Welcome back, listeners! In today’s episode, we’ll cover the latest funding highlights in AgTech, from vertical farming to sustainable crop protection. We’ll also explore new partnerships and innovations, including cutting-edge water management systems and hybrid wheat technology. Let’s jump in!
Here’s a Quick Snapshot of What’s Making Headlines:
Welcome to another episode of AgTech Digest, your go-to source for the latest in agricultural technology. In today’s episode, we’ll explore the latest innovations in greenhouse technology, from affordable berry production systems to cutting-edge high-tech solutions that extend growing seasons and improve crop protection. We’ll also dive into the latest funding rounds, including investments in vertical farming, soil intelligence, and plant-based protein startups, all pushing the boundaries of sustainable agriculture. We’ll cover key strategic partnerships, from AI-driven farming platforms to gene editing collaborations aimed at enhancing crop resilience. Plus, we’ll showcase exciting new products designed to optimize water management, soil health, and crop yields. There's a lot to cover, so let's get started
Anna:
Harnois Greenhouses offers a range of solutions for berry production, from affordable, open-field systems like TunnelPro Plus to advanced, high-tech gutter-connected greenhouses like Luminosa. Greenhouse-grown berries provide several advantages over traditional open-field cultivation, including longer growing seasons, better crop protection, and higher yields. Harnois provides turnkey solutions, supported by a team of agronomists and equipment experts, to ensure growers receive systems tailored to their specific needs and budgets. As technology evolves, greenhouse berry production is expected to play a key role in sustainable, year-round farming.
Anna:
Several significant funding rounds have made waves in the agricultural technology sector this week, supporting a range of initiatives from vertical farming to sustainable crop protection. Oishii, a vertical farming startup, extended its Series B round to raise $150 million, building on a previous $134 million to fund its first international expansion into Tokyo, Japan, and scale production of its premium Omakase Berry. Capagro, a European AgTech and FoodTech fund, exceeded €115 million euros to invest in startups like Cuure and Agriodor, aiming to support innovative, sustainable solutions in agriculture and food production. EarthOptics, a soil intelligence platform, raised $24 million from investors including Conti Ventures and Bayer to advance soil health technology, expand globally, and enhance agronomic insights. Plantible Foods, a plant-based protein startup, secured $30 million in Series B funding led by Piva and Siddhi Capital to scale production of its Rubi Protein, addressing food sustainability and providing allergen-friendly alternatives. TRACT, a SaaS platform for agricultural supply chains, raised $11.2 million from major agri-business investors like ADM and Cargill to streamline sustainability data management and harmonize metrics across the industry. BiocSol, a sustainable crop protection startup, raised 5.2 million euros in seed funding to develop microbial biopesticides aimed at combating crop pathogens and supporting eco-friendly agriculture. Finally, Cascadia Seaweed, a seaweed-based agricultural solutions company, secured 4 million Canadian dollars in its Series A funding to build a seaweed biorefinery, expand production, and promote regenerative agriculture.
Anna:
This week, several key industry partnerships are setting the stage for groundbreaking innovations in agricultural technology. BW Fusion, Biodyne, and Agronomy 365 have merged under the BW Fusion brand to form an integrated agricultural platform aimed at delivering sustainable biological solutions. This new alliance focuses on improving crop productivity and enhancing soil health by leveraging decades of research, analytics, and product expertise. In another major move, Almanac has acquired the intellectual property and assets of Gro Intelligence to strengthen its AI-driven agricultural insights platform. This acquisition enhances Almanac’s capabilities with AI-powered tools, extending its reach into new sectors, including agricultural insurance, lending, trading, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) procurement. Meanwhile, genXtraits has partnered with Pairwise to use the Fulcrum Platform for advanced gene editing, with the goal of developing crops with enhanced traits such as drought tolerance, stress resistance, and improved nutrition. This collaboration targets genomic regulators to improve agricultural outcomes. Orbia Precision Agriculture (Netafim) and Bayer have expanded their collaboration to include new platforms like HortiView and GrowSphere, which are designed to optimize irrigation, fertigation, and crop protection while simplifying data collection for fruit and vegetable growers. Finally, FreezeM Ltd and Agroloop Hungary have introduced a decoupled insect farming model using FreezeM’s PauseM breeding technology. This collaboration aims to streamline Black Soldier Fly (BSF) farming, offering scalable, sustainable, and cost-efficient production of insect-based protein, oil, and fertilizers.
