Agreena is unlocking the power of soil carbon removals and natural capital to help farmers finance their transition to regenerative agriculture.

The agricultural industry is vital for sustaining a global population, but it’s also responsible for more than a quarter of all global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

By shifting to regenerative agriculture, farmers can turn their land into carbon sinks by actively removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the soil. This approach not only addresses environmental concerns but also promises increased long-term yields and improved soil health.

However, switching to regenerative agriculture incurs costs for farmers due to new farming practices. With low profit margins and limited room to invest, due to factors such as price volatility and increased input costs, the transition to regenerative agriculture is a financial risk for more farmers.

The soil-carbon solution

Agreena’s soil carbon programme provides a solution that delivers for farmers, food, nature and our climate.

Farmers in the AgreenaCarbon programme transition to regenerative agriculture by reducing tillage, using organic fertilisers, and optimising cover crops and residue management. With a methodology aligned to IPCC guidelines and leading international voluntary carbon market standards, Agreena leverages cutting-edge science and technology, coupled with soil sampling and field data, to measure, report and verify GHG reductions and CO₂ removals.

Agreena’s internationally accredited and third-party validated programme then issues verified, nature-based, carbon credits which can be sold on the voluntary carbon market. This provides a vital income stream for farmers and high-integrity carbon credits for companies wishing to support farmers’ green transition while reaching their own ESG goals.

A soil-carbon programme that is delivering for farmers, soils and climate

A two million hectare impact
More than 1,000 European farmers have joined the AgreenaCarbon platform and over two million hectares of farmland is now transitioning to regenerative agriculture. The first two annual carbon harvests of the programme have resulted in more than 600,000 tonnes of GHG removals, and millions of euros paid out to participating farmers.

Agreena’s soil carbon programme is sowing the seeds of sustainable change in agriculture – combating climate change and strengthening the resilience of our food systems.

Automating processes to make employees switch from performing manual work to operating a robot will result in a better working environment and more attractive to new generations of operators to the industry. 

Slaughterhouse work is physically demanding and monotonous repetitive work performed at a fast pace is one of the major causes of occupational ill health such as osteoarthritis, back problems and muscle injuries. 

Every week, more than 30,000 pigs are slaughtered at Danish Crown in Ringsted, with approximately 800 employees cutting, pushing, lifting and packing from morning to afternoon as part of a highly efficient process. Therefore, the industry is currently working on improving occupational health and safety at the slaughterhouses. 

Let the robot do the heavy job 

Meat Mover is a robot equipped with a vacuum gripper with a suction cup and a vision system that can instantly provide the robot with images of the product, enabling it to achieve optimum grip when picking up the product. The robot can be installed in different parts of the production line at Danish Crown in Ringsted the robot is located at the end of a conveyor belt in the packing area, where it is surrounded by a safety net.  

The Meat Mover is one of the first in a series of a new generation of automatic systems based on industrial robots designed for this type of task. It was developed for Danish Crown by Danish Meat Research Institute, a part of the Danish Technological Institute.  

Performs the lifting work of five employees 

Meat Mover saves slaughterhouse operators at Danish Crown in Ringsted from having to lift thousands of kilos of meat every day. Specially trained service operators ensure that the robot is operational during the entire production process.  

Every hour, the fully automatic robot lifts up to 1,500 packed meat products such as pork loin and belly off the conveyor belt and places them in a box, which is then removed by an operator. 

Before, five operators would take it in turns every day to stand and pack the products. Now the robot has taken over the lifting work performed by five employees. 

To make water usage in agriculture more sustainable, SoilSense has developed a soil sensor system that provides real-time insights on how to manage irrigation intelligently across all crops.

 Water scarcity is an increasing problem on every continent. By 2025 more than half of the global population may be residing in water-scarce regions. Agriculture is the largest consumer of water globally, accounting for 72% of freshwater used.

This calls for action to optimize our irrigation systems so water is used more intelligently. While over-irrigation leads to loss of nutrients and can cause root rot, water deficit leads to reduced yield potential and plant stress, increasing the impact of diseases.

Smart irrigation management

SoilSense has developed a smart sensor system that allows for digital monitoring of irrigation across all crops and all soil types. This contributes to UN Goals: Zero hunger (2), Clean water (6), and Responsible consumption and production (12).

The SoilSense system uses scientifically validated sensors to measure the soil’s water content near the plant’s roots with high accuracy. An algorithm converts the data to reveal ‘plant-available-water’ – how much water is available to the plant at any given time.

These insights are sent to the farmers or irrigation managers on their computer or mobile device and are visualized in a way that is easy to understand and act upon. In cases of over-irrigation or water deficit, the farmers are alerted directly on any devices selected.

SoilSense sensors are developed to work in all soil types and the intelligent platform automatically sets the correct wilting point and watering limits of the specific crop. This makes it easy to install and move sensors as needed.

SoilSense is used today by a wide range of customers such as orchard managers, greenhouse growers, open-field crop farmers, and municipal auspices as well as park and garden managers. The product is currently in use in a wide range of environments from cold Scandinavia to the Peruvian desert.

