Division Q, Koppert Cress' innovation arm, invests in Skytree's Direct Air Capture (DAC), reinforcing Koppert Cress’ commitment to lead sustainability in horticulture and become climate-positive by 2026. This collaboration will see Skytree’s DAC technology deployed in Koppert Cress’ greenhouses, extracting CO₂ directly from the atmosphere to stimulate plant growth. This initiative not only advances sustainable horticulture but also solidifies the Netherlands’ positions as global leader in innovative greenhouse technology.

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AMSTERDAM, April 10, 2025 — Division Q, responsible for leading and implementing sustainable innovations at Koppert Cress, has announced two strategic investments in Skytree, a leading Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology provider for greenhouse horticulture and other industries—consisting of direct investment in the company, as well as the intention for Koppert Cress to be a launching customer for a Skytree Stratus system for their greenhouses. This partnership underscores Koppert Cress’ unwavering dedication to sustainability and its role as a driving force in horticultural innovation. 

Koppert Cress, renowned worldwide for its natural culinary ingredients, aims to achieve climate positive operations by 2026. To realize this goal, Division Q was founded in 2022 to spearhead sustainability initiatives and incorporate technical innovations from greenhouse tech startups. As part of this vision, Koppert Cress intends to implement Skytree's cutting-edge DAC technology in its new greenhouse in Monster, South-Holland, as well as in its existing greenhouses.

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“At Koppert Cress, we firmly believe that horticulture offers many solutions to today’s global challenges. As pioneers in the industry, we are committed to driving innovation and sustainability forward. Horticulture can play a vital role in addressing critical issues such as climate change, energy efficiency, and preventive health on a global scale.”

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– Stijn Baan (CEO of Koppert Cress)

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"The Netherlands is an international leader in innovations for greenhouse horticulture, often with a focus on energy and sustainability. Our mission is to support startups by providing guidance and capital while facilitating practical testing through Koppert Cress. Skytree’s Direct Air Capture system will be integrated into our greenhouses to supply CO₂ sustainably, aligning with our goal of moving away from fossil fuels. This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to the fight against climate change."

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— Bart van Meurs (Director of Division Q)

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Working closely with consultant agency Vijverberg, DivisionQ plans to integrate Skytree’s technology into the Koppert Cress’ energy systems, creating a robust and future-proof CO₂ solution for greenhouse operations.

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Transforming CO2 supply in greenhouses

Skytree’s DAC systems extract CO₂ directly from the atmosphere to stimulate photosynthesis of plants in greenhouses, boosting crop yield. Extensively tested at Wageningen University Research, Delphy, and Vertify, these Skytree DAC systems are now entering the mass production phase for deployment at greenhouses in the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

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“While greenhouse horticulture currently depends on fossil- derived CO₂ for optimal crop growth, our technology offers a game-changing alternative. By directly capturing CO₂ from the air at the greenhouse location, we provide growers with long term CO2 supply security at stable price levels. On top of that we enable more sustainable horticulture in The Netherlands and other countries by switching away from fossil fuel CO₂ sources, potentially eliminating many millions of tons of CO₂emitted to the atmosphere by greenhouses annually. We’re very excited that DivisonQ and Koppert Cress are leading the way in revolutionizing how greenhouses can transform into innovative, sustainable ecosystems and we’re thankful for their trust in our DAC technology.”

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— Rob van Straten (CEO at Skytree)

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Strengthening the horticulture ecosystem

DivisionQ’s investment in Skytree forms part of a broader Series A financing round that includes contributions from Horticoop, an investment cooperative of 280 Dutch greenhouse growers. Thanks to this collective, the conversations between the horticulture sector and DAC technology providers drive the change towards a sustainable and strategic horticulture system. 

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About Koppert Cress‍

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Koppert Cress, based in Westland, specialises in innovative, natural ingredients for gastronomy. The company develops cresses - young, edible plants - and other flavourful specialties that inspire chefs worldwide. With a strong focus on sustainability, health and taste experience, Koppert Cress strives to bring food and experience together in an innovative way.

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About DivisonQ‍

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Since 2022 the goal is clear: make Koppert Cress climate positive by 2026. As a daughter company of Koppert Cress, Division Q is responsible for leading and implementing sustainable innovations in Koppert Cress’ greenhouses. And as an impact investor in promising startups, Division Q also actively engages in sharing these techniques and experiences with the rest of the horticultural sector. All efforts are guided by five self-developed work packages with the focus on innovative solutions to reduce Koppert Cress’ scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. These solutions include both projects from within Division Q itself and collaborative projects with startups. The goal is not only to make the sector more sustainable but also more flexible to face future challenges. For more information, visit Division Q.

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About Skytree

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Founded in 2014 in Amsterdam with offices in Amsterdam, Toronto and Nashville, Skytree engineers the CO₂ transition with advanced Direct Air Capture (DAC) machines for carbon removal and utilization. Built on European Space Agency expertise, the company delivers scalable, plug-and-play systems tailored for both decentralized installations and large-scale DAC Parks. By transforming CO₂ from a waste product into a valuable resource, Skytree is generating CO₂ from the atmosphere, at the location where it is needed. Skytree Stratus units set the standard for cost and energy efficiency, providing flexible gaseous or liquid CO₂ outputs. Continuously enhanced with next-generation sorbents, Skytree systems radically improve energy efficiency and production capacity over time. With Cumulus units already operating worldwide and a project pipeline for Stratus exceeding 2 million tons of CO₂ annually, Skytree is accelerating the shift to a circular carbon economy with mass-produced, cost-leading, and proven DAC solutions today. For more information, visit skytree.eu.

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