ElectriFI further deepens its strategic investment in Sistema.bio, and leads crucial internal pre-Series C round

Brussels, Belgium, 14 October 2024 – ElectriFI, managed by EDFI Management Company (EDFI MC), and Sistema.bio,  the global leader in biogas technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at family farms around the world, today announced a new strategic investment to further support Sistema.bio’s continued growth and impact in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. This follow-on investment builds upon ElectriFI’s previous funding in 2019 and 2020. The financing round led by ElectriFI, is followed by the bulk of Sistema.bio’s current shareholders, and aims to unlock additional financing to drive Sistema.bio’s expansion efforts.

Sistema.bio’s innovative biodigester technology enables smallholder farmers to convert animal waste into clean biogas for cooking, heating, and electricity generation, while also producing nutrient-rich biofertilizer to enhance agricultural productivity. With a presence in over 35 countries, Sistema.bio has positively impacted the lives of more than 100,000 farms and more than 600,000 people globally while reducing over 1 million tons of CO2e emissions annually. 

“We are proud to deepen the partnership between ElectriFI and Sistema.bio, a company that has consistently demonstrated its ability to deliver innovative, high-impact, scalable solutions for smallholder farmers,” said Liesbet Mijlemans, senior investment officer at EDFI Management Company. 

Alexander Eaton, CEO and Co-founder of Sistema.bio, expressed enthusiasm for the continued support from EDFI MC, stating, “The continued trust of ElectriFI and our coalition of investors allows us to focus on our work of engaging millions of farmers to help fight the climate crisis and deliver food security. We are now better positioned to reach our goal of empowering one million farmers by 2025, and reducing 1% of global emissions by 2030.”

After a decade of improving its technology and business practices, Sistema.bio is now one of the largest integrated biogas companies in the world focused on small-scale agriculture, with more than 100,000 units sold to date. ElectriFI has been a shareholder in Sistema.bio since 2019. The investment will enable Sistema.bio to expand its reach, strengthen its technology, and enhance its customer service offerings. By unlocking additional debt financing, this strategic partnership will support Sistema.bio’s growth trajectory and position the company for further success in the years ahead.

“At EDFI MC, we believe in the power of innovative, impact-driven enterprises to drive transformative change,” added Rodrigo Madrazo Garcia De Lomana, chief executive officer at EDFI Management Company. “Sistema.bio exemplifies this approach, and we are excited to continue our collaboration in delivering sustainable energy solutions worldwide.”

About EDFI Management Company

EDFI Management Company (EDFI MC) is a multilaterally owned impact asset manager which delivers innovative development finance solutions that enable European DFIs, development banks and private sector investors to increase the scale and impact of their work. The company focuses on business models, technologies and geographies where other investors have not been able to operate at the desired scale given their resources and investment criteria. For more information, visit www.edfimc.eu.

About ElectriFI

The Electrification Financing Initiative – ElectriFI, managed by EDFI Management Company, is an impact-first investment facility, funded by the European Union, USAID’s Power Africa programme, the Government of Sweden and the Government of Italy. ElectriFI is investing in early-stage private companies and projects that increase or improve access to and supply of sustainable energy in developing countries. For more information, visit www.electrifi.eu.

About Sistema.bio

Sistema.bio is a social enterprise working with farmers to improve life on Earth; they provides access to innovative biodigester technology, training and financing to address the challenges of poverty, food security, and climate change. Sistema.bio manufactures and distributes advanced biodigesters and biogas appliances that enable farmers to convert waste into renewable energy and organic fertilizer. Working together with farmers worldwide, Sistema.bio delivers high-quality carbon mitigation, sequestration and climate change adaptation programs backed by Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) supported with IoT. Sistema.bio works with family farmers all over the world to reduce their carbon footprint, make them more productive and more efficient and create regenerative agricultural and energy systems, and healthy, resilient families and communities. www.sistema.bio

Media inquiries

For EDFI Management Company: Natasa Lakovic, n.lakovic@edfimc.eu