Saving water resources and increasing yield

Results from SoilSense’s customers in Denmark show an increase in yield of 20-25% in potatoes as a result of optimized irrigation. Scientific studies show that targeted watering based on sensor data can reduce water consumption by up to 45-50 % for fruit and vegetables (source: EPRS – European Parliamentary Research Service).

Targeted watering based on sensor data can reduce water consumption by up to 45-50%

Danish consumers could become the first to buy climate-neutral oats and ryebread when the results of a cross-sector project arrive in supermarkets in a few years’ time. Led by SEGES Innovation and involving partners from the entire food value chain, Project Zero is combining exsisting technologies to bring climate-neutral food products from farm to table.

One of the key objectives is to demonstrate that climate neutrality and profitability can go hand in hand in food production.

The three-year project has three primary tools in focus – biochar, green ammonia and nitrification inhibitors. Biochar will be produced from oat and rye straw by pyrolysis, providing a stable carbon source when returned to the soil. Green ammonia, produced from wind and solar energy, will serve as a nitrogen fertiliser, while nitrification inhibitors will be used to suppress emissions of nitrous oxide, reducing the climate impact of fertilisation.

Project Zero is combining existing technologies to bring climate-neutral food products from farm to table

Life cycle assessments of the oats and ryebread will be conducted to verify their climate neutrality.

In addition to SEGES Innovation, the project partners are COOP, Kohberg, Valsemøllen, Aarhus University, Stiesdal SkyClean, Skovgaard Energy, BASF, Bureau Veritas, Fjordland and Innovation Centre for Organic Farming. The Green Development and Demonstration Program under the Danish Agricultural Agency has provided funding for the project, which runs until December 2025.

Increasing global demand for protein places pressure on land, water and conventional feed ingredients such as soy and fishmeal. At the same time, climate considerations and supply-chain volatility underline the need for new ways to produce protein efficiently and independently of agricultural constraints.

Unibio has developed a fermentation technology that converts methane into a highly concentrated and nutritious protein ingredient known as Uniprotein^®. The process replicates a natural microbial mechanism and offers a stable protein source that can be used in feed for animals, aquaculture and pets. Uniprotein^® is already approved for use in the EU, and development work is ongoing to explore its potential in human nutrition.

Resource-efficient protein with minimal water and no farmland

Central to the approach is Unibio’s patented U-Loop^® fermentation technology — a continuous flow system that achieves high conversion rates and efficient methane utilisation. This enables consistent production in controlled conditions without relying on arable land, high volumes of water or seasonal crops. The protein is subsequently purified and processed into a high-quality ingredient.

When compared with traditional feed proteins, Uniprotein^® provides a reliable alternative to fishmeal and soy. It supports stable feed formulation, reduces dependency on
fluctuating raw material markets and contributes to long-term food security. Because the production method requires minimal water and no farmland, it offers a resource-efficient pathway to scaling protein availability.

Biological alternatives to synthetic pesticides are gaining traction as a means to reduce the environmental impact of farming without compromising yield.

One effective approach uses insect pheromones — natural compounds released in tiny amounts by insects to attract mates. When applied in fields, these compounds disrupt mating cycles and limit the emergence of new pest generations without affecting beneficial insects.

To make pheromone-based pest control widely accessible, scalable production methods are required. FMC has developed a biosolution-driven technology that combines yeast modification, fermentation and chemical processing to produce pheromones at industrial scale. This approach significantly lowers production costs and makes it possible to supply pheromones target a wide range of pests across crops such as corn, rice, fruit, cotton and vegetables.

Field trials in Brazil, Mexico, the USA, Spain, Hungary, China and Indonesia have demonstrated a strong effect on major pests, including fall armyworm. By reducing pest pressure and crop damage, pheromonebased tools support healthier crops throughout the growing season and help maintain yield quality and quantity.

Biosolution-enabled pheromone production increases availability for farmers globally

Because pheromones are species-specific, they leave bees and other beneficial insects unharmed. This supports biodiversity and provides farmers with an environmentally friendly pest control. With a scalable production method, pheromones are becoming a practical biosolution for integrated pest management across global farming systems.

Feeding the world’s growing population calls for innovative production technologies that can produce more protein on very little land and with a low impact on nature and the climate.

Danish food tech enterprise MATR Foods has taken on the challenge. Using fungal fermentation, the company has developed a new generation of plant-based products that are rich in protein, fibre and taste – and have the potential to free up to 15% of the world’s agricultural land.

Each product contains MATR’s signature fermented ingredient, based on a mix of five locally sourced, organic raw materials: oats, split peas, lupins, beetroot and potatoes.

For the fermentation process, MATR Foods identified and developed a distinctive fungus, which transforms the structure and consistency of the raw materials. This is what gives them a juiciness, bite and umami flavour that closely resembles meat.

MATR Foods has the potential to free up to 15% of the world’s agricultural land

The process requires no additives, very little energy and just a tenth of the crops that go into conventional meat production.

