boosting sustainable food innovation
Value Factory is proud to announce that, together with existing investor Oost NL and Ecoseed, it has invested in Cano-ela, an innovative startup developing plant-based ingredients from rapeseed. With this €1.6 million funding round, Cano-ela can enter its next growth phase and scale up production towards market introduction.
Unlocking the full potential of rapeseed Based in Ede, the Netherlands, at the heart of Food Valley, Cano-ela is a pioneer in developing three innovative ingredients derived from one of the most nutritious yet underutilized natural resources: rapeseed (canola seeds). Oil-rich seeds naturally contain essential building blocks for food production, such as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Yet, conventional processing methods extract only the oil, leaving behind valuable nutrients that are either discarded or used as low-value animal feed. This results in a 40% loss of potential food ingredients that could otherwise contribute to human nutrition.
Cano-ela is transforming this inefficiency by unlocking the full potential of canola seeds by producing three key ingredients: cano-cream, cano-soluble and cano-fiber, which enhance the taste, texture, and nutritional profile of foods and alternative proteins. These natural ingredients replace synthetic emulsifiers, stabilizers, and texturizers, offering a clean-label and sustainable alternative for food producers.
Jacco Zuijdweg, Investment manager Value Factory Ventures: “Climate change and food security demand smarter solutions. Cano-ela transforms underutilized resources into sustainable ingredients, and we’re proud to support their mission.”
Scaling up for market launch
With this new funding, Cano-ela will scale up its production process and move closer to commercial launch. Juliana Romero, co-founder and CEO at Cano-ela: “We are entering an exciting phase as we prepare to bring our innovative ingredients to the market. This investment enables us to upgrade our pilot facility, increase production capacity, and accelerate collaborations with food producers who seek high-quality, plantbased and sustainable ingredient solutions.”
Gerben Dijksterhuis, investment manager Food at Oost NL: “The investment in Cano-ela is a perfect example of how Oost NL can support promising initiatives, even before the official start of a company. It began with refining a business idea from a PhD, then connecting partners within the ecosystem, leading up to the current investment in the company.”
Strong investor backing for a shared missionThis funding builds on previous investments that allowed Cano-ela to develop a proof-of-concept and advance its R&D. “We are thrilled to have secured this new funding round despite a challenging investment climate for startups,” says Romero. “The continued support of Oost NL has been crucial in our journey, and we are excited to welcome new investors Ecoseed and Value Factory Ventures. Their commitment to sustainability and innovation aligns perfectly with our mission to create impact through food solutions.”
Henk Savelkoul, director Ecoseed, “Cano-ela is a game-changer in food innovation, turning overlooked nutrients into high-value ingredients. We’re excited to be part of their journey.”