Anterra Capital , the international agrifood VC firm and investor partner of StartLife, announced the initial closing of its second food and agriculture technology fund, Anterra F&A Ventures II. With $175 million they exceeded the targeted size of the fund. Due to the positive market reception for the fund’s mission and strategy, Anterra is tracking towards an upsized second fund, and anticipates a final closing in the third quarter of this year.

Anterra’s mission is to invest in and partner with entrepreneurs transforming our vital food economy through biotech and digital innovation across crop science, animal health, and human nutrition. As a research driven, value-focused specialist investor Anterra combines a traditional venture investment approach and “venture creation,” building and scaling transformative businesses with its deep industry knowledge and vast global network as a pioneer in the space.

Spotlight on innovators

“New solutions are desperately needed in order to support better outcomes for farmers, consumers and the environment” ~ Adam Anders

Adam Anders, managing partner of Anterra Capital says: “The COVID pandemic has placed a magnifying glass on the critical condition of our food economy, from supply chain and environmental disruptions to structural changes in how we buy and consume food. It has also put the spotlight on the thriving ecosystem of digital and biotech innovators who are dedicated to making our food and agriculture system safer, more secure and more sustainable. With the first close of our second fund, we continue our mission to sustainably transform our food economy.”

Fund partners

The new fund receives continuous supported by original backers Eight Roads (backed by Fidelity Investments) and Rabo Investments, the captive investment arm of the largest global food and agricultural bank out of the Netherlands – Rabobank (another StartLife partner).

New investors include Novo Holdings, a leading global life sciences investor based out of Denmark, Tattarang, one of Australia’s largest private investment groups. as well as other well-respected family offices, sovereign wealth funds, and state-owned investors that provide a global presence, spanning across multiple continents.