Yield Lab Europe, the Irish-headquartered ag-tech accelerator, has announced it is open to applications from start-up ag-tech companies for its 2019 programme. Yield Lab’s 2019 accelerator fund will invest €0.5m into five start-up companies, with each company receiving €100,000. This €100,000 investment will consist of €75,000 in cash and €25,000 in services and support.

Last month, Yield Lab announced a new €21m venture capital fund targeted at early stage ag-tech companies and start-ups. The €21m fund is backed by a €10m investment from Enterprise Ireland, €4m from AIB, and three leading private investors.

Originally founded in 2014, Yield Lab Europe has run its ag-tech accelerator programme over the past two years, through which it has invested in eight companies. The companies Yield Lab Europe has invested in and accelerated to date are from many sectors, including: Big Data and Precision Agriculture (ApisProtect, Sencrop); Alternative Proteins (Hexafly); Animal Health and Aquaculture (MicroSymbiotiX); Soil Health (Microgen Biotech); Supply Chain Technologies (Impact Vision) and Crop Protection (Rootwave).