Field Traction

This week’s roundup of AgTech innovations from Carbon Robotics, Bloom Fresh, Sabanto, and more—featuring major funding boosts, new tech, and partnerships shaping the future of farming.

Author

Sepehr Achard
October 25, 2024

In partnership with Harnois Greenhouse

Welcome to This Week’s AgTech Digest!

In partnership with Harnois Greenhouse, we’re excited to bring you the latest updates in the world of agricultural technology. This week, we cover major funding rounds, and exciting partnerships that are shaping the future of farming.

Grab a coffee, check out our table of contents, and dive into this week’s digest!

What We Are Covering Today?

Estimated Reading Time: 6 - 7 minutes

You can also listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or below👇

SPONSORED BY HARNOIS
Vermax by Harnois Greenhouses: Energy-Efficient Greenhouse Innovation

Harnois Greenhouses proudly presents the Vermax glass greenhouse, a breakthrough in energy-efficient design for sustainable agriculture. Using patented energy-saving technologies, Vermax provides growers with an advanced solution to minimize energy consumption while maintaining optimal growing conditions year-round.

With rising energy costs, Vermax’s semi-enclosed system is designed to efficiently control the internal climate, significantly reducing energy expenses. This innovative design can help lower greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 2,000 tonnes annually, contributing to environmental sustainability without compromising productivity.

At Harnois, our vision is to lead the way in agricultural sustainability by developing the first-ever net-zero glass greenhouse. We are committed to pushing the boundaries of energy efficiency, helping growers reduce their carbon footprint while improving productivity. Vermax is our step toward this vision, delivering the future of agriculture today.

FUNDING & INVESTMENTS
This Week’s Investments: Carbon Robotics, Agtonomy & FarmDroid Bag Funding

Image provided by Carbon Robotics

Carbon Robotics Bags $70M in Series D To Drive AI in Farming

  • Who: Led by BOND, the round included participation from NVIDIA’s NVentures, Anthos Capital, Fuse Venture Capital, and more.

  • What: Secures $70 million in Series D funding, bringing its total raised to $157 million.

  • Purpose: The funds will help scale Carbon Robotics’ LaserWeeder™ business and expand into new markets such as Eastern and Southern Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

Agtonomy Closes Series A Round Reaching $32.8M

  • Who: Led by Autotech Ventures, new investors include Rethink Food, Allison Transmission, and Black Forest Ventures