Cleantech innovator Nitricity has raised $50 million in Series B funding to scale its breakthrough organic fertilizer technology. The company’s mission is to transform how nitrogen fertilizer is produced and used, addressing a significant source of global greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation.

Founded in 2018 by a team of Stanford researchers, Nitricity has developed a proprietary method for producing low-emission nitrogen fertilizers using a combination of air, water, renewable energy, and agricultural waste such as almond shells. The company’s flagship product, “Ash Tea,” is designed to replace conventional fertilizers with a cleaner, cost-effective, and scalable alternative that supports sustainable agriculture.

Tackling Fertilizer Emissions with Innovation

Nitrogen fertilizer is essential for global food production, yet its manufacturing and use account for around five percent of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Traditional fertilizers also contribute to soil acidification, waterway contamination, and biodiversity loss.

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Nitricity's solution offers a new path. By leveraging renewable electricity and agricultural by-products, the company is able to produce nitrogen fertilizers with 92 percent lower emissions than conventional methods. In addition to its sustainability credentials, the Ash Tea product is designed for practical deployment in the field. As a liquid fertilizer, it flows easily through irrigation systems without clogging, supports efficient nutrient absorption by crops, and is free from pathogens or animal-based inputs.

Major Expansion Plans Begin with California Facility

The funding round arrives at a pivotal moment for Nitricity, which is preparing to break ground on a new production facility in Delhi, California. This site, scheduled to be operational by 2026, will mark a one-hundredfold increase in the company’s production capacity. Nitricity has already secured binding offtake agreements for the plant’s entire output through 2028, underscoring strong demand from organic growers in California and beyond.

CEO and co-founder Dr Nicolas Pinkowski described the investment as a major turning point for the company. He emphasised Nitricity’s dual expansion strategy, which involves both ramping up production in the United States and entering the European market, where regulatory support and demand for organic solutions are accelerating rapidly.

“The European market for our organic fertilizer is even larger than in the US,” said Dr Pinkowski. “Governments across Europe are actively pursuing resilient and circular agricultural economies, and Nitricity is well-positioned to be part of that shift.”

World Fund Leads Climate-Focused Investment

The Series B round was led by World Fund, one of Europe’s leading climate-focused venture capital firms, alongside returning backer Khosla Ventures. Other participants include Chipotle’s Cultivate Next fund, Change Forces, Susquehanna Sustainable Investments, Energy Impact Partners, and Fine Structure Ventures.

Dr Nadine Geiser, Principal at World Fund, said the decision to invest was based on both Nitricity’s impressive emissions reduction performance and its commercial readiness. She noted that Nitricity offers a rare combination of sustainability, scalability, and cost competitiveness, which aligns strongly with Europe's agricultural decarbonisation goals.

“Our analysis shows that Nitricity’s solution can reduce emissions by more than 90 percent while remaining affordable for growers,” said Dr Geiser. “As Europe intensifies its focus on sustainability in agriculture, we expect Nitricity to play a leading role in this transition.”

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Building a Sustainable Fertilizer Ecosystem

Looking ahead, Nitricity plans to use the newly raised capital to expand its team, invest in research and development, and lay the groundwork for European deployment. The company is also focused on enhancing product efficiency, reducing input costs, and developing regional production models that make use of local renewable energy and biomass feedstocks.

As the agricultural sector faces growing pressure to reduce emissions and adopt regenerative practices, Nitricity’s model represents a compelling blueprint for the future. By decoupling fertilizer production from fossil fuels and anchoring it in local, circular systems, the company is addressing both climate and food security challenges at scale.

With strong investor backing and a growing pipeline of customers, Nitricity appears poised to become a defining player in the global shift toward sustainable farming.

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