Embedding Agriculture in the Renewables Economy
The Radicle Renewables Challenge by John Deere, Land O’Lakes and AgRogue, is a global search for companies developing technologies that create new value, demand, and revenue opportunities for farmers through the rapidly expanding renewables economy.
The Challenge seeks to invest up to $10M in selected companies building technologies, value chains, and business models that unlock new revenue streams and market opportunities for farmers across renewable fuels, feedstocks, materials, chemicals, and low-carbon markets.
About the Challenge
The transition to renewable fuels, materials, chemicals, and low-carbon value chains is creating new opportunities across agriculture globally. North American farmers have an opportunity to be leaders and grow their businesses as the value chains and new partnerships are built.
The Radicle Renewables Challenge by John Deere, Land O’Lakes and AgRogue, is designed to identify companies developing technologies that embed agriculture in the growing renewables economy. From next-generation feedstocks and renewable fuels to bio-based materials, carbon-intensity solutions, infrastructure, and commercialization platforms, the Challenge seeks innovators creating new pathways for agriculture to play a leading role in emerging markets for renewables.
Agriculture is uniquely positioned to play a critical role in the future value chains of the renewable economy. However, realizing that opportunity requires innovation across the entire system, including production, processing, measurement, logistics, commercialization, market development and market adoption.
The Radicle Renewables Challenge brings together investment, strategic partners, technical diligence, and deep agricultural expertise to identify and support the most promising companies building the future of the renewables economy.
Areas of Interest
We are seeking companies developing technologies that will embed agriculture in renewable markets and create value throughout renewables supply chains.
Areas of interest include:
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Renewable fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable diesel, renewable natural gas, maritime fuels, and related technologies
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Next-generation feedstocks, oilseed crops, cover crop feedstocks, biomass crops, crop genetics, and production systems
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Renewable chemicals, bio-based materials, bioplastics, biomaterials, fermentation technologies, novel catalysts and industrial products
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Agricultural inputs and production systems that reduce carbon intensity (CI) score of current or emerging feedstocks
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Carbon-intensity measurement, verification, traceability, lifecycle analysis, and environmental attribute platforms
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Infrastructure, logistics, processing, storage, and commercialization solutions that enable renewable value chains to scale
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Business models that help connect farmers to renewable markets and improve participation across the value chain
What We’re Looking For
We are particularly interested in companies that demonstrate:
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A clear connection to renewable market opportunities
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Strong technical and scientific foundations
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Commercially viable business models
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Scalable pathways to market adoption
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Potential to create meaningful value and solid margin opportunities across existing or new supply chains
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Teams capable of translating innovation into commercial impact
Companies at any stage of development are encouraged to apply.
Investment & Company Building
The Radicle Renewables Challenge will invest in selected companies and provide access to a unique network of strategic partners, industry expertise, and commercialization resources.
In addition to potential investment, participants will have an opportunity to benefit from:
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Access to leaders across agriculture and value chains for renewables
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Strategic insights from John Deere, Land O’Lakes and AgRogue Growth Partners
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Technical and commercial diligence from Radicle Growth
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Exposure to leading agricultural organizations, cooperatives, and industry stakeholders
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Connections that can accelerate commercialization and market adoption
The Challenge is designed to help innovative companies move beyond technology development and toward real-world deployment at scale.
Timeline
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Applications open: October 19, 2026
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Applications close: November 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET
Selected applicants may be contacted for follow-up conversations and diligence after the application window closes.
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FAQs
The following are some of the most common questions we receive from applicants and potential applicants of our Challenges. If you have any other questions, please direct them to: Natale Clark at nclark@radicle.vc.
Companies of any size, at any stage, from anywhere in the world may apply. Applications must be submitted in English.
No. Pre-revenue companies are welcome to apply.
No. Pilots are desirable but optional.
We are focused on companies developing technologies that create new value, demand, and revenue opportunities for farmers through the rapidly growing renewables economy.
Yes. We review a wide range of technologies and encourage companies working on novel or emerging approaches to apply.
The Radicle Renewables Challenge will invest up to $10M total, awarded between selected companies.
Investment terms will be negotiated with selected companies and will reflect customary venture investment structures.
Applications are reviewed by Radicle’s diligence team. Selected companies may be contacted for additional information or follow-up discussions.
Application materials are reviewed only by the diligence committee. Submissions are treated as confidential, but applicants are encouraged not to include highly sensitive confidential information.
Yes. Companies that have not previously won a Radicle Challenge are eligible to apply again.
Yes. Students may apply; however, investments are made into formed legal entities. If selected, a company must have a legal entity in place to receive investment.
Applications cannot be edited after submission. If you have a material update, you may email info@radicle.vc with your company name and a brief summary.
No. There is no pitch day associated with this Challenge. Selected companies will be engaged directly during the review process.
