Brekland Secures $1 Million at Grow-NY Summit for Innovative Crop Solution

Brekland, a startup based in Brooklyn, has emerged victorious in the 2025 Grow-NY Food and Agriculture business competition, claiming the grand prize of $1 million. The announcement came during the seventh annual Grow-NY Summit, held on November 12-13, 2025, at the Hotel Canandaigua. Brekland specializes in creating a biodegradable foam coating designed to enhance crop protection, positioning itself as a leader in sustainable agricultural technology.

A total of seven winners shared a prize pool of $3 million, selected from a competitive field of 20 finalists. The winners were determined by a panel of six judges with extensive backgrounds in agriculture, food production, and venture development. “Winning the $1 million grand prize at the Grow-NY Summit is an incredible honor and a defining moment for our team,” said Brekland’s founder and CEO, Eric Bellefroid. “This recognition affirms the strength of our team, our technology, and our mission to advance the crop protection industry.”

Supporting Innovation in Agriculture

The Grow-NY competition aims to stimulate agrifood innovation in upstate New York, identifying and supporting top startups from around the globe. Participating finalists received mentorship and guidance to refine their business strategies in preparation for their pitches. New York Governor Kathy Hochul praised the winners, stating, “The round seven winners of the Grow-NY competition represent some of the most innovative and forward-thinking agribusiness entrepreneurs from around the world that will take our state’s food and agriculture sector to the next level.”

The winners are required to operate within the Grow-NY region, which includes central New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier, for at least one year. This commitment involves creating jobs and forging partnerships with local industry leaders, enhancing innovation that strengthens the regional economy.

In addition to Brekland’s grand prize, two startups received $500,000 awards:

– **Mothership Materials** (New York City) transforms agricultural waste into carbon-negative feedstocks for future food, fuel, and fabric applications.
– **Seen Nutrition** (Ithaca) focuses on the menopause market with a patented dietary calcium chew made from locally produced dairy.

Four additional startups were awarded $250,000 each, including:

– **Living Ink Technologies** (Berthoud, Colorado), which repurposes renewable biomass waste into sustainable inks and pigments.
– **Trebe Biotech** (Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina), utilizing insect larvae for scalable bioproducts in animal health.
– **Whipnotic** (New York City), which creates whipped creams infused with natural fruit juices.
– **ZILA BioWorks** (Renton, Washington), converting vegetable oils into high-performance bio-epoxy resins for industrial applications.

The $10,000 Wegmans Audience Choice Award, decided by summit attendees, was awarded to **Finger Foods Farm**, a frozen soup company located in Bloomfield, New York.

A Vision for Economic Growth

“Grow-NY exists to create lasting economic development by attracting startups and investors into our world-class agrifood ecosystem,” stated Jenn Smith, program director of Grow-NY. “We are thrilled to have this year’s winners help us accomplish our goals while moving toward their own.”

The summit attracted over 900 attendees, featuring not only startup pitches but also panel discussions addressing challenges and opportunities in the food and agriculture sectors. Participants had the chance to network with entrepreneurs, investors, and resource providers through themed roundtable discussions.

Applications for the eighth round of the Grow-NY competition will open in March 2026. The competition is funded by Empire State Development and administered by Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement.