Welcome back, listeners! Get ready to dig into the latest agricultural innovation, from significant funding rounds driving sustainable farming to new partnerships boosting precision agriculture across the globe. 

1. This Week’s Investments: Entosystem, AgroSpheres & Vision Greens Bag Funding
2. This Week’s Partnerships: BeeHero Expands In LATAM, FMC in Brazil & xFarm’s UK Partnership
3. AI-Powered Agronomic Data, AI Vision Guidance, Variable Rate Application & More!
4. Interview with Doriane’s CEO: The Growing Need for Data in Agriculture
5. Other News: Advancements in Climate Tech, Banana Breeding, and Vertical Farming
6. Upcoming AgTech Events, Conferences & Webinars

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Welcome to another episode of AgTech Digest, your source for the latest in agricultural technology. I'm your host, Anna. Today, we’ll explore Harnois Greenhouses and their innovative solutions for greenhouse-grown berries, ranging from low to high-tech systems. We'll also delve into this week’s major investments, including Entosystem's $58M funding for organic waste conversion and AgroSpheres’ $37M for sustainable crop protection. Additionally, we’ll discuss key partnerships like FMC’s expansion in Brazil and BeeHero’s pollination technology in Peru. Lastly, we'll highlight exciting advances in AI-powered tools and data management systems. Let's get started.

Harnois Greenhouses has emerged as a key player in providing innovative solutions for berry production. Their offerings span a wide spectrum, catering to various needs and budgets in the industry. On one end, they provide cost-effective options like the TunnelPro Plus, which offers an upgrade from open-field cultivation. On the other end, they showcase advanced high-tech structures such as the Luminosa, a gutter-connected greenhouse designed for optimal berry growth. What sets Harnois apart is their commitment to delivering turnkey solutions. This means growers don't just get a greenhouse structure; they receive a complete system tailored to their specific requirements. To ensure this, Harnois has assembled a team of agronomists and equipment experts who work closely with each client. This approach allows Harnois to offer customized greenhouse solutions that align with growers' individual needs and financial considerations. As the demand for greenhouse-grown berries continues to rise, Harnois is well-positioned to support the industry's growth and contribute to more sustainable, year-round farming practices.

In the world of agtech, recent investments are fueling innovation and growth. Entosystem, a company focused on converting organic waste into valuable ingredients, has secured $58 million from Idealist Capital, Sanimax, and Fondaction. This funding will allow Entosystem to increase its production capacity and build a second plant, furthering its support of sustainable agriculture and circular economy initiatives. AgroSpheres, another key player in the industry, has raised $37 million in a Series B funding round led by Zebra Impact Ventures. This investment will enable AgroSpheres to expand its biomanufacturing capabilities, enhance product development, and advance its AgriCell platform. The company's work is particularly significant as it aims to develop sustainable crop protection solutions with lower environmental impact. Lastly, Vision Greens has secured $18 million from The Dorchester Corporation and Farm Credit Canada. This funding will help the company scale its production to an impressive 1 million pounds of pesticide-free lettuce annually. Vision Greens' expansion addresses the growing demand for fresh, sustainable produce in the market. These investments collectively demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing sustainable agricultural practices and technologies, paving the way for a more environmentally conscious future in food production.

Moving on to industry partnerships, we've seen several notable collaborations in the agricultural sector recently. xFarm Technologies and Dyson Farming have joined forces on a significant digitalization project. This three-year initiative aims to digitize thirty three thousand six hundred acres of Dyson Farming's land. The project's goals include increasing operational efficiency through real-time tracking, improving data management and machinery usage, and supporting sustainability and traceability in Dyson's food production. In Brazil, FMC Corporation and Ballagro have formed a partnership to expand biological solutions. FMC will license and distribute Ballagro's biosolutions, helping Brazilian growers protect their crops more sustainably. This collaboration aims to expand FMC's biologicals platform in Brazil and offer a full suite of biological products to improve productivity and sustainability. This partnership plays a vital role in helping Brazilian agriculture adapt to changing environmental conditions, ensuring more sustainable farming practices. Lastly, BeeHero and CONAPI have partnered to enhance pollination in Peru. BeeHero is bringing its IoT sensors and AI-driven pollination technology to the country. The goals of this partnership include improving pollination efficiency for crops such as avocados, blueberries, and coffee, supporting Peruvian beekeepers with technology and education, and strengthening global food security by boosting crop yields through better pollination outcomes. These partnerships highlight the ongoing efforts to integrate technology and sustainable practices in agriculture across different regions.

