Sound Agriculture gets $25M to expand its synthetic fertiliser replacements
US-based Sound Agriculture has spun out its plant epigenetics platform and completed a $25 million extension of its Series D raise.
Biologicals
Tie-up aims to create market-leading platform for crop nutrition in US
Tie-up aim aims to create market-leading platform for crop nutrition in US
‘Obvious nature-friendly solution’: Cattle used to control invasive species in UK trial
Farmers are using animals to control bracken without chemicals while saving costs and restoring habitats, in a new on-farm trial by Innovative Farmers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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‘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.
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.
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.
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.
Agtech investor profile
The Yield Lab Latam on why access to credit is key to agtech adoption
Investing at the dawn of Brazil’s agrifintech revolution has served as the basis of its success, says The Yield Lab Latam’s managing partner Kieran Gartlan.
'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...
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.
Brazil still offers ‘significant’ opportunities for foreign investment to help meet fertiliser demand
Despite some controversy about the effect of direct foreign investment in the Brazilian agricultural sector, the country’s push to increase domestic fertiliser production is continuing to present sizeable FDI opportunities for companies looking to enter...
Fresh funds for crop protection start-up demonstrates the pheromone appeal
PheroSyn, a spin-out from Rothamsted Research in the UK, has secured new funding to advance its pheromones-based pest management solutions.
The smart ag projects helping Brazil’s coffee farmers save up to 30% of their water
Brazil supplies about a third of the world's coffee, making it by far the world's largest producer. But with dwindling water supplies threatening the industry, producers are busy with efforts to protect this vital resource.
Agtech investor profile
FMC Ventures: ‘AI and machine learning will drive the future of crop protection’
The venture capital arm of agricultural sciences giant FMC Corporation looks for ‘game-changing’ innovations that go beyond FMC's core business of crop protection. Associate Matt Foley tells us more about the firm’s operations, strategies and impact.
Company hails ‘enormous’ potential of micropeptides in crop protection after fundraise
Micropep Technologies, which creates natural crop protection and stimulation products using micropeptides, has announced a $29 million Series B funding round and unveiled a proprietary discovery platform called Krisalix.
Agrobiomics raises €4 million to make plants climate resilient with biological solutions
Agrobiomics, a Danish agtech company developing sustainable biological solutions for agriculture, has raised €4 million from NOON Ventures to bring an abiotic stress protectant, called Fortify, to the market – making plants climate resilient.
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.
AGTECH START-UP FOUNDER INSIGHTS
What We’ve Learned: Unibaio on how natural microparticles can reduce chemicals in ag
Argentina-based Unibaio is a biotechnology company that develops innovative microparticles to improve the performance and sustainability of agrochemicals. Its key technology involves creating biodegradable nanocapsules made from natural polymers that can...
The rising role of mushroom chitin for sustainable production
Thanks to its perceived sustainability advantages over animal-based chitin, there’s rising interest in the use of mushroom-derived chitin in agriculture, AgTechNavigator learns.
‘The next two years will be incredible’. Latam investors find reasons to be cheerful
A panel of venture capitalists at the recent World Agri-Tech South America Summit in São Paulo were bullish on the prospects for agtech funding in the region.
The next source of eco-friendly fertiliser: purple bacteria?
Biomass made from a species of purple bacteria typically found in marine sediments, seawater pools and mud flats is an ‘excellent nitrogen fertiliser’, according to research published in the journal Sustainable Agriculture.
UK agtech faces funding, scalability challenges amid sustainability and Brexit concerns
Despite being backed by a world-renowned science base, the UK's agri-tech industry grapples with significant challenges in translating its research into practical applications for end-users.
Biologicals have promised before and failed to deliver: can supply chain solutions help?
Innovation in biologicals is booming, but solutions, including in the supply chain, are also needed so that they can better fit into existing agriculture systems.
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...
Meet the seven start-ups tasked with reshaping agri-food in Cambodia
Seven disruptive start-ups have been selected to drive agri-food innovation and economic growth in the country, offering innovative solutions to enhance the agrifood value chain, improve commercial exchanges, and introduce high-value crops.
