AgTech Innovation News
ClearLeaf Is Prize Winner of Grow-NY Food and Agriculture Competition
SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA — November 16, 2024 — ClearLeaf, a company with proven success in formulating non-toxic agricultural products to protect important crops, today announced that it was one of the prize winners at the Grow-NY® Food & Agriculture Competition.
Grow-NY is a business competition focused on growing an enduring food and agriculture innovation cluster in the Grow-NY region. The competition attracts innovative, high-growth food and agriculture startups from across the globe and engages them in the region’s rapidly-growing startup ecosystem. Grow-NY is organized by the Cornell Center for Regional Economic Advancement and New York State’s Empire Development Corporation. In its sixth year, the Grow NY competition attracted 312 applicants from 50 countries.
ClearLeaf was awarded US$250,000 based on the agrifood innovation that the startup has invented, the viability of the startup’s business model, the diversity, quality, readiness and completeness of the startup team, and other factors.
Nestor Zúñiga, ClearLeaf’s Managing Director, commented “We are thrilled and honored to have been selected for this award from among an amazing group of entrepreneurs and businesses. The Grow-NY program was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, connecting us with a terrific mentor, dynamic local businesses, scientists and seasoned entrepreneurs. We look forward to deepening our relationship with the Grow-NY region and partners.”
The key innovation recognized by the program is ClearLeaf’s flagship product GotaBlanca®—one of the only non-toxic fungi-bactericides currently on the market (anywhere in the world). It is broad spectrum, formulated with multiple modes of action to reduce the potential for microbial resistance and enhance plant growth. GotaBlanca does not affect on-farm biological diversity, aligns with regenerative agriculture practices. And can be applied at any time in the growing cycle (off-season, budding, growth, fruiting, and up to the moment of harvest). It can also be used for the protection of post-harvest produce, maintaining freshness between the farm and the end consumer.
About ClearLeaf
ClearLeaf’s mission is to transform agriculture by designing and commercializing innovative pre- and post-harvest crop protection solutions that increase farmer profits while protecting the environment and the health of consumers and farmers.
About Empire State Development
Empire State Development (ESD) promotes a vigorous and growing state economy, encourages business investment and job creation, and supports diverse, prosperous local economies across New York State through the efficient use of loans, grants, tax credits, real estate development, marketing and other forms of assistance.
About the Cornell Center for Regional Economic Advancement
The Cornell Center for Regional Economic Advancement (CREA) supports economic impact in Upstate New York through entrepreneurship and innovation. We help people advance ideas that will create jobs in all fields in our region, to enrich the area’s economic diversity.