GreenLight Bio closes Series C with $25M from Just Climate
This article originally appeared via NCBiotech's blog
GreenLight Biosciences, Inc., a Boston-based agtech company with lab, office and greenhouse space in RTP, has closed a Series C funding round, including a $25 million investment from a new investor, Just Climate, which invests in climate solutions, and support from other new and existing shareholders, according to a company news release.
The new capital supports GreenLight Bio’s commercial momentum following the successful launch of Calantha, which is registered in the United States and Ukraine. It is the first registered RNA-based crop protection spray. Calantha offers potato growers an alternative to conventional chemical pesticides, according to the company.
"This strategic investment from Just Climate and others represents a powerful endorsement of our RNA platform’s potential to revolutionize agriculture while addressing environmental challenges, including pollinator health," said Dr. Andrey Zarur, CEO of GreenLight Bio.
"With this funding, we are well-positioned to scale our commercial operations, advance our product pipeline, expand our international footprint, and further our mission of building a safer, more equitable food system using nature."
The funding will also help drive several other strategic developments:
Advance its product pipeline
Once registered in the US, GreenLight Bio will quickly move to commercialize Norroa, a new tool for beekeepers to protect their colonies from varroa mites. This comes as beekeepers reported catastrophic honeybee colony losses averaging 62% between June 2024 and February 2025, according to recent Honey Bee Health Coalition data.
The company will also further internationalize Fortivance, its novel adjuvant that enhances the efficiency of existing agricultural treatments and can reduce their environmental impact.
Expand around the world
The investment enables the company to continue expanding across key international markets, including Brazil and other Latin American countries.
Recent expansion efforts include the establishment of an agricultural research station in Seville, Spain, which now serves as the company’s European hub for innovation and collaborative research in sustainable agriculture practices.
“GreenLight Biosciences exemplifies the type of innovative enterprise that can deliver transformative environmental impact while building sustainable commercial success,” said Eduardo Mufarej, head of the Natural Climate Solutions strategy and co-Chief Investment Officer at Just Climate, based in London, UK. “Their platform addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing global agriculture and biodiversity conservation. We are pleased to support GreenLight Bio’s mission and solutions that help protect crops, pollinators, and our planet’s ecosystems.”
In RTP, GreenLight Bio has about 69,000 square feet of laboratory and office space and about 14,000 square feet of greenhouse space, and it employs between 70 and 90 employees, according to the Triangle Business Journal.
