Apolarion receives CHF150,000 for plasma-based seed treatment

A small funding announcement can carry an interesting physics experiment into the field.

What happened

EPFL spinout Apolarion has received CHF150,000 from Venture Kick to advance a seed-treatment system based on cold atmospheric plasma.

The company is developing equipment intended to remove harmful microorganisms from seed surfaces using air and electricity, without conventional chemical coatings. The support will help fund initial field trials and customer pilots, including facilities, equipment and personnel.

Why it matters

Seed treatment has to control pathogens while preserving the seed's ability to germinate. A different physical treatment method could offer another option for seed producers if it performs reliably across relevant crops and pathogens.

The bigger picture

The next evidence needs to come from field performance and integration into seed-processing operations. The funding supports that validation work; it does not establish broad yield improvements, lower lifecycle impacts or commercial readiness.