Starbucks looks to worms to recycle used coffee grounds into fertiliser
The coffee giant has unearthed a new solution for disposing of spent coffee grounds in the UK.
Regenerative agriculture
Regen ag: ‘If 70% of farmers did it, we would end the climate crisis’
Experts are meeting in Spain to highlight the role of regenerative agriculture in reducing the climate footprint and boost the profitability of crops.
Study says organic inputs can boost rice yield and cut nitrogen losses
Integrating organic and inorganic fertilisers can improve eco-efficiency and sustainability in rice cultivation, which could hold significant implications for rice growers in mid-latitudes.
Climate funds fail to get finance to family farmers, COP29 told
The two biggest global climate funds are failing to get finance to grassroots farmer organisations where it can have the most impact, claims new researched released during the Food, Agriculture, and Water Day at the COP29 climate summit.
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.
Innovafeed gets $11m USDA grant to bring insect fertiliser to the US
French insect company Innovafeed is celebrating after the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded it an $11 million grant as part of its Fertiliser Production Expansion Programme (FPEP).
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.
The challenges genomic selection has to overcome to revolutionise fruit, vegetable crop breeding
Genomic selection (GS) has shown promise in enhancing fruit and vegetable crops but significant challenges remain, limiting its full potential in the sector, says new research.
NitroVolt gets €3.5 million to realise its green ammonia plan
The Danish company has secured €3.5 million in seed funding to develop a sustainable and decentralised method for producing ammonia.
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.
Gene editing promises to futureproof the wine sector
Gene editing technology could help the global wine industry combat the effects of climate change, says Lithuanian specialist Caszyme.
$151 billion needed annually to close ‘critical’ climate finance gap for smallholder farmers
New estimates from the nonprofit One Acre Fund reveal what it calls the true cost of supporting global smallholders to build long-term resilience for themselves and the environment.
Dry chain technology offers scalable solution for seed storage in tropical climates: Global study
Dry chain technology is gaining importance as a scalable, practical solution to address seed storage challenges in tropical climates, according to a study by researchers in Europe, the Americas, the UK, APAC and Oceania.
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.
Cheer for Italy’s agrisolar sector as projects attract €185m
Private equity firm and renewable energy investor Capital Dynamics has raised €185 million to finance two of Italy's largest agrivoltaics projects in Sicily.
Study says ‘vaccinating’ plants could reduce pesticide use and secure global food supplies
Induced resistance, where plants’ immune systems are activated in a controlled way that prepares them to fight pests and disease, could help build a sustainable and resilient agricultural system, according to researchers.
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.
Watch: Gates Ag One discusses the tech solutions on its radar
The innovation being eyed by Gates Foundation's agtech arm has potential to be deployed in richer nations, says Trey Key, its director of business development. But he warns that ag requires more time for technology integration compared to other sectors.
‘The timelines are too long’: Regulation ‘holding back’ biologicals in Europe, firms complain
Biological players have criticised the overlong regulatory timelines for alternative crop protection products in the region.
WATCH: Henry Dimbleby says the link between human and soil health is set to explode
Knowledge about the impact of regenerative farming on human health will snowball in the next few years, believes Henry Dimbleby – the former UK food tsar and founder of restaurant chain Leon who is now managing partner of the investor Bramble Partners.
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.
‘We still have work to do’: Agreena celebrates milestone but insists efforts are needed to scale regen ag
Danish company Agreena is now working with more than 2,300 farmers to transition a total of 4.5 million hectares to regenerative agriculture across Europe – up by 2.5 million hectares in a year.
Plans to turn pongamia oil into biofuel move up a gear
Terviva, the company aiming to plant 200 million pongamia trees over 10 years for food, feed and fuel, has received investment from Chevron Renewable Energy Group, as mining giant Rio Tinto also looks to pongamia as a feedstock for renewable diesel...
Is it time for a more balanced perspective on chemical crop protection?
Valid concerns about their use have led to some negative perceptions. But it’s time to be more agnostic regarding the use of both synthetic and natural ingredients in crop protection, believes Moa Technology.
