Dutch Startup's Dry Seed Tech Just Raised $2.8M to Ditch Water

Jan de Vries · 2026-09-11

Gravity Gardens, a Nijmegen-based AgTech startup, just raised €2.6 million ($2.8 million) in Seed funding. They're on a mission to change how seeds get activated before planting. Their technology? A dry process that boosts crop establishment without any water, chemicals, or coatings. That's a big deal for European arable and horticultural crops. The round mixed equity investment with EFRO regional development funding. Backers include VP Capital, Brightlands Venture Partners (BVP), and Graduate Ventures, plus a group of private investors. This follows earlier support from StartLife and a Rabobank innovation loan, pushing total funding past €3 million ($3.2 million). ### Why Seed Activation Matters Improving seeds before they go in the ground isn't new. Seed companies have known for decades that the right treatment helps seeds emerge faster and more evenly. But traditional methods have a catch: they're wet. Conventional priming involves hydrating seeds, holding them under controlled conditions, then drying them again. That adds handling constraints, capacity limits, and costs at every step. As a result, seed activation has only made economic sense for high-value crops like vegetables and flowers. For the vast majority of crops by volume, it's never been an option. Gravity Gardens wants to change that by removing water from the equation entirely. ### The Dry Advantage "Every seed company in Europe has a seed lot sitting in storage that germinates at grade A quality on the bench and then disappoints in the field," says Paulino Valdés, Founder and CEO of Gravity Gardens. "Germination matters, but it is not the number that decides your season. Vigour is, and vigour is the first thing you lose as a lot ages or as the spring turns against you." Valdés points out that priming has been the industry's answer for forty years, but it's a wet process, and the cost and complications that come with it are why it only ever made sense for a handful of high-value crops. "What we have is dry, which takes those costs out. Cheap enough for field crops, and aimed at the thing that actually decides the season. That combination is what has not existed before." ### Proven in Trials Gravity Gardens reports that its technology has undergone seven external trials, including validation experiments conducted by Vertify. The company operates its own research, development, and production facility in Nijmegen. It also runs active programs with Vertify, HLB, Oost NL, and Foodvalley, through which it accessed an SME Innovation Voucher. Erica van Eeghen, Senior Manager Ventures at VP Capital, sees the potential: "The most impactful innovations are often the ones that improve the foundations of a system. Seeds are exactly that foundation. Gravity Gardens has developed a technology that could make stronger crop establishment accessible to many more farmers while using fewer natural resources. That is what makes this investment so compelling." ### What's Next? With this funding, Gravity Gardens plans to scale its dry seed activation technology and bring it to market. If successful, it could make a real difference for farmers across Europe—and beyond. The startup's approach aligns with growing demand for sustainable agriculture that uses fewer resources while boosting yields. - **Dry process:** No water, no chemicals, no coating. - **Focus on vigour:** Helps crops establish quickly and strongly. - **Cost-effective:** Designed for field crops, not just high-value ones. - **Backed by trials:** Seven external trials validate the tech. For now, the company is keeping details of its technology under wraps. But if the early results hold up, Gravity Gardens might just be onto something that could change the economics of farming for the better.