Aqua-Yield Announces $23 Million Series A Funding Round

Award-winning nanoliquid technology company delivers environmentally sustainable solutions to reduce fertilizer and crop protectant inputs while improving farmers' profits

SANDY, Utah, Sept. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aqua-Yield, the leading nanoliquid company for agricultural production worldwide, today announced the close of its Series A investment round of $23M. The round was led by the Larry H. Miller Company (the LHM Company) with participation from Penny Newman Grain Company and San Leonardo. The company will leverage the funding to accelerate the global adoption of its nanoliquid solutions.

Aqua-Yield offers a technology unlike anything else in the market, having created its own segment in the world of crop inputs. The company's award-winning nanoliquid solutions leverage sophisticated nanoparticles to make liquid agricultural products more effective at plant absorption and dramatically increase crop-yield and profits for farmers while enhancing the sustainability of the soil.

"Since 2014, the Aqua-Yield team has developed a robust patent platform. We sustainably grow profits by solving plant absorption problems and have helped thousands of growers reduce their synthetic fertilizer and crop protection inputs by 25-50 percent," said Clark T. Bell, Aqua-Yield CEO and co-founder. "The patented nano-based technology acts as a catalyst to traditional liquid agricultural fertilizers and crop protection products. This tech works with all traditional ag inputs by enhancing plant absorption of nutrients and efficacy of crop protectants. With our suite of 16 commercially available products we have an answer for nearly every crop."

"Since the beginning of the global pandemic our company has doubled in size year-over-year," added Clark. "Nanoliquid technology enables growers to stretch their ag inputs. This has been key to growth as the agribusiness industry faces supply chain struggles, product availability, and the current environmental strains that will continue to play a key role in the future."

The company's solutions work for farms of all sizes and in all regions of the United States, and is currently used on four million acres of farms, and in more than nine countries. Between 2014 and 2021, the company conducted more than 750 field trials that resulted in an average 3:1 return on investment for growers. Since 2014, Aqua-Yield's solution has reduced farmers' use of micronutrients by up to 80 percent and use of macronutrients by up to 50 percent by minimizing fertilizer and chemical applications and increasing nutrient uptake, germination rates, crop yields, and growth cycles.

"Aqua-Yield makes synthetic fertilizers and chemicals more efficient, increasing nutrient uptake and decreasing synthetic fertilizer use, resulting in more environmentally efficient and profitable farms," said David Smith, the LHM Company's chief strategy officer. "Stewardship is a core value at the Larry H. Miller Company, and we see this investment as an opportunity to improve methods that feed our planet in a more sustainable and responsible manner."

"As an original investor in Aqua-Yield, I've been impressed with how the executive team has bootstrapped and grown the company in an holistic way," said Fraser Bullock, founding partner and member of  the board of Aqua-Yield. "The capital from our Series A will allow us to expand our commercial team globally and establish a strategic international footprint."

In addition, Aqua-Yield will announce additional follow-on capital from a leading agriculture investor in the Fourth Quarter of 2022. For more information about Aqua-Yield's technology, products and solutions, visit www.aquayield.com/products.

With the recent news of becoming a USDA and EPA Winner of the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge, retailers and growers alike are encouraged by the benefits of Aqua-Yield® Nanoliquid® products have to offer, especially during this time of economic turmoil. Aqua-Yield offers a technology unlike anything else on the market, having created its own segment in the world of inputs. The ag industry is starting to take notice of this technology company out of Utah that recommends just 2-6 oz of its liquid technology per acre. Backed by several Universities, 3rd party trials, and several years of testing by its technical team, Aqua-Yield has given their customers across the country, and across the world, the solutions they've been looking for. From stressed out crops, to the unconquered weed problems, to the lack of nutrient availability, or just to helping maintain healthier soil. Aqua-Yield is solving big problems while being affordable, flexible, and clean. For more information about the company and its solutions, visit www.aquayield.com.

Headquartered in Sandy, Utah, the Larry H. Miller Company (the LHM Company) is a privately-owned business with operations located mainly across the western United States. As a portfolio of companies and investments, the LHM Company's focus falls within the primary categories of real estate, health care, finance, entertainment, sports, and long-term strategy and investments, as well as philanthropy. For more information about the Larry H. Miller Company, visit www.lhm.com.

Penny Newman Grain is one of the largest merchandizers of grain and feed ingredients in the Western United States.  Its youngest division, Farm Products, offers a portfolio of best-in-class crop input technologies that facilitate the reduction in chemical fertilizers and crop protection products while maximizing yield potential, with the goal of fostering a more regenerative production paradigm at scale.  Additional information on Penny Newman Grain may be found at www.penny-newman.com.

San Leonardo is an investment affiliate of the John and Katie Hansen Family Foundation, which was established in 2006 and is active in seeking creative, leverageable solutions for global sustainability and conservation challenges. Since inception the Foundation has been led by Katie Vogelheim, a seasoned management executive with experience in a broad range of businesses around the world.

SOURCE Aqua-Yield