Peregrine Hydrogen tops IFA startup competition

Santa Cruz, California headquartered Peregrine Hydrogen has been named overall winner of the International Fertilizer Association’s (IFA) Cultivate Challenge for its low energy hydrogen and acid technology, as the association also unveiled a new global line up of fertilizer startups for the competition’s second edition. The award was presented at the IFA Cultivating Tomorrow Conference in Budapest, Hungary, on 4 June.

Selected from more than 150 applications across over 40 countries and a finalist cohort of 13 startups, Peregrine Hydrogen was recognised for an electrolyser that co produces hydrogen and sulphuric acid using around 50% less energy than conventional electrolysis, with the aim of delivering carbon free hydrogen to end users at scale. Peregrine Hydrogen CEO and co founder Friðrik Lárusson said winning the challenge was “a huge validation — not just for Peregrine Hydrogen, but for the idea that clean hydrogen is competitive when done right,” adding that discussions in Budapest had “opened several new doors” for the business.

IFA backs frontier plant nutrition innovators

IFA CEO and Director General Alzbeta Klein said the Cultivate Challenge was designed to “surface the world’s most promising plant nutrition innovations and connect them with the industry’s decision makers,” describing Peregrine Hydrogen as “exactly the kind of bold, purposeful thinking our sector needs, and a worthy winner.” The inaugural edition also recognised Australia’s Plasma Leap as runner up, while Sweden’s Nitrocapt was named “start up to watch” and the US’ Phospholutions received the Innovation Impact Award.

The Cultivate Challenge, run by the IFA Innovation Hub, is billed as the only global startup competition focused exclusively on fertilizer and plant nutrition innovation. The first edition drew more than 150 entries, with a 33 strong semi finalist group narrowed to 13 finalists working across themes including green and low carbon ammonia and nitrogen production, microbial plant biostimulants and nitrogen fixation, nutrient use efficiency and precision application, and digital agronomy tools. Finalists took part in a 12 month growth and development programme that gave them access to IFA’s industry network, mentoring from senior fertilizer executives and direct engagement with strategic partners and investors.

Second edition finalists span green chemistry to AI

IFA has now named 13 finalists for the challenge’s second edition, again drawn from more than 150 applications, covering technologies from green chemistry and electrochemical ammonia processes to microbial solutions, digital platforms and climate smart advisory tools. The cohort includes Ammobia (USA), Sultech Global (Canada), Airovation Technologies (Israel), Airbridge (Australia), SWAN H (France), Puna Bio (Argentina), Copernic Catalysts (USA), BeCaps (Argentina), Messium (UK), N2 Applied (Norway), Bioprime Agrisolutions (India), iSDA (UK/Africa) and Farmdar (Singapore). Their innovations span next generation ammonia synthesis, sulphur and CO₂ upcycling, plasma based nitrogen fixation, microbial nitrogen fixation and nutrient use efficiency, as well as satellite based nitrogen diagnostics and AI driven fertilizer recommendations.

Pipeline builds as third edition looms

Applications for the third edition of the Cultivate Challenge are due to open at the end of 2026, with IFA inviting interested startups to register via its Innovation Hub to receive full details of the benefits package, including access to its innovation directory and the Cultivating Tomorrow Conference platform.