Tropic Secures $105M: Gene-Edited Crops Reshape Global Food Future
March 15, 2026, 9:39 am
Location: United Kingdom, England, Cambridge
Employees: 11-50
Founded date: 2006
Tropic, a UK AgTech firm, raised $105 million in Series C funding. This capital boosts gene-edited tropical crop expansion. Forbion and Corteva co-led the round. The focus is disease-resistant bananas and climate-resilient rice. Tropic's GEiGS® platform enhances food security. The company launched innovative banana varieties in 2025. Demand now outstrips supply. Funding scales production, strengthens global supply chains, and accelerates new crop development. This investment drives sustainable agricultural solutions globally.
**AgTech giant Tropic secures significant capital.** The UK-based biotechnology firm recently closed an oversubscribed Series C funding round. Total investment reached $105 million (€91.3 million). This massive infusion of capital targets global agricultural transformation. It signals strong investor confidence in gene-edited crops.
**Leading investors backed Tropic's vision.** Forbion co-led the round through its Bioeconomy Fund. Corteva also served as co-lead via its Corteva Catalyst investment platform. Major support came from Just Climate and IQ Capital. New investors joined the effort. ABN Amro and Invest International are now partners. Existing investors reaffirmed their commitment. Temasek, Five Seasons Ventures, Sucden Ventures, Genoa Ventures, Polaris Partners, and Aliment Capital all participated. This diverse group highlights broad interest in advanced agricultural solutions.
**Funding fuels ambitious expansion.** Tropic plans a rapid global scale-up. Its banana and rice portfolios are priorities. The company will also advance its climate-resilient crop pipeline. Large-scale plant production capabilities will increase. Global supply chains will strengthen. Commercial partnerships across major export markets will expand. This investment tackles critical food supply challenges worldwide.
**Tropic pioneers gene-editing technology.** The company utilizes its proprietary GEiGS® platform. This innovative system combines gene editing with gene silencing. It creates non-transgenic yet hereditary crop improvements. CRISPR gene editing also plays a role. Tropic develops robust, high-performing crop varieties. These offer increased disease resistance and higher yields. They also boast environmentally sustainable traits.
**Banana innovation is a core focus.** Tropic launched groundbreaking new banana varieties in 2025. These were the first new commercial varieties in over 75 years. One is a non-browning banana. TIME Magazine recognized it as a Best Invention of 2025. Another variety offers extended shelf life. It lengthens green life by 12 days. This enables new export routes. It also reduces transportation waste by up to 50 percent. Such advancements cut food waste significantly.
**Market demand for new bananas soars.** Growers and consumers quickly embraced Tropic's new varieties. Demand already surpasses current supply capabilities. This validates the technology and market need. The new funding directly addresses this challenge. It enables scaled production to meet global appetite.
**Fighting devastating diseases is critical.** Tropic made significant progress against Panama Disease (TR4). This fungal threat devastates global banana production. It spreads rapidly, impacting over 20 countries. Tropic’s resistance program is vital. Plants were shipped in 2025 to establish a mother plantation. Commercial deployment against TR4 is set for 2027. This offers hope for the $25 billion banana industry. Future efforts target Black Sigatoka, another destructive banana disease.
**Rice portfolio sees expanded research.** Beyond bananas, Tropic prioritizes rice. It is a staple food for billions. Improving rice resilience and yield impacts global food security directly. Tropic’s technology aims to make rice crops more robust. This means higher yields and better disease resistance.
**Addressing global food security is paramount.** Climate change and increasing populations strain food systems. Tropic’s work directly confronts these pressures. Healthier, more productive crops are essential. Disease-resistant varieties protect harvests. Climate-resilient crops ensure stability. Tropic’s focus on tropical staples holds immense potential. It offers durable, scalable, and resilient solutions for growers.
**New leadership joins the Board.** The financing brings fresh strategic insights. Joy Faucher, General Partner at Forbion, joined Tropic’s Board of Directors. Tom Greene, Senior Director at Corteva, also assumed a board seat. Siddarth Shrikanth, Director at Just Climate, completed the new board additions. Gustavo Bassetti, Rob Scott, Onno van de Stolpe, and Alex Wilson joined as Board observers. This strengthens Tropic’s governance and strategic direction.
**Tropic began in late 2016.** Founders Eyal Maori and Gilad Gershon established the company. Their mission: develop healthier, more robust tropical crops. Their vision: enhance food security and sustainability. Their technology promises a new era for agriculture. Gene-edited crops are no longer future concepts. They are here now, delivering tangible benefits.