Anna:
In new product launches this week, several AgTech innovations are paving the way for more efficient and sustainable farming practices. PTx Trimble, a joint venture between AGCO and Trimble, has introduced the WM-FieldForm, a water management system designed to optimize landforming. This advanced system aims to enhance irrigation efficiency, reduce soil erosion, and increase crop yields by up to 30% through precision topographic surveys and advanced field design. Corteva has launched a non-GMO hybrid wheat technology that offers higher yields and improved drought resistance. This technology is set to improve global wheat production sustainability and food security, with plans to introduce Hard Red Winter wheat in North America by 2027. Growy has also made strides, opening an 8,000 square metre vertical farm in Singapore to supply fresh greens to the city’s food service sector. This move supports Singapore’s food resilience strategy, with plans to expand into the retail market by the end of the year. Lastly, Verdi has rolled out the Verdi Multi-Depth Soil Moisture Kit, an affordable solution that reduces costs by 80%. This new tool gives farmers real-time soil moisture data, enabling more precise irrigation and better water resource management. These new products are part of a broader trend of AgTech innovations driving the future of smarter and more sustainable agriculture.
Anna:
In the latest global AgTech news, several major initiatives are pushing the boundaries of agricultural innovation and sustainability. Bill Gates visited the UAE to announce a $200 million partnership focused on agricultural innovation, spotlighting projects like the CGIAR AI Hub and AgriLLM. Meanwhile, the International Society of Automation (ISA) highlighted the role of control system technologies in advancing precision agriculture and boosting sustainability. Deloitte has released a report forecasting a 40% rise in food demand by 2070, urging the need for continued innovation and sustainable practices in food systems. On a more challenging note, Deere & Company reported a 47% decline in Quarter 4 net income, citing lower shipment volumes and broader market challenges. Bayer has launched its Project Enhanced S3, a new program aimed at helping food companies quantify sustainability benefits derived from regenerative agriculture practices. In sustainability news, ofi’s 2023 Sustainability Report showcased significant progress toward 2030 goals, including regenerative practices and AI-powered beehive projects. Lastly, Lavie Bio has developed LAV321, a bio-fungicide that has shown 70% efficacy against key crop diseases, and is nearing commercialization. These highlights reflect the ongoing advancements shaping the future of agriculture.
Anna:
Looking ahead to upcoming industry events, mark your calendars for World Agri-Tech Middle East 2024 in Dubai. This will be followed by World Agri-Tech San Francisco 2025, two major conferences focused on the latest innovations in AgTech. For those interested in indoor agriculture, Indoor Ag Con will take place in Las Vegas, USA, from March 11th to 12th, 2025. These events will bring together key players from around the world to discuss trends, share insights, and shape the future of agricultural technology.
Anna:
That wraps up today's episode of AgTech Digest. We explored the latest developments in agricultural technology, from innovative greenhouse solutions and new funding rounds to strategic partnerships driving sustainability and precision farming. Highlights include advanced water management systems, hybrid wheat technology, and AI-powered soil moisture kits, all contributing to smarter, more efficient farming. With major investments in vertical farming, plant-based proteins, and sustainable crop protection, it's clear that the agtech sector is making impressive strides in both innovation and sustainability. From groundbreaking product launches to exciting industry events on the horizon, the future of agriculture is shaping up to be more dynamic and sustainable than ever before. Thanks for joining me, I'm Anna, signing off. Stay inspired and keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible!
