NEW DELHI: Social enterprise Sistema.bio has closed Series A Investment round of USD 12M to consolidate global operations. It plans to impact 200,000 small holder farmers in India, South America, Kenya and Mexico with biodigester technology over the next three years. The round includes a group of impact and venture capital investors that support Sistema mission to bring technology, training and financing to the smallholder farmers around the world.
Shell Foundation, DILA CAPITAL, Engie RDE Fund, EcoEnterprise Fund, EDFIMC (ElectriFI), Endeavor Catalyst Fund, CoCapital, Triodos, Alpha Mundi, and Lendahand are among the investors and creditors participating in the round.
Sistema is an international social enterprise that works with small holder farmers to address the challenges of poverty, food security and climate change, providing access to innovative biodigester technology, training and financing to make farmers more productive, efficient and sustainable. It started its operations in India in 2017 with its headquarters in Pune. The enterprise has reached over 300 households impacting over 1500 lives in India with operations in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
“We are excited to partner with institutions that share our commitment to sustainable agriculture and that fight against climate change and poverty. The investment will enable Sistema.bio to accelerate our growth and impact in Latin America, East Africa, and India,” noted Alexander Eaton, CEO and Co-founder of Sistema.
According to the World Bank, biodigester technology improves crop yields and reduces reliance on traditional fuels, thereby improving the overall economic performance of the farm. However, there is currently a limited offer of biodigesters and biogas appliances designed for this market. Along with the digester itself, the international social enterprise develops affordable and high-quality biogas equipment customized for small and remote farms, making them more environmentally-friendly and profitable, at the same time.
“The biggest challenge that farmers face in India is that there is a lack of access to clean energy. The soil quality is also deteriorating due to the use of chemical fertilizers. This fundraise will allow us to tap deeper into villages in India and help farmers get access to renewable energy in the form of biogas,” said Piyush Sohani, Country Director of Sistema.