Biofungicides: Aphea.Bio submits its first application for US regulatory approval
Aphea.Bio, a provider of microbial solutions for agriculture, has announced the submission of applications for its first biofungicides to obtain federal approval from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
VC firm Big Idea Ventures enters biologicals sector with PlantSustain platform
Early-stage ag and food tech investor Big Idea Ventures has launched its fifth portfolio company through its Generation Food Rural Partners (GFRP) fund.
Agtech start-up founder insights
What We’ve Learned: SymbioMatch on what’s behind the biofertiliser boom and how to avoid its bubble bursting
Biologicals are demonstrating a trend of growth amid rising demand for more sustainable and natural farming practices. SymbioMatch, an early research-based start-up based in Denmark, hopes to fulfil the need for biofertilisers that work consistently...
VC investment
Agtech's ‘great reset’ continues, data reveals
PitchBook’s latest Q1 2024 Agtech Report indicates a market undergoing a correction, with the wheat being separated from the chaff. Some sectors are hotter than others, meanwhile.
Bayer to launch first bioinsecticide for arable crops
Via a new agreement with UK-based R&D company AlphaBio Control, Bayer has gained exclusive rights to market the first ever biological insecticide which will help farmers control pests in arable crops. The product is expected to launch in 2028.
science shorts
Agtech Aha! Moments: From testing the world's first unmanned forestry machine to cultured beef rice
Our round-up of the latest research from institutions and universities across the globe looks at the world’s first unmanned machine designed for autonomous forestry operations, while Korean scientists have successfully developed ‘cultured beef rice’,...
World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit Roundup
Could RNAi be the game changer in crop protection?
Is it time, finally, for biologicals to shine?
World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit Roundup
What would the agtech sector look like with more women-fronted businesses?
We hear from Jacqueline Heard, CEO of crop protection company Enko Chem, which had one of the biggest global agtech venture capital deals in recent years from a company with at least one female founder.
Agri Trend Tracker: From BioConsortia’s latest US$15mn to Bayer’s data analysis to verify carbon reductions
Our 360-degree look at the latest developments from across the globe takes in the news that gene-editing start-up BioConsortia has secured US$15 million, while a UK-based spinout is set to accelerate efforts to help palm tree farmers improve yields.
World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit Roundup
Agtech investment: Time to just forget the glory days of 2021?
Over the last 18 months there has been a notable shift in investor sentiment within the agtech sector, with the recent economic downturn casting a long shadow over the entrepreneurial landscape. Are we going to hell in a handcart? Is this an opportune...
Innovation insider
Japan wants to promote smart agriculture, fast
Agri-tech spend is lagging in the land of the rising sun. But amid the looming threats of depopulation and ageing, the government is looking to new styles of agriculture that can boost productivity, sustainability and strengthen national food security....
How bacterial fermentation can deliver unprecedented yield increases to climate-stressed crops
Biostimulant start-up Agrobiomics is using bacterial fermentation to deliver 20%+ yield increases to plants under stress conditions, it tells AgTechNavigator.
The World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit: The world’s biggest and best agtech show
With over 2,500 delegates and 70+ start-ups attending World Agri-Tech from 40 countries, all eager to expand their network and forge new partnerships, this year’s event is shaping up to be a memorable event.
Mycorrhizal fungi: the key ingredient for 'supercharged' permanent carbon sequestration?
Israeli start-up Groundwork BioAg has unveiled a carbon credit programme based on the unique powers of mycorrhizal fungi.
How biologicals can win where GMs didn't
Aphea.Bio’s recently appointed chairman Hadyn Parry predicts ‘huge’ growth for biostimulants and biofungicides. These are typically GM-free of course, but the market is well-placed to avoid the mistakes of the past, he tells AgTechNavigator.
Potassium depletion in soil a major threat to food security
Potassium deficiency in soil has been revealed as a major threat to livestock and agricultural farming. So what does this mean for global food security and can the current threat be reversed?
Unilever launches first UK regenerative agriculture project with British farmers
The FMCG giant has launched its first regenerative agriculture project in the UK, working with farms that grow mustard seeds and mint leaves used in condiments brand Colman’s products.