Kybele's Garden: algae biotech for resilient agriculture
From research to commercial agricultural products, Kybele's Garden is using algae biotechnology to explore ways to reduce reliance on synthetic fertiliser. Support from EIT Food's Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) programme helped the startup strengthen its business as it prepared for growth.
Algae hold significant potential as a source of functional ingredients. But turning promising science into products that work at commercial scale requires more than technical expertise.
Kybele’s Garden, a Turkish startup established in 2021, is working to bridge that gap. The biotechnology startup develops algae-based raw materials for agriculture, food and cosmetics, combining algae fermentation with other biotechnology approaches.
Exploring algae's potential for more resilient agriculture
Agriculture faces the challenge of producing nutritious food while the natural resources it depends on come under increasing pressure. Across Europe, 62% of soils show signs of degradation, according to the European Environment Agency, while drought affected more than 927,000 km² in 2025. [1][2] EU agriculture also used 9.8 million tonnes of mineral nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers in 2024.[3]
Against this backdrop, Kybele's Garden is exploring how fermentation can unlock algae's functional properties for agricultural products designed to support plant performance while reducing reliance on resource-intensive inputs.
From research to customers and international growth
Since formally incorporating in 2021, Kybele's Garden has moved from research and early-stage development towards commercialisation. It has brought agricultural products to market and built a customer base of more than 50.
The company has established a subsidiary in the UK and participated in initiatives including Women TechEU, MassChallenge Switzerland and Blue Bio Value. It was also nominated for The Earthshot Prize by the Royal Academy of Engineering.
In 2026, Kybele's Garden further strengthened its presence in the Europe and UK by becoming an industry member of European Algae Biomass Association and the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) in addition to the UK flip-up plan. Besides, it is ranked in FoodTech 500 in 2023 and 2025 by Forward Fooding.
Building evidence of real-world impact
Alongside its commercial growth, Kybele's Garden is beginning to demonstrate how algae biotechnology could contribute to more resource-efficient and non-toxic production.
Field trials with leading partners showed strong results, including up to 20% protein increase in sunflower, 98% efficacy against tomato diseases, and 28% improvement in root development, demonstrating clear gains in yield and plant health. In food, pilot studies with international and local companies confirmed up to 50% increase in antioxidant capacity and successful integration into various applications, validating functionality and scalability.
As the business grows, further evidence around agricultural inputs, soil health and plant performance will be important in showing what wider adoption could mean for farmers and the food system.
Proven impact across agriculture and food applications
How EIT Food helped strengthen the business behind the science
Kybele's Garden joined EIT Food's Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) programme in 2021, as the company was moving from an early-stage idea towards a more structured business.
Through one-to-one mentorship, strategic learning and connections with industry experts and fellow entrepreneurs, EWA helped the team sharpen its positioning, clarify priorities and take a more systematic approach to decision-making.
Being part of the EIT Food ecosystem provided a level of external validation that strengthened our credibility when engaging with investors, partners, and stakeholders.
Lessons from turning biotechnology into a business
- Translate research into a clear proposition. Scientific potential needs to be communicated in ways that customers, investors and partners can understand.
- Build the business alongside the technology. Positioning, commercial strategy and communications matter alongside research and development.
- Use outside perspectives. Mentors, experts and entrepreneurial networks can help founders challenge assumptions and decide where to focus.
- Keep adapting as the company grows. Early-stage frameworks can remain useful, but need to evolve as a business enters commercialisation and new markets.
The next step: scaling impact alongside the business
Kybele's Garden has progressed from research into commercial products, customer adoption, investment and international expansion. Its experience also shows how early-stage entrepreneurial support can help researchers build the business capabilities needed to take scientific ideas towards the market.
The next challenge is to grow the evidence alongside the business. As Kybele's Garden reaches more customers and markets, robust measurement of outcomes such as fertiliser use, soil health and plant performance could help demonstrate what its technology delivers not only commercially, but for farmers and the wider food system.
About EWA - Empowering Women in Agrifood
Empowering Women in Agrifood (EWA) is a pioneering programme led by EIT Food, dedicated to equipping women entrepreneurs in the agrifood sector with the tools they need to thrive. The programme offers a flexible three-level journey:
- EWA Explore: Foundational online entrepreneurship training.
- EWA Grow: National cohort-based programmes with mentorship, training and Demo Days.
- EWA Advanced: A pan-European programme focused on investment readiness and scaling.
Have an idea that could help shape a healthier food system? Explore EIT Food’s entrepreneurship programmes for startups and discover how we can support you in turning it into impact.
Learn about the latest opportunities, research and innovations shaping the food industry.
References
- European Environment Agency, Europe's environment 2025 - Soil resources. EEA source
- European Environment Agency, Drought impact on ecosystems in Europe. EEA source
- Eurostat, Use of mineral fertilisers up 6% in 2024, published June 2026. Eurostat source
