Deep Science Ventures and CRUSA Foundation launch partnership to create regenerative agriculture ventures

• CATIE joins this program as one of its implementing partners

Deep Science Ventures (DSV), a London-based venture creator, and CRUSA Foundation, a nonprofit Costa Rican organisation focused on sustainability, are pleased to announce the launch of the Tropical Agriculture & Bioeconomy Initiative (TABI), a national program to deliver high-tech, scalable startups.

The resulting companies - in line with Costa Rica’s National Bioeconomy Strategy - will support the delivery of technologies that can accelerate Latin American and tropical agricultural economies toward resilient, decarbonised, regenerative and value-added production systems and circular bioeconomies.

This builds on efforts to combat increasing threats to biodiversity and food security, by leveraging the potential of the bioeconomy, alternative feedstocks and renewable energy.

Joining the program as Implementation Partners are EARTH University and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) which will support the development of new companies. CR BioMed the Costa Rican biotechnology, medical device, and life sciences cluster and CINDE, the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency, which is developing a Biomaterials Hub, will also support founders on the program.

TABI will design, build and launch high-tech companies with an initial focus across several areas including:

• Thermal adaptation of tropical crops (initial focus: coffee)
• 21st century plant breeding biotechnologies (initial focus: circular economy crops)
• Biomass conversion technologies (initial focus: agricultural waste and hydrocarbon replacement)
• Composite wood materials (initial focus: green materials and construction)

These focus areas not only enable new startups to align with national priorities but also offer significant growth potential in established global markets.

DSV has developed detailed concepts for new companies in each of the above areas, and is recruiting ambitious founders to work in Costa Rica - one of the world’s most biodiverse countries and an emerging leader in tropical bioeconomic development initiatives.

Founders will join the program to create companies that respond to the needs of farmers, the public and tropical ecosystems, whilst aiming to protect biodiversity and restore ecosystem services.

Edward Perello, Associate Director for Agriculture at DSV, said: “Costa Rica has already inspired many with its approach to sustainable agribusiness and environmental stewardship. I can think of no better place to solve one of the greatest challenges of our time - sustainable food security”

Dominic Falcao, DSV Founding Director, commented: “DSV has helped first-time and serial entrepreneurs develop more than 35 science companies in the last six years, with combined valuations now exceeding over $180 million. Extending the reach of our impact to new continents and latitudes is essential to ensuring that humans and the planet can thrive together.”

Flora Montealegre, Executive Director at CRUSA Foundation, said: “Through this alliance for the bioeconomy, we highlight and demonstrate the potential and capabilities we have in Costa Rica to attract companies and develop new ventures in key sectors that contribute to the revitalization of our economy, climate change mitigation and the welfare of people”.

The program is now live and the DSV Agriculture team are presently recruiting candidates to join them in building new companies in Costa Rica. Candidates will initially be able to work remotely, before setting up the initial research and business operations in Costa Rica, with support from DSV and local partners. More information on the individual roles can be found on the careers section on the Deep Science Ventures website, deepscienceventures.com.

About Deep Science Ventures

Deep Science Ventures is creating a future where humanity and the planet thrive, combining available scientific knowledge and founder-type scientists into high-impact ventures. Deep Science Ventures operates in 4 sectors: Agriculture, Climate, Computation and Pharmaceuticals, tackling the challenges defining those areas by taking a first-principles approach and partnering with leading institutions.

About CRUSA Foundation

CRUSA Foundation is a Costa Rican non-profit organization. Since 1996 the Foundation has devoted its efforts towards improving life quality for the country’s inhabitants and achieving sustainable development. As part of their current strategy the Foundation is committed to boosting the entrepreneurial ecosystem to enable high-impact venture creation for a more sustainable, prosperous and inclusive growth. For more information visit: comunidad.crusa.cr / info@crusa.cr