The hub strengthens its commitment to sustainable agriculture by investing in the Argentine startup Nunatak, which is pioneering microbiological bioinputs to tackle soil degradation and climate challenges.
AgrofoodBIC, a multi-company open innovation hub operating nationally and internationally since 2019 to identify and scale high-potential opportunities in the agri-food sector, has announced a new investment in Nunatak, an Argentine startup focused on developing next-generation microbiological bioinputs.
The hub promotes innovation in the Italian agri-food ecosystem through a network of leading industrial and institutional partners, including Granarolo, Camst Group,
Conserve Italia, Eurovo, and Cuniola (IMA Group). The initiative is further supported by Eatable Adventures, which leads startup scouting and venture development,together with the University of Bologna, ENEA, and ART-ER as strategic partners.
The investment reinforces AgrofoodBIC’s strategy to support cutting-edge technologies that address some of the most pressing challenges facing global agriculture, including soil degradation and declining fertilizer efficiency.
Founded in Argentina, Nunatak is developing innovative bioinputs derived from extremophile microorganisms, organisms capable of thriving in extreme environments. These solutions are designed to be compatible with conventional agricultural products while enhancing crop nutrition, improving yields, and increasing resilience to climate stress.
Nunatak’s technology is inspired by extreme ecosystems such as Antarctica, enabling the development of robust agricultural inputs that can perform under adverse conditions. By leveraging these microorganisms, the startup aims to restore soil health and improve agricultural productivity in a sustainable way. Nunatak has already registered its first product, YAMANA, and is currently in the commercial stage, actively seeking partners interested in testing its solutions.
“Investing in Nunatak is an investment in the future, given the major climate changes we are witnessing. We are all companies with strong ties to the land and its products, and exploring what can be done in the near future to improve yields represents a major step forward. We are also pleased that this investment represents an opportunity to expand our portfolio beyond Italy, confirming Agrofood BIC’s commitment to looking at start-ups worldwide”, said the Chairman of AgrofoodBic Riccardo Sebastiano Piaggi.
In the words of Julia Mensa, CEO and co-founder of Nunatak Biotech: “Italy is the global reference for food quality. This investment is not just capital, it is aligned with our goal of delivering value in the European market.”
Eatable Adventures, a leading global accelerator and investor in Agrifoodtech startups, has played a key role in identifying and supporting Nunatak’s growth. As part of its portfolio, Nunatak has benefited from Eatable Adventures’ expertise in scaling disruptive technologies and connecting startups with strategic industry
partners.
“We are proud to see Nunatak continue to grow and attract strategic investors such as AgrofoodBIC,” said Alberto Barbari, Regional VP Italy at Eatable Adventures. “Their technology addresses critical challenges in agriculture and represents the kind of innovation needed to build a more sustainable and resilient food system.”