Dutch-based Cano-ela raises €1.6M to transform canola seeds into plant-based ingredients

Netherlands-based Cano-ela, a foodtech company, has secured €1.6M in funding with support from existing investor Oost NL and new investors Value Factory Ventures and Ecoseed.

This round follows Cano-ela’s previous investments that allowed the company to develop a proof-of-concept and strengthen its research and development efforts.

Juliana Romero, co-founder and CEO of Cano-ela, says, “We are extremely proud to have completed this new financing round, despite the challenging investment climate for startups.”

“The continued support of Oost NL has been instrumental in our growth, and we are happy to welcome our new investors Ecoseed and Value Factory Ventures. Their focus on sustainability and innovation fits seamlessly with our mission to make an impact with food solutions.”

Gerben Dijksterhuis, Investment Manager Food at Oost NL, adds, “The investment in Cano-ela is a perfect example of how Oost NL can support promising initiatives, even before a company officially starts. It started with a business idea from a PhD research, then connecting partners within the ecosystem, which ultimately led to the current investment in the company.”

Capital utilisation

Cano-ela is entering its next phase, focusing on development and growth. The company aims to convert underutilised canola seeds into plant-based ingredients. With new funding, the Dutch foodtech company will scale up its production process and advance toward commercialisation.

Juliana Romero, co-founder and CEO of Cano-ela, says, “We are entering an exciting phase as we prepare to bring our innovative ingredients to market.”

“This investment will allow us to upgrade our pilot facility, increase production capacity and accelerate collaborations with food producers seeking high-quality, plant-based and sustainable ingredient solutions.”

Brief about Cano-ela

Founded in 2020 by Juliana Romero Guzmán, Alberto Niccolai and Benjamin Maclean, Cano-ela is working on a method to reduce the use of refined ingredients in food production by improving how oil-rich seeds are processed.

These seeds contain multiple components useful for food production, but traditional extraction methods mainly focus on removing vegetable oil, leaving behind byproducts with limited applications. 

Cano-ela’s new process allows for extracting a wider range of ingredients from these seeds. This could help food companies develop plant-based products using more of the seed’s natural components while improving sustainability in the food industry.

Jacco Zuijdweg, Investment Manager at Value Factory Ventures, says, “Climate change and food security require smart solutions. Cano-ela makes optimal use of raw materials and converts them into sustainable ingredients – we proudly support their mission.”

Why canola seeds?

Canola is related to mustard, broccoli, and turnip and is widely grown for vegetable oil and animal feed. It contains essential fatty acids, vitamins, and amino acids, making it suitable for plant-based diets.

Cano-ela has developed a method to use raw materials like canola and other oil-rich seeds to create food ingredients without refining them. Instead of extracting single components, the process retains natural structures, allowing food companies to replace multiple refined or synthetic ingredients.

Currently, the company offers three canola-based ingredients—Cano-cream, Cano-soluble, and Cano-fiber—presented as natural pre-mixes containing macro- and micro-nutrients. 

These ingredients have different functional properties, such as solubility, emulsification, and the ability to absorb water and oil, which help improve food formulation.