Leuven, June 10th 2025
First foreign investment after expanding strategy
Agri Investment Fund (“AIF”) invests 2,35 million euro in the British company RootWave, a pioneer in electric weed control. With this first foreign investment, AIF puts its ambition to further stimulate innovation in agriculture and horticulture into practice. The financing round, amounting up to 14 million euro, was led by Singapore-based Clay Capital.
First exponent of AIF’s broadened investment strategy
Farmers being confronted with ever-more pressing challenges, such as resistance issues, regulatory constraints and labor shortages, AIF recently amplified its ambition to help bring more innovation faster to market, supporting farmers face these challenges.
“While our current portfolio contains very promising companies, it was mainly concentrated in biotech solutions with a long time to market”, comments Sonja De Becker, President of AIF. “As our farmers need solutions today, we recently expanded our investment strategy in order to support a more diverse set of solutions with an ability to come to market faster.”
“This investment in UK-based RootWave underscores the growth ambition of our fund, expanding our activities outside of Belgium, looking for the new and improved tools our farmers need”, adds Patrik Haesen, CEO of AIF. “Weed control being an increasing challenge, providing a non-chemical and sustainable solution that destroys weeds down to the roots is a true gamechanger for agriculture.”
Effective non-chemical weed control
Agriculture is indeed facing unprecedented challenges from herbicide-resistant weeds and tightening regulation due to safety concerns. While alternative solutions such as mechanical, laser, and thermal weeding have emerged, RootWave stands out for its unmatched combination of efficacy, cost competitiveness, and safety. Its market leading technology eliminates weeds without damaging soils or crops, with field performance rivalling that of chemical herbicides.
RootWave manufactures tractor-mounted implements using its patented high-frequency electricity technology that delivers exceptional performance, achieving up to 99% kill rates in a single pass during independent field trials. Compatible with conventional, regenerative and organic farming systems, the technology helps farmers protect yields and profits while safeguarding human health and the environment.
Grow sales and develop applications
Having already first sales in the UK, RootWave is now gearing up for international expansion (including Belgium) and taking further steps in the development of applications for multiple crops. Currently focussing on orchards and vineyards, RootWave is already partnering up to apply its technology for weed control in row crops including vegetables, broad-acre, and cereals.
Andrew Diprose, CEO of RootWave, concludes: “This fundraising allows RootWave to accelerate its growth. We are grateful for the support from our customers, partners, and employees, and look forward to working with the new investors. Together, we will grow RootWave to become the dominant global player in weed control.”
About Rootwave
RootWave manufactures machines that kill weeds using electricity, completely replacing the need for chemical herbicides — saving farmers money while protecting human health and the environment. Its electrical weeding technology is highly effective, does not disturb the soil, and is compatible with both organic and regenerative farming systems. RootWave’s patented technology uses high frequency alternating current for effective and environmentally friendly weed control. Jorge Heraud, former Co-Founder and CEO of Blue River Technology which exited to John Deere for over USD 300 million, sits on the advisory board of RootWave www.rootwave.com.
About AIF
Agri Investment Fund BV (“AIF”) is the private equity and venture capital fund of the group Boerenbond (Farmers’ Union) and wishes through its investments to contribute directly or indirectly to a stronger and more sustainable agriculture and horticulture in Flanders and German speaking Belgium. Its investments have a focus within the Ag-Tech and Agro-Food domains aiming at stimulating innovation and as such helping to build a stronger agriculture of the future, allowing farmers and horticulturists to provide high-quality products at honest prices. More information can be found on www.aifund.be.
For further information, please contact:
AIF
Patrik Haesen, CEO
T: +32 (0)16 28 62 54 | E: pers@aifund.be
Rootwave
Andrew Diprose, Chief Executive Officer
T: +44 7816 312 039| E: andrew.diprose@rootwave.com
