US: Mafix, a startup that turns abundant minerals into carbon-negative silicon-based fertilisers and other mineral products, announced that it has raised US5.4m in pre-seed funding. The company said that due to a decrease in global demand for clinker, roughly 30% of global cement kiln capacity is sitting idle. By partnering with cement producers to utilise spare capacity on kilns, Mafix’s process reportedly eliminates the need for new facilities to produce the fertilisers and provides access to existing logistical hubs for efficient delivery.
"Mafix's silicon fertiliser is designed to improve soil health and agricultural productivity while delivering a scalable solution for permanent CO₂ removal, addressing two critical global challenges with a single technology,” said Jillian Chase at Azolla Ventures, which led the funding round. “Its use of existing cement infrastructure for manufacturing means it can scale quickly to address farmers’ immediate needs while the Mafix team develop additional products via their mineral transformation technology.”