News and Analysis on Global Agri-Tech Innovation, Investment and Regulation
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.
Gene editing technology could help the global wine industry combat the effects of climate change, says Lithuanian specialist Caszyme.
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.
Progressive regulatory frameworks, together with more collaboration with data, are needed to scale effective innovation, says BASF’s Neil Key.
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.
AgTechNavigator's FREE AgTech Innovation and Investment – APAC editorial webinar takes place on November 6. Register your attendance today so you don’t miss out. The event will start on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at 5:00 PM SGT (Singapore).
A project by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, in partnership with US tech company Pairwise, will employ gene editing to support the yam in industry in Nigeria and wider region.
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.
The UK government has announced next steps toward implementing the Precision Breeding Act, aimed at harnessing the benefits of gene editing technology in England.
International Seed Federation members are calling for harmonised regulations on new breeding technologies such as genome editing to accelerate impactful innovation.
Pairwise, the US technology company using gene editing to improve plant breeding in specialty and commodity crops, has closed a $40M Series C funding.
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.
Innovation Insider Country profile
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.
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.
BioLumic is partnering with seed companies including Beck's Hybrids, Peterson Corn Genetics, Peterson Farms Seed, Breeder Direct to use its light-activated technology on a wide range of inbred and hybrid corn lines aiming to enhance their productivity....
Mapping the genome of every cacao tree on the planet is the first step to developing elite high-yielding, disease-resistant varieties say researchers
Australian company Bovotica is pioneering technology aimed at modulating the rumen microbiome to reduce methane emissions in cows while simultaneously boosting production efficiency.
Scientists claim to have made a significant breakthrough in agricultural biotechnology by using CRISPR/Cas9 to edit the potato genome, resulting in plants with increased resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses.
Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside North America, has completed its acquisition of Elanco's aqua business, a deal it claims will bolster its leadership within that sector.
Zinc can make crop yields more climate-resilient, particularly for legume crops, according to new research. Separately, Israeli BetterSeeds has achieved USDA approval for the world's first gene-edited cowpea.
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.
Created using the US company’s proprietary gene editing platform that offers novel tools for CRISPR application in plants, this is the first time seedlessness has been achieved in any caneberry it says.
The concept of polyploidy has hit the headlines. But what is it – and why are scientists keen to learn more about its potential impact in agriculture?
The Israel-based company that uses gene-editing technology, specifically CRISPR, to genetically improve crops and design better seeds, has announced the appointment of Dr. Helmut Schramm, a former Bayer Crop Life executive and highly respected...
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.
A new scientific discovery in Australia could help engineer climate resilient crops capable of ‘sucking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere’ more efficiently, and helping to produce more food in the process.
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.
VC investment
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.
science shorts
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
US health-focused food and agriculture company Pairwise is using one of the most powerful R&D advances in a generation – CRISPR – to develop compelling products that benefit consumers, growers and agricultural workers alike. As such, it believes it can...
Australian researchers say they have achieved a 'landmark advancement for agricultural biotechnology' by completing a comprehensive reference genome for ‘R570’, a widely cultivated modern sugarcane hybrid.
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
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...
Science continues to explore new ways to make agriculture more efficient in the modern world, taking a thorough approach to research and leaving nothing off of the table, including the impact of climate change. Here, we talk with Partha Banerjee, PhD,...
A UK-based research team is aiming to futureproof the potato supply chain by applying cutting edge precision breeding approaches.
Long-awaited guidance from FDA on the safety of foods derived from gene-edited plants reiterates the agency’s position that biotechnology is not inherently unsafe, but still encourages developers to voluntarily engage with the agency before going to...
Female-fronted agtech business are lagging in terms of venture capital activity. Why aren’t the gains seen elsewhere being reflected?
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.
US-based Cquesta is leveraging gene editing to generate carbon credits for farmers, its CEO Michael Ott – who previously founded Rantizo, now the US’s largest dronespraying company – tells AgTechNavigator.
Israeli desert technology specialist SaliCrop has developed a novel, non-GMO approach to bolster seed resilience to abiotic stresses brought on by extreme climate challenges. According to SaliCrop, the solution can help boost crop cultivation in arid...
The Agriculture Innovation Hackathon was hosted in Mosul earlier this month, as an agriculture sector beset by desertification turns to the power of technology to overcome the challenges faced by farmers.
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture take algae production to industrial scale to boost food security for the Kingdom.
A world first pigeonpea speed breeding protocol could play a significant role in bolstering food security in Asia and Africa, according to The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).
Regulators in Australia and New Zealand have given Queensland University of Technology (QUT) a licence to commercially release QCAV-4, a genetically modified variety of Cavendish banana designed to help save the world’s Cavendish banana production.
Our round-up of the latest research from institutions and universities across the globe looks at a new app to improve olive oil industry efficiency, while potato experts in the US will investigate how to control pests without using controversial...
Innovation Insider: India
India's agtech sector is witnessing significant developments driven by government policies, changing investor landscapes and a growing focus on sustainability. However, market fragmentation is dampening its ability to scale up, with challenges...
Norfolk Healthy Produce has announced it has launched online seed sales of its first product: the Purple Tomato.
Our round-up of the latest research from institutions and universities across the globe looks at how Australian scientists are using sound to repair degraded soils. Elsewhere, Brazilian researchers have unveiled a new biodegradable sensor to detect...
The world’s favourite yellow fruit risks a slow march to eradication unless growers invest more in early detection methods such as aerial mapping, AgTechNavigator hears.
An open letter signed by 35 Nobel laureates and more than 1,000 European scientists has been sent to Members of the European Parliament, pleading with them to ‘reject the darkness of anti-science fearmongering’ and vote in favour of new genomic...