At MATR Foods, the goal is to make satisfying plant-based foods easily available to consumers who want to eat less meat without sacrificing taste and texture. Supporting local farmers and reducing the environmental impact of food production are also key to the mission.

For now, the plant-based ingredient is made with classic Danish crops. However, the fermentation process works with many other plant raw materials. They could be the next recipe for positive change.

Replacing heat and cold storage with aquaporin proteins enable the company Aquaporin to concentrate food products using less energy compared to traditional thermal methods. This results in both lower energy costs and fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Producers in the food industry are continuously innovating to find processing solutions that combine the best of both worlds: maintaining high quality while optimising energy consumption.

Traditional methods of concentration use heat to remove water from food, often altering its original flavour and requiring significant energy consumption. Similarly, maintaining the quality and freshness of fresh food products demands energy-intensive cold storage and shipping.

The technology maintains high sugar levels in food products like fruit juice, thereby preserving both flavour and nutrients in the concentrated form while consuming less energy

Remove water with the help of protein – not heat

A new cold concentration technology is under pilot testing by the Danish biotech company Aquaporin A/S.

The technology is based on Aquaporin’s unique membranes, which contain aquaporin proteins. In nature, the aquaporin protein is placed inside the cell membrane, and selectively transport only water molecules in and out of the cell. This allows Aquaporin’s membranes to extract water from food products for preservation without the use of heat. The technology maintains high sugar levels in food products like fruit juice, thereby preserving both flavour and nutrients in the concentrated form while consuming less energy.

Aquaporin A/S is currently testing the cold concentration technology with customers in several food categories including E&J Gallo Inc, a global leader in the wine industry. Here, the technology can concentrate the juice from freshly harvested grapes and preserve it to enable wine production across an extended season, thereby extending the use of production facilities over a longer period.

More flavours and less energy costs

By concentrating food products without heat and with no need for cold storage and shipping, in some cases, Aquaporin’s cold concentration technology requires as little as one tenth of the energy used by traditional thermal methods, helping to reducing energy costs.

Is it possible to meet the world’s growing need for nutrition without exceeding planetary boundaries? The answer is a clear yes. But it will take innovative solutions that can be rapidly delivered at industrial scale.

Algiecel is on a mission to achieve this goal. Using compact photobioreactors, the Danish biosolutions enterprise harnesses light and carbon dioxide to grow nutritious microalgae naturally and sustainably.

The microalgae are the raw material for ingredients that are rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids and other bioactive components for food, feed and cosmetics. Due to their low carbon footprint, water consumption and land use, the marine ingredients provide the food, feed and cosmetics industry with a new opportunity to decarbonise their value chain.

Algiecel’s modular photobioreactor system enables low-risk, flexible scaling, making sustainable growth possible one module at a time

Algiecel’s modular photobioreactor system enables low-risk, flexible scaling, making sustainable growth possible one module at a time. Most importantly for modern food supply chains, the process ensures consistent ingredient functionality and traceability and meets international standards for food safety and quality.

Since its founding in 2021, Algiecel has made significant progress. The first protein and omega-3 products are now available as direct substitutes for traditional fish oil and fish meal in pet food, for example – providing the same high nutritional value without burdening nature Algiecel’s technology continues to attract commercial interest, creating a strong foundation for further commercialisation and expansion to export markets.

The company Pond has developed a technology that makes it possible to convert side streams from agricul- tural crops like grass, duckweed, and sugar beets into a biobased plastic. A product that is both biodegradable and able to store CO2.

Every year, 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced globally. A production based on crude oil, and responsible for emitting more than 2 billion tonnes of CO2 annually. Meanwhile, less than 7% of the plastic is recycled.

Despite this, the demand for plastic is increasing and is expected to reach around 800 million tonnes by 2050.

Grass, duckweed, and sugar beets can become the future key ingredient in the plastic bowl in your kitchen cabinet, and in your sportswear currently made of nylon and polyester

Fermentation can turn grass into bioplastic

A new method for producing bioplastic is already a reality, and the potential is enormous. The Danish company Pond has developed a technology that makes it possible to convert side streams from agricultural crops into a biobased plastic.

Pond extracts the carbohydrates from plants such as grass, duckweed and sugar beet, and with the help of a special fermentation technique the carbohydrates are then converted into a bioplastic in the form of lactid polymer (PLA).

The bioplastic absorbs and store CO2

Pond’s bioplastic is not only strong enough to replace nearly all current forms of fossil-based plastics, but it also has unique environmental benefits. Because the material originates from plants that undergo photosynthesis, this form of bioplastic has the ability to absorb and store up to 2 kg of CO2 per kg, a process known as Biogen Carbon Capture Storage.

Furthermore, Pond’s bioplastic is biodegradable, compostable, and can be recycled endlessly – without losing quality. This means that grass, duckweed, and sugar beets can become the future key ingredient in the plastic bowl in your kitchen cabinet, and in your sportswear currently made of nylon and polyester.