PINC, the venture capital arm of international food company Paulig, has led a €2.73m investment in the Swedish AgriTech start-up BlueRedGold. The round also included participation from The Food Tech Lab and PolarVentures.
The funding will be used to further develop BlueRedGold’s indoor saffron cultivation system, which uses robotics and artificial intelligence to replicate optimal growing conditions and automate the harvesting process. The company plans to build a modular facility as a prototype for future commercial-scale operations.
READ MORE: Wandercraft raises US$75m to scale exoskeletons to help people walk again
The investment aligns with Paulig’s broader focus on sustainability and innovation in the food sector. Through PINC, the company seeks to support technologies that address long-term challenges in agriculture, including supply resilience and environmental impact.
BlueRedGold’s system is designed to increase efficiency in saffron production, which is traditionally labour-intensive and geographically constrained.
The technology allows for multiple harvests per year and aims to provide a scalable alternative to conventional cultivation methods.
The company has reported demand from the nutraceutical, food, and cosmetics industries, indicating interest in more reliable saffron sourcing.
As the owner of the Santa Maria spice brand, Paulig has a strategic interest in securing high-quality saffron for its product range.
Nastaran Baleng-Soultani, CEO of BlueRedGold, said the partnership would support the company’s next phase of development.
“This investment enables us to scale production and start fulfilling the unmet demand we see worldwide – with quality and reliability at the core,” he said.
Innovative applications of technology in retail and e-commerce, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, automotive, transport & logistics, and more will be celebrated at the Robotics & Automation Awards on 29 October 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.roboticsandautomationawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s robotics and automation sectors!
