Arborea poised to redefine protein production with £4.1m funding

Arborea, a climate technology startup, has successfully raised £4.1 million in a funding round to advance its innovative Biosolar Leaf system. This fundraising effort was led by Indico Capital Partners and supported by Banco Portugus de Fomento. With operations in London and Portugal, Arborea plans to use the capital to establish its first commercial-scale protein production facility. The company, founded by Julian Melchiorri, aims to revolutionize the production of protein through an industrialisation of photosynthesis, using sunlight and carbon dioxide to cultivate micro-plants like marine microalgae. This method is said to produce more protein per unit area than traditional agriculture while sequestering carbon, addressing critical challenges like food security and climate change. The system also claims significant resource efficiency, using much less water compared to conventional agricultural practices. Arborea envisions its technology meeting global protein demands with minimal land use, marking a significant step forward in sustainable food production.