Signing Ceremony partnership between Mekong Capital and Husk Ventures in Ho Chi Minh City on May 15, 2024.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (May 15) – Mekong Enterprise Fund IV (MEF IV) is proud to announce its investment of $5 million in HUSK, a pioneering biochar and biofertiliser company committed to regenerative agriculture practices in Southeast Asia.
This investment exemplifies MEF IV's dedication to generating both financial returns and meaningful social and environmental impact across the region.
Founded in 2017 by female entrepreneurs Heloise Buckland and Carol Rius, who were joined by Richard Kendall in 2019, HUSK has rapidly emerged as a leader in the agricultural sector.
Leveraging innovative technology, HUSK produces biochar, carbon based fertilisers and crop protection products designed to address the challenges faced by farmers, including the yield gap, pests, diseases and poor soil and nutrient management, all exacerbated by climate change.
Ingrid van Ginkel, General Manager, HUSK Cambodia, states Mekong Capital’s commitment to soil regeneration, carbon sequestration and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers is truly aligned with our mission at HUSK Cambodia. "We are very excited to work together with their team to grow our business in Cambodia generating high quality carbon based fertilisers across key value chains such as rice, cashew and cassava, which enables farmers to build their soils for climate resilience and better yields".
HUSK is a pioneering biochar and biofertilizer company committed to regenerative agriculture practices in Southeast Asia.
Heloise Buckland, CEO and co-founder at HUSK, adds "Our mission is to accelerate the transition to regenerative agriculture and to achieve this we have developed a unique set of technologies and products that build soil, sink carbon and build climate resilience. Farmers choose our products as they are better value for money than conventional inputs and support long term soil health, crop protection and improved water and nutrient efficiency. The commitment of Mekong Capital to support our vision could not have come at a more critical time – where the need for viable, scalable and impactful solutions to runaway soil degradation is at its most urgent."
Ellen Van, Principal at Mekong Capital and Deal Leader for the investment in HUSK, remarks "We are honoured to partner with HUSK in bringing together knowledge and innovation to accelerate the transition to regenerative agriculture. At Mekong Capital, we believe in investing in companies that not only deliver financial returns but also create meaningful social and environmental impact. We stand behind HUSK's mission, and we look forward to supporting its growth in the years to come and showcasing the positive correlation between impact and returns.”
About HUSK:
Founded in 2017 by Heloise Buckland and Carol Rius, HUSK is at the forefront of regenerative agriculture in Southeast Asia. Joined by Richard Kendall in 2019, the company prioritises female leadership and innovative solutions.
HUSK produces biochar, carbon based fertilisers and crop protection products designed to address the challenges faced by farmers.
A key strategy involves training women as carbon-farming ambassadors, empowering them to advocate for sustainable practices and educate others on soil health. This approach, coupled with on-the-ground sales efforts led by women in Cambodia, contributed to 27 per cent of sales in 2023.
HUSK’s first biochar and carbon-based organic fertiliser operations began in Cambodia in 2019 and the country remains an important operating hub for the company.
The company aims to meet the increasing demand for organic fertilisers in Cambodia, in line with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries vision of a competitive, inclusive, climate resilient and sustainable agriculture sector.
HUSK also has ambitious plans to put Cambodia in a leadership position in decarbonising key value chains such as rice, cassava and cashew by building soil and sinking carbon.
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