**The future holds more crop innovations.** Tropic plans entry into other high-impact crops. These undisclosed targets will further address global food supply challenges. The company builds a world-leading tropical seeds platform. It aims to transform agriculture for generations. This investment accelerates that ambitious journey. Tropic positions itself at the forefront of agricultural biotechnology. Its impact will resonate across continents, securing food for millions.
**AgTech giant Tropic secures significant capital.** The UK-based biotechnology firm recently closed an oversubscribed Series C funding round. Total investment reached $105 million (€91.3 million). This massive infusion of capital targets global agricultural transformation. It signals strong investor confidence in gene-edited crops.
**Leading investors backed Tropic's vision.** Forbion co-led the round through its Bioeconomy Fund. Corteva also served as co-lead via its Corteva Catalyst investment platform. Major support came from Just Climate and IQ Capital. New investors joined the effort. ABN Amro and Invest International are now partners. Existing investors reaffirmed their commitment. Temasek, Five Seasons Ventures, Sucden Ventures, Genoa Ventures, Polaris Partners, and Aliment Capital all participated. This diverse group highlights broad interest in advanced agricultural solutions.
**Funding fuels ambitious expansion.** Tropic plans a rapid global scale-up. Its banana and rice portfolios are priorities. The company will also advance its climate-resilient crop pipeline. Large-scale plant production capabilities will increase. Global supply chains will strengthen. Commercial partnerships across major export markets will expand. This investment tackles critical food supply challenges worldwide.
**Tropic pioneers gene-editing technology.** The company utilizes its proprietary GEiGS® platform. This innovative system combines gene editing with gene silencing. It creates non-transgenic yet hereditary crop improvements. CRISPR gene editing also plays a role. Tropic develops robust, high-performing crop varieties. These offer increased disease resistance and higher yields. They also boast environmentally sustainable traits.
**Banana innovation is a core focus.** Tropic launched groundbreaking new banana varieties in 2025. These were the first new commercial varieties in over 75 years. One is a non-browning banana. TIME Magazine recognized it as a Best Invention of 2025. Another variety offers extended shelf life. It lengthens green life by 12 days. This enables new export routes. It also reduces transportation waste by up to 50 percent. Such advancements cut food waste significantly.
**Market demand for new bananas soars.** Growers and consumers quickly embraced Tropic's new varieties. Demand already surpasses current supply capabilities. This validates the technology and market need. The new funding directly addresses this challenge. It enables scaled production to meet global appetite.
**Fighting devastating diseases is critical.** Tropic made significant progress against Panama Disease (TR4). This fungal threat devastates global banana production. It spreads rapidly, impacting over 20 countries. Tropic’s resistance program is vital. Plants were shipped in 2025 to establish a mother plantation. Commercial deployment against TR4 is set for 2027. This offers hope for the $25 billion banana industry. Future efforts target Black Sigatoka, another destructive banana disease.
**Rice portfolio sees expanded research.** Beyond bananas, Tropic prioritizes rice. It is a staple food for billions. Improving rice resilience and yield impacts global food security directly. Tropic’s technology aims to make rice crops more robust. This means higher yields and better disease resistance.
**Addressing global food security is paramount.** Climate change and increasing populations strain food systems. Tropic’s work directly confronts these pressures. Healthier, more productive crops are essential. Disease-resistant varieties protect harvests. Climate-resilient crops ensure stability. Tropic’s focus on tropical staples holds immense potential. It offers durable, scalable, and resilient solutions for growers.
**New leadership joins the Board.** The financing brings fresh strategic insights. Joy Faucher, General Partner at Forbion, joined Tropic’s Board of Directors. Tom Greene, Senior Director at Corteva, also assumed a board seat. Siddarth Shrikanth, Director at Just Climate, completed the new board additions. Gustavo Bassetti, Rob Scott, Onno van de Stolpe, and Alex Wilson joined as Board observers. This strengthens Tropic’s governance and strategic direction.
**Tropic began in late 2016.** Founders Eyal Maori and Gilad Gershon established the company. Their mission: develop healthier, more robust tropical crops. Their vision: enhance food security and sustainability. Their technology promises a new era for agriculture. Gene-edited crops are no longer future concepts. They are here now, delivering tangible benefits.
**The future holds more crop innovations.** Tropic plans entry into other high-impact crops. These undisclosed targets will further address global food supply challenges. The company builds a world-leading tropical seeds platform. It aims to transform agriculture for generations. This investment accelerates that ambitious journey. Tropic positions itself at the forefront of agricultural biotechnology. Its impact will resonate across continents, securing food for millions.