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AEH Innovative Hydrogel, the agri-tech firm founded and led by The University of Manchester alumnus  Dr Beenish Siddique, has secured a funding agreement worth 拢3.5 million with Canada-based biotech investor Terra Sana Holdings, with a view to scaling up AEH's manufacturing capability in Greater 91直播.

This new investment recognises AEH's breakthrough contribution to a more sustainable future by using a unique hydrogel - branded GelPonic and developed in the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) - as a growing medium that is biodegradable and fully sustainable.

The pioneering technology will reduce the use of fresh water in agriculture and therefore enable nations like the UK to grow a wider range of indigenous foods 鈥� so reducing  鈥渇ood miles鈥� 鈥� while enabling better yields for farmers in developing nations, where poor quality soils and limited rainfall put pressure on water supply and productivity.

Investment in Greater 91直播

Terra Sana's investment will provide AEH with capability to fully develop its vertical farming system and to set up a manufacturing facility in Greater 91直播. The new funding is for an initial sum of 拢1.5m with a follow-on option to subscribe for 拢2m in 18 months 鈥� and it builds on a 拢1m investment already made by Innovation UK to AEH.

CEO and founder Beenish Siddique said the new funding was welcome as it will accelerate already established sales opportunities for its GelPonic systems on a global basis. Beenish added that this major investment could provide a boost to female entrepreneurs. 

AEH is based in the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC), the world-leading materials innovation accelerator based at The University of Manchester. The company was initially supported through the programme, and the move to the GEIC came after AEH Director Dr Farid Khan arranged initial match funding for the subsequent 拢1m Innovate UK grant.

Ray Gibbs, Chairman of AEH, said: 鈥淪etting up AEH in the GEIC gave the company a platform to fast-track its product development. Fundamentally, the government-backed grant awarded in 2020 has been vindicated, with the original investment now being trebled with private sector funding. What鈥檚 more, this private backing is new investment coming into Greater 91直播 and the UK from North America and offers us both UK and international sales opportunities for our GelPonic products.鈥�

Richard Willett, an investor in Terra Sana, has taken a board position in AEH along with Professor Robert Field, Director of the 91直播 Institute of Biotechnology, at The University of Manchester, who will sit on the technical advisory board.

Richard said: 鈥淲e are delighted to invest in AEH with Beenish as the visionary behind the company. This international partnership will open new overseas market opportunities, including the fast-growing North American market, where Terra Sana has strong links and already established orders. The AEH gel offers significant opportunities in improving soil in impoverished regions and we see enormous potential in the North American vertical farming market that is forecast to reach over $6,500 million by 2028 [1].鈥�

Notes to editors

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About Terra Sana (TS)

TS is a newly formed Canadian company set up to invest in and operate highly advanced indoor growing facilities, biotechnology and vertical farming. It aims to incorporate revolutionary and scalable products and systems that will make an effective, measurable and sustainable impact on solving the global challenge of scarce water and food shortages against a forecast growth in world population to 10 billion by 2050. It is setting up hi-tech greenhouse growing in Mexico designed to meet food produce orders secured from the USA.

About AEH Innovative Hydrogel Limited;

AEH is a start-up founded in late 2018 by entrepreneur Dr Beenish Siddique, who developed a food-based fully recyclable hydroponic gel. Beenish won initial funding from the Eli and Brit Harari Graphene Enterprise competition.  The initial focus on the novel hydrogel growing media is designed to reduce food production costs, improve quality and lower environmental impact. This award winning agri-tech business had a major breakthrough in 2020 when it won a 拢1m+ grant from Innovate UK to develop a new GelPonic system for vertical farming, offering significantly reduced costs, carbon emissions and water consumption. AEH is based in the University of Manchester鈥檚 . 

Its technical validation is being performed by the UK backed organisation. CHAP brings together scientists, farmers, advisors and pioneers to advance crop productivity and yield around the world. 

Professor Robert Field has been appointed to the AEH Technical Advisory Board and heads up the .

 is one of The University of Manchester鈥檚  - examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that are tackling some of the biggest questions facing the planet. #ResearchBeacons.