AlgiSoil

AlgiSoil: Regenerative Soil Innovation for Climate-Resilient Agriculture

AlgiSoil is an early-stage agri-tech startup dedicated to restoring soil health through scalable, nature-based solutions aligned with the EU Soil Strategy, Biodiversity Strategy, and Farm-to-Fork objectives.

Our innovation is based on Gércei alginite, a unique mineral-organic material of volcanic origin found in Hungary. Alginit combines high water-retention capacity, significant cation exchange capacity, natural calcium content, and stable organic matter, making it a powerful soil-conditioning input for degraded, low-carbon and drought-prone soils.

We position alginite not as a fertilizer, but as a long-term soil regeneration material that enhances soil structure, improves nutrient-use efficiency, supports microbial habitats, and increases resilience to climate stress.

Current Focus: Vineyard and Orchard Starter Systems

AlgiSoil is currently piloting its first product line:

AlgiStart – Regenerative Starter for Vineyards, Orchards and Tree Establishment

AlgiStart is designed as a root-zone amendment applied during planting of perennial crops. It aims to:

• Improve soil structure and aggregation

• Increase water retention in light or degraded soils

• Enhance nutrient buffering capacity

• Support soil microbial activity

• Reduce fertilizer losses

• Improve early root development and plant establishment

We are currently conducting pilot trials in collaboration with vineyards and orchard growers, focusing on drought-prone and low-CEC soils. These pilots are structured as co-development processes, integrating farmer feedback, soil monitoring data, and scientific validation.

Scientific and Multi-Actor Approach

AlgiSoil works in close partnership with MATE University and other scientific institutions to:

• Characterize soil-plant interactions

• Assess impacts on soil biodiversity and microbial communities

• Measure water retention, nutrient-use efficiency, and plant performance

• Develop monitoring frameworks aligned with EU soil health indicators

We follow a living lab approach, co-creating solutions with:

• Farmers and cooperatives

• Soil scientists and agronomists

• Regional actors

• Environmental stakeholders

This ensures that our solutions are scientifically robust, locally adapted, and economically viable.