Cooks Venture, New York, announced the closing of $12 million senior secured financing provided by AMERRA Capital Management, LLC, New York.

Cooks Venture is establishing regenerative agriculture systems through crop science and genetic intelligent property (IP) to build a transparent food system for the future as well as redefining Ag Tech for monogastric animals. The company's first offerings are pasture-raised, slow-growth, heirloom chickens. In order to increase the use of regenerative farming and further develop crop science, Cooks Venture will use the funding to expand processing capabilities, lead farmers in the transition to regenerative processes and work with leading agroecologists to improve and innovate industry practices.

Cooks Venture is said to be the only independent genetics company of scale in the world.

"Our goal is to use crop science and state-of-the-art technology to build regenerative processes and change our current food system while mitigating climate change. We're starting with the most impactful and prolifically eaten food in the world – poultry," says Matthew Wadiak, founder and CEO at Cooks Venture. "AMERRA was an ideal partner for us, and their provided financing will help us achieve our near-term growth objectives and allow us to expand our capacity to serve B2B and direct consumers nationally. Our financial adviser, Ivan Saval, also played an important role in sourcing and structuring this financing transaction." 

"We strongly support Cooks Venture and its dedication to improving the agriculture ecosystem through scientifically proven regenerative practices and innovation," says Chris Chapman, managing director at AMERRA. "Matthew's impressive background in the food and technology industries, combined with his drive to create lasting change in the agriculture space, will surely solidify Cooks Venture as a household name."

This funding will also go toward opening a renovated, start-of-the art, air-chilled processing facility, allowing Cooks Venture to produce up to 700,000 slow-growth, heirloom chickens per week.

"Most importantly, this financing will give us the opportunity to further shape how regenerative farming is used within the larger agriculture space and help farmers who are looking to get more involved, all while providing consumers with responsible food choices driven by our proprietary systems," says Wadiak.