Welcome to another episode of AgTech Digest, your go-to source for the latest in agricultural technology. In today’s episode, we’re diving into exciting advancements in precision agriculture, AI-driven crop management, and controlled environment farming. A new carbon credit program is leveraging precision irrigation and digital monitoring to help businesses offset emissions, while an autonomous farming system featuring cutting-edge AI and LiDAR is set to debut at a major tech conference. AI-powered disease forecasting is enhancing soybean planting decisions, and a smart weather station is delivering real-time, field-specific insights to optimize irrigation. Meanwhile, the AgriFoodTech investment landscape is shifting, with funding moving toward scalable biotech and precision farming solutions, though overall investment has significantly declined. In controlled environment agriculture, innovative climate control systems and aeroponic farming solutions are gaining traction, while financial challenges are reshaping parts of the industry. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started!
Anna:
Precision agriculture and digital farming continue to evolve with major advancements and strategic shifts this week. To start, Netafim and Virridy launched a carbon credit program in Turkey, targeting alfalfa, corn, and sugar beet with precision irrigation and digital monitoring. The initiative aims to generate carbon credits for business offsetting, with plans for a global rollout. Meanwhile, Bluewhite introduced its GEN 4 autonomous farming system, leveraging NVIDIA technology, LiDAR, and AI for autonomous navigation and spraying. The system will be showcased at NVIDIA GTC 2025. At the same time, Agmatix partnered with BASF to develop an AI-driven tool predicting soybean cystnematode risks at planting, under BASF’s AgroStart innovation program. Additionally, CropX unveiled its “Strato 1” smart weather station, which delivers field-specific, real-time weather data to improve irrigation and input decisions via CropX’s AI agronomy platform. On the business front, FarmWise announced its shutdown but is working with RDO Equipment to explore strategic options for its Vulcan precision weeding system which may still have a path forward. Finally, in soil intelligence, Elaniti secured €1.5 million to advance the development of Elaniti’s AI-powered digital decision support tool, which uses DNA sequencing to analyze soil microbiomes. The funding round, combined with previous Innovate UK support, brings Elaniti’s total funds raised to €1.5 million.
Anna:
The 2024 FoodTech 500 has been unveiled, spotlighting the top innovators in AgriFoodTech amid a rapidly evolving investment landscape. Global AgriFoodTech funding has seen a sharp decline, dropping 73% from $61.2 billion dollars in 2021 to $16.1 billion in 2024, with the number of deals falling from 2,040 to 847, reflecting investor caution. However, median deal sizes have increased from $3 million to $5 million, signaling a shift toward fewer but more strategic, high-value investments. Industry focus has also moved upstream, favoring scalable AgTech and biotech innovations over consumer-facing delivery apps. Key growth areas include agricultural biotechnology, which rose from 3.8% to 6.2 %, precision farming, which increased from 2.7 % to 6.6 %, and protein fermentation, growing from 2.3 % to 3.4 %. Meanwhile, food delivery and alternative proteins now account for 47% of funding, down from 68% in previous years. As "FoodTech Wave 3.0" reshapes the industry, leading companies are making strides in multiple sectors. In AgTech, ProducePay, CropX, and Desert Control are driving advancements in crop production and sustainability. The next-generation food and drinks sector is seeing innovation from Nature’s Fynd, Heura Foods, and Upside Foods, while the food processing and biotech space is being led by TraceGrains, Michroma, and Shiru. Vertical and indoor farming are also making an impact, with Vertical Future, IUNU, and Edible Garden Ag leading the charge. As investment trends continue to evolve, these standout innovators are shaping the future of food technology.
Anna:
At a major vertical farm, controlled environment agriculture is seeing new technology rollouts, funding shifts, and significant industry shake-ups. Innovation Agritech, a UK-based vertical farming company specializing in aeroponic systems, has listed its shares on JP Jenkins, allowing private equity transactions as part of its strategy to scale pesticide-free, year-round food production. Meanwhile, Growlink has introduced the LINKS Smart Control System, an IoT-enabled device offering real-time control over climate, lighting, irrigation, and nutrients. Designed for scalability and ease of use, it integrates with Growlink OS and is now available online, with plans to reach hydroponic retailers nationwide. However, financial struggles have hit Plenty, leading to the closure of its Compton farm due to high energy costs and unpaid contractor bills. The company is in talks for a $125 million funding round that could wipe out current shareholders, while facing a lawsuit from Century Construction over $ 500K in unpaid work. In research advancements, Berger & Sollum Tech have partnered to enhance greenhouse lighting with dynamic LED technology, aiming to optimize lettuce growth and develop data-driven best practices. Their research will expand to other crops and share insights with the broader grower community. As innovation continues to shape the industry, financial hurdles and strategic shifts are redefining the future of controlled environment agriculture.
Anna:
In other AgTech news, Seqana and Klim have partnered to implement soil sampling designs across 29,000 hectares of croplands in Germany. Meanwhile, Syngenta and PepsiCo are collaborating to scale regenerative and traceable agriculture practices in sunflower production. Additionally, FA Bio has been awarded grant funding from Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme Nutrient Management Competition, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. Finally, Cultivator powered by Conexus introduced Cohort 4 of the AGTECH ACCELERATOR at Canada’s Farm Show, supporting early-stage AgTech startups.
Anna:
Looking ahead to upcoming industry events, mark your calendars for key gatherings shaping the future of agriculture. The 2-Day Plant Empowerment Workshop will take place on May 6th to 7th, 2025, in the UK, followed by the 2nd International Electronic Conference on Entomology from May 19th to 21st. Reuters Events Transform Food and Agriculture Europe, will bring industry leaders together, while the Commercial UAV Expo is set for September 2nd to 4th, 2025, in Las Vegas, USA. Taiwan Smart Agri week will run from September 3rd to 5th in Taiwan, followed by the Global Vertical Farming Show on September 10th to 11th, 2025, in Dubai. Rounding out the lineup, SPACE will be held from September 16th to 18th in France. These events will provide insights, networking, and progress in AgTech innovations. These events will provide valuable insights, networking opportunities, and advancements in precision agriculture, controlled environment farming, and AgriFoodTech innovations.
Anna:
That wraps up today's episode of AgTech Digest. We delved into the latest advancements in precision agriculture, digital farming, and controlled environment agriculture. From the launch of innovative carbon credit programs and autonomous farming systems to groundbreaking AI-driven tools and the latest in vertical farming, the agtech sector is brimming with transformative technologies. Despite some financial challenges, like Plenty's struggle with high energy costs, key players continue to push the envelope in sustainability and efficiency. With significant funding rounds and strategic partnerships, the future of agriculture is becoming smarter and more sustainable than ever before. Thanks for joining me, I'm Anna, signing off. Stay inspired and keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible!
