Bayer and Silal advance their innovation partnership in the UAE
Building on a tie-up announced in 2023, UAE-based agri-tech company Silal and Bayer are expanding their strategic partnership through a detailed memorandum of understanding.
Precision agriculture
AgriRobot set to accelerate safety software after funding
The Danish start-up has raised more than €2.5 million to accelerate development of autonomous agricultural safety software.
Scientists unveil leaf-mounted sensors to monitor plant health in real time
‘Small but mighty’ technology could help improve crop yields and boost agricultural productivity, according to scientists in Japan.
‘Pick low-hanging fruits’: Three key opportunities that can unlock Asia’s agrifood potential
Asia’s agrifood sector has three untapped opportunities: precision agriculture, farmer empowerment through financial inclusion, and food waste reduction.
Indigo Ag and Truterra reveal tie-up to tackle industry ‘pain points’
Indigo Ag and Truterra’s new strategic collaboration is aimed at simplifying, expanding and accelerating the adoption of ag sustainability solutions.
$1b global package wants to boost weather services for farmers in impoverished regions
A $1 billion scheme aims to give hundreds of millions of farmers across Asia, Latin America and Africa greater access to weather data to help them manage the effects of climate change.
Does TIME’s best invention list mark a shift in how the world views agtech?
Agtech companies are celebrating recognition in TIME magazine’s best inventions for 2024. Does it mark a turning point in wider perceptions of the industry?
EIT Food launches new start-up accelerator to serve future resilient agriculture
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is partnering with EIT Food, the world’s largest food innovation community, to launch a new accelerator bub for start-ups in the EU.
What solutions does the UK agri-supply industry want to achieve resilience?
A new report flags the growing demand for data, circular innovation and market access for precision bred commodities in the UK.
Agtech investment is bouncing back... kinda
Pitchbook’s new Q3 2024 agtech report reveals investor confidence is returning. Venture capital funding is on the rise. But deal counts continue to decline and exit opportunities remain limited.
Country profile
France: Still room for some va va voom?
French agri-tech is alive with innovation despite recent company woes and the government falling short on its ambitions to help the sector go global.
What impact will Donald Trump's victory have on the agtech industry?
Trump’s return to the White House is expected to have a significant bearing on the agtech sector. Here’s how.
Watch: Copa-Cogeca on why data is needed to grow Europe’s carbon farming market
Carbon farming in Europe is still a relatively new and emerging market, but Patrick Pagani, deputy secretary general of influential agricultural lobby group Copa-Cogeca says there is confidence that carbon credits will prove a viable income source for...
Watch: Farms are crying out for innovation, says UK-Agri-Tech Centre CEO
Farmers are not resistant change, says Phil Bicknell, CEO at the newly merged UK-Agri-Tech Centre. But the “three Cs” of communication, collaboration and cash are needed to help them adopt newer sustainable practices.
Watch: BASF on innovation, regulation and collaboration
Progressive regulatory frameworks, together with more collaboration with data, are needed to scale effective innovation, says BASF’s Neil Key.
Incubator launch aims to drive California’s ‘critical’ ag robotics sector
Two new start-up incubators will provide real-world testing environments, world-class resources, and critical industry partnerships for robotics companies in California.
Agtonomy hails ‘common-sense’ approach after raising $32.8 million
Agtech companies should consider alternative funding models that align better with the agricultural industry's needs and timelines, says Agtonomy’s CEO Tim Bucher in the wake of its Series A round.
Study: Drones prove effective way to monitor maize re-growth
Chinese scientists are using drone-based hyperspectral imaging to combat the effects of maize lodging.
WATCH: Microsoft and Syngenta discuss the impact of AI in ag
GenAI and AI platforms continue to develop at a fast pace, experts from Microsoft and Syngenta Group told the recent World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in London. But ‘humans in the loop’ are needed to develop dependable frameworks for validating...
The end of the era of ‘nice to have’ products? 5 insights from McKinsey’s latest farmer survey that you can’t ignore
Cautious farmers are more concerned with ROI and less willing to experiment with new products and technologies, according to a new global report from McKinsey.
‘Aggressive’ usage of technology by young and growing farms revealed
A new report shows a rise in digital payment adoption among US farmers, reflecting a broader industry shift towards digital solutions. But costs are still a concern for younger tech adopters.
xFarm eyes global growth after raising €36 million
The company that provides digital solutions to help farmers and agribusinesses optimise their operations has raised €36 million in a Series C funding round.
M&S employs precision ag to deliver eco-friendly parsnips in time for Christmas
UK retailer Marks & Spencer has begun using drones and robot tractors to produce lower carbon parsnips.
Overheard at World Agri-Tech – 11 talking points for the sector to ponder
From regen ag to AI and biologicals… what’s hot and what’s not in agtech? This and much more was discussed at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in London.
Sustainability report card
Are JBS’s sustainability commitments meaningless without more transparency?
The meat giant’s climate ambitions are ‘unwavering’, according to its latest sustainability report. Is it making genuine progress or just hot air?
Farmers globally demand agricultural innovation: Bayer survey
Farmers around the world are crying out for agricultural innovation amid widespread concern over climate breakdown, a new survey has found.
