the premiere of the Eat More Trees documentary, a work three years in the making. The film opened - and won the audience award - at the prestigious Ostend Film Festival on 1 February, celebrating by giving away hundreds of medlar trees, sponsored by Sylva Nurseries.
Farm for Good
Twenty restaurants in Brussels are participating in Farm for Good’s "Let Eat Stew" initiative, which increases local sourcing of less used meat cuts, reducing waste and supporting regional farms.
Seaweed Insights
The latest Seaweed Insights report has been published. This edition looks at Central America and the Caribbean where there is an emerging, but geographically concentrated activity, with Saint Lucia consistently producing 50-60% of the harvest.
Top 50 Farmers
Top 50 Farmers has recruited their Selection Committee for the 2026 Farmer Cohort. The committee’s expertise spans fields from agronomy to entrepreneurship. The 2026 cohort will be announced on 17 March, 2026. Register here for the Online Recognition Ceremony.
Pro-Noot
This month we highlight another current project at Pro-Noot, Reforest: Agroforestry at the Forefront of Farming Sustainably in Multifunctional Landscapes in Europe. The project aims to promote agroforestry and sustainable food production by incorporating the value of carbon and biodiversity into agricultural business models. Learn more about the project through the demonstration site inagro.
Opportunities
- Ardo is hiring for 44 job roles including Regional Supplier Assurance Officer and IT Project Manager.
- Monarch Tractor is hiring for a Staff Controls Engineer.
- ReelData is hiring for a Controller with experience in technology, SaaS, or manufacturing environments.
- Walden Mutual Bank is hiring for a VP Information Technology.
- Zymofix is hiring for a Fermentation Technician.
- AgFunder’s portfolio is hiring for a wide range of roles including AI Researcher and Senior Product Designer.
- Buoyant Venture posted 33 job opportunities, with several roles at their portfolio company, Ocient.
- Omnivore’s portfolio posted a remarkable 266 job opportunities with senior roles in engineering and biotech.