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.
Smallholder farmers in Africa call for improved access to technology
Smallholder farmers in Africa benefit from regenerative agriculture through a diverse set of practices but need better access to technology.
Recoup launches gut-friendly beverage at Sprouts, raises awareness on benefits of regen ag
Recoup’s prebiotic sparkling beverages hit the shelves at 420 Sprouts Farmers Market stores nationwide, as the company leans into gut health and regenerative agriculture claims to deliver consumer demands for functional and environmental benefits.
Food companies' regenerative ag strategies 'lack ambition'
Beef and dairy companies put greater focus on claiming lower emissions through regenerative ag practices over embracing the concept holistically, a new report has found.
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.
New $75 million financing unveiled for high-potential but neglected value streams
The Business Investment Financing Track (BIFT), a new window within the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), aims to bolster inclusive, climate-smart, and nutritious food systems in the poorest and most vulnerable countries.
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.
Enhanced rock weathering start-up Eion celebrates Microsoft deal
Eion, a carbon removal company that uses enhanced rock weathering to remove atmospheric CO2 permanently and verifiably, has announced a contract to deliver 8,000 tonnes of permanent CO2 removal to Microsoft.
Opinion
Regenerative agriculture is transforming farming for Kenyan women
In sub-Saharan Africa, the female share of the agricultural labour force is the highest in the world. The charity Farm Africa – whose work stretches across Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, DRC and Kenya – is training farmers to develop the agricultural and...
Sustainability report card
ADM: Positive, but room for improvement
ADM's sustainability efforts are a competitive advantage and foundational to its purpose and growth strategy. But the company acknowledges areas for improvement, particularly in safety performance. Additionally, the agribusiness giant recognises the...
Is New Zealand getting closer in its ‘holy grail’ quest to cut methane emissions?
Kiwi scientists have unveiled a new company, called Lucidome Bio, to spearhead the next phase of methane vaccine research the country.
Ahold Delhaize and General Mills join forces to scale regenerative agriculture
The US food giants have announced an innovative approach to address Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions within their shared value chain.
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.
Plant breeders want unified global policy on genome-edited crops to boost food security
International Seed Federation members are calling for harmonised regulations on new breeding technologies such as genome editing to accelerate impactful innovation.
'Seasonality can kill you as a company': Can a new standards framework help bring successful products to market quicker?
A new standard-setting playbook edited by Leaps By Bayer, the impact investment arm of Bayer, aims to spur innovation and investment across the sector.
Global partnership aims to develop pest-resistant sugarcane
PlantArcBio, an Israeli company specialising in gene discovery and biological components to enhance agricultural crop traits, has announced a global research and development collaboration with Brazilian sugarcane company Centro de Tecnologia Canavieria...
‘Powerful validation of our approach to regenerative agriculture’: Why Microsoft is backing Farmland LP
The still nascent carbon credit market for agriculture has received a boost with the news that Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund is backing Farmland LP. Will it be enough to propel the regenerative soil carbon credit market?
Fresh calls to clear up confusion between 'organic' and 'regenerative' farming
A lack of understanding about sustainable agriculture is hindering the uptake of organic farming in the UK, researchers say.
Innovation Insider Country profile
India: Are the bets back on?
After the crisis in funding in 2023, India’s agtech landscape is adjusting. But can investment be directed to the right places? Harry Holmes investigates.
Green insecticide start-up raises $14m
SOLASTA Bio, based in Glasgow in the UK and with a base in North Carolina in the US, has completed a $14 million Series A funding round to accelerate the development of its peptide-based bioinsecticides.
Soil Capital raises €15 million to boost agricultural transition
Brussels-based Soil Capital said it aims to strengthen, secure, and make agricultural supply chains more sustainable, addressing a ‘triple need’: social, environmental, and economic.
First plant sustainability index launched to cut environmental impact of growing crops
Global genetic improvement consultancy AbacusBio has launched what it calls the world’s first sustainability index for plants to help reduce the environmental impact of growing crops.