In the world of agricultural technology, AI-powered innovations are making significant strides. Syngenta has recently unveiled Cropwise AI, a platform that harnesses artificial intelligence to provide tailored agronomic recommendations. This system utilizes over two decades of data, including weather patterns, soil conditions, and crop growth stages, to offer precise guidance on input applications, pest control, and seed placement. It is currently available in the U.S. and Brazil, with future plans for expansion into Europe. Meanwhile, CropX has introduced an enhanced Variable Rate Application tool. This technology optimizes seeding, irrigation, and fertilizer use by accounting for in-field variations. The tool integrates real-time data from soil sensors and weather stations to provide accurate recommendations, ultimately reducing the over-application of water and chemicals. In the realm of precision farming, Garford Farm Machinery has launched the Robocrop AI Vision Guidance System. This advanced technology employs multi-modal cameras to distinguish crops from weeds, even in challenging field conditions. The system's 'green on green' plant recognition capabilities promise to revolutionize weed management practices when it becomes available for the 2025 season.In other developments, Biotalys is expanding its research and development with the launch of BioFun-8, a new program focused on sustainable protection against Alternaria. Alternaria is a significant issue affecting fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops, and current chemical treatments are facing resistance and regulatory challenges. To tackle this problem, Biotalys is leveraging its AGROBODY 2.0 platform to accelerate the development of biofungicides. Their pipeline is robust, including other biocontrol solutions like BioFun-6, BioFun-7, and BioIns-2, demonstrating their commitment to advancing sustainable crop protection. Meanwhile, Rantizo has introduced a new FAA reporting feature in its AcreConnect software. This tool is designed to automate FAA reporting for drone spray operators, simplifying the submission of monthly flight reports required for Part 137 licenses. By reducing complexity and minimizing errors, it ensures compliance with FAA regulations for agricultural drone operations. This innovation not only streamlines the reporting process but also enhances operational efficiency for drone operators in the agricultural sector.

This week’s interview features Doriane’s CEO, Louis Gauthier, in this interview the importance of data in addressing agricultural challenges like sustainability and climate change is emphasized. Effective data management is essential for decision-making, particularly in research. Doriane, a French software company with 40 years of experience, provides tools to help seed and biocontrol companies manage trial data. Gauthier stresses that data platforms, such as Bloomeo Biosolutions, improve research outcomes, facilitate predictive modeling, and enhance decision-making. As more data is digitized, cybersecurity and efficiency become critical concerns. By 2030, digital platforms are expected to drive agricultural innovation, with Doriane aiming to lead in agronomy and data management. Predictive modeling plays a key role, helping companies prepare for future challenges like climate change. Gauthier highlights that data is not just for current research but for future planning, ensuring better outcomes for agricultural products. Additionally, cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important, as platforms like Bloomeo automate data collection and improve efficiency. Looking ahead, Gauthier predicts that by 2030, digital platforms will be at the heart of agricultural innovation and strategy, with Doriane positioning itself as a leader in the field of agronomy and data management.

In other news, Pivot Bio has expanded its team in Brazil by hiring four new members with expertise in agronomy, finance, sales, and marketing. This move comes as the company prepares to launch commercial operations in the region. The agricultural sector faces challenges as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped 12 points in September, reaching 88, its lowest level since March 2016. Farmers also report concerns about low commodity prices (33%) and high input costs (34%) for the coming year. Additionally, 78% of farmers expressed concern over potential government policy changes following the 2024 elections. The Farm Financial Performance Index decreased for the third consecutive month, and short-term farmland value expectations dropped for the first time since 2020. Beyond this, CH4 Global shared findings from a recent study showing that whole Asparagopsis seaweed reduces cattle methane emissions by 95.6%, significantly outperforming the 59.6% reduction achieved by pure bromoform. The study highlights that bioactive compounds in the seaweed contribute approximately 40% to the methane reduction effect. Additionally, Lavie Bio has received a grant from the Israel Innovation Authority to further develop its patented ‘MicroFermentor’ technology, designed to improve the viability, shelf life, and efficiency of ag-biologicals by promoting beneficial bacteria multiplication directly on plants Lastly, Royal Peterson Control Union Group (RPCU) has acquired a majority stake in Delphy Groep BV, a consultancy specializing in optimizing food and flower production. Delphy will integrate with Peterson Projects and Solutions, aiming to enhance agricultural consultancy services and expand through RPCU's international network.

Let's take a look at some exciting upcoming events in the agtech world. Mark your calendars for Agra Middle East in Dubai on October 7th and 8th, 2024. Following that, VertiFarm 2024 will take place in Dortmund, Germany from October 8th to 10th. Later in the month, World Agri-Tech Mexico is scheduled for October 29th and 30th. Moving into November, we have the REAP Conference 2024 in Newmarket, UK on November 6th. The Inhouse Farming Feed & Food Show will run from November 12th to 15th in Hanover. also, don’t miss the AgriNext Conference in Dubai on November 13th and 14th, 2024. Finally, the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit is set for November 19th to 21st, 2024. These events offer great opportunities to learn about the latest innovations and network with industry leaders.

To wrap up today's episode of AgTech Digest, we explored Harnois Greenhouses’ solutions for greenhouse-grown berries, from budget-friendly to high-tech systems. We also covered major investments like Entosystem’s 58 million dollar expansion for organic waste conversion and AgroSpheres' 37 million dollar impact venture for sustainable crop protection. Key partnerships, such as FMC's expansion into Brazil and BeeHero’s pollination tech in Peru, were also highlighted. On the tech front, we discussed AI-driven innovations like Syngenta’s Cropwise and CropX’s precision farming tools. Lastly, we touched on Pivot Bio’s expansion in Brazil, methane reduction breakthroughs using Asparagopsis seaweed, and Royal Peterson’s acquisition of Delphy Groep BV. Thank you for tuning in to AgTech Digest. I'm Anna, and I'll see you next time.