Project aims to create a unified methodology for the UK ag sector
Lloyds Banking Group and Soil Association Exchange have joined forces to offer what they call a ‘first of its kind’ environmental baselining assessment in a bid to create more sustainable and profitable farming practices.
Yara’s agtech arm Varda joins European soil health study
Agtech data services provider Varda has joined the four-year €6 million ‘DeepHorizon’ project, funded by Horizon Europe, to conduct extensive subsoil sampling across European countries.
Agtech investor profile
Serra Ventures on why investors will continue to be drawn to the rewards of agri-tech
It’s currently a challenging time for venture capitalists in the sector. But Tim Hoerr, founder and CEO of Serra Ventures, can’t think of a better category to be in.
UK bank HSBC offers farmers discounted loan fees to support sustainable practices
Farming businesses on the journey to more sustainable practices can now receive discounts on loan fees as part of a new HSBC UK initiative.
Accuracy advances: How aligning satellite data with rice growth stages improved paddy mapping info in China
Scientists have developed an innovative framework that aligns advanced satellite data with rice growth stages to bolster paddy mapping accuracy in China, raising hopes it will enhance precision ag strategies and contribute to global food security efforts.
Leaf’s fundraise shows need for a common language in ag data
Leaf Agriculture has just raised $11.3 million to make it easier for companies to access and use farm data from multiple sources. Manual data entry or in-house data processing pipelines are not working anymore, co-founder and CEO G. Bailey Stockdale...
Rootwave CEO: ‘Autonomous tech breeds reliability and farmer confidence’
UK-based RootWave has developed an eco-friendly weed control system that uses electricity instead of harmful chemicals to kill weeds. We spoke to its CEO Andrew Diprose to learn about how combining best-in-class power electronics, imaging and artificial...
US-China drone row latest: new coalition forms to oppose ban
In response to proposed legislation aimed at banning China-made drones in the US, a group of American distributors have come together to fight the ruling.
Robots won’t replace the tractor anytime soon, says Rabobank
Autonomous machines are a potential game changer in crop farming, boosting productivity, precision, and ease of operations, but bringing them successfully to the market implies a long road, according to a new a RaboResearch report.
Printed sensors in soil could help farmers improve crop yields and save money
University of Wisconsin–Madison engineers have developed low-cost sensors that allow for real-time, continuous monitoring of nitrate in soil types that are common in Wisconsin. These printed electrochemical sensors could enable farmers to make better...
Can GenAI really predict the future of crop yields? Ask Cropin
We caught up with India’s Cropin Technology, which has just partnered with Google's Gemini generative AI chatbot to launch Sage, a real-time intelligence platform for the agricultural sector.
PepsiCo Europe and Yara partner to decarbonise crop production
PepsiCo Europe has announced a long-term collaboration with crop nutrition company Yara aimed at providing farmers in Europe with crop nutrition programmes to help decarbonise the food value chain.
Syngenta reveals latest tie-up to accelerate launch of ‘pioneering’ biological solution
The crop protection giant has revealed a partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks, a US biotechnology company that specialises in using genetic engineering and synthetic biology to create custom microorganisms for a wide range of industries.
Biologicals in Brazil: what can the rest of the world learn?
A panel of experts at the recent World Agri-Tech South America Summit in São Paulo hailed the country’s success in this sector.
Farmbot fundraise illustrates demand for water saving solutions
As water scarcity intensifies and environmental pressures mount, smart water management is becoming essential for ensuring the sustainability and productivity of agriculture. Leveraging data, technology, and best practices can help farmers grow more with...
Agfintech is booming in Latam – will data silos clip its wings?
There is fertile ground for agfintech growth in Latin America. But fragmentation of data remains a bottleneck for the sector’s growth.
Digital tech can fix the global supply chain – but what can spur broader adoption?
A new report highlights the transformative potential of digital technologies to create a more sustainable, transparent, and resilient global agricultural trade system. But more guidelines, upskilling initiatives and standardisation of data are needed to...
AI in crop development: The future is here
How scientists are helping the food industry to grow crops, using AI.
RNAi for crop protection: how are the key challenges being addressed?
The study of RNAi in biology has been around for decades, but the use of RNAi for crop protection is relatively new. We caught up with Canada-based Renaissance BioScience Corp, which is developing novel yeast-based RNA interference (RNAi) technology for...
Soil power: the UK start-up generating sustainable energy from the earth
Bactery, a spinout from the University of Bath, creates sustainable power from bacterial batteries – ‘Bacteries’ – that harvest electricity from soil.
Global ag-food digital traceability needs greater inclusivity and collaboration to progress
Digital traceability in the global ag-food scene requires greater inclusivity and collaboration to bridge gaps among OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) member countries and transform supply chains, according to a comparative...
RNA: the next big ag trend to watch?
As yet untapped RNA-based technology is set to make up the next generation of tools to accelerate plant breeding and protection says new UK-based spin-out TraitSeq.
Precision irrigation company expands product offer in Europe as region’s water fears grow
WiseConn will launch a new product in Europe to give agricultural operations, farms, and agribusinesses more irrigation management solutions to improve water efficiency, crop yields, and overall farm productivity.
Precision ag start-up primed for growth after new partnerships
Canada-based Verdi says new support from Silicon Valley accelerators will allow it to rapidly scale its platform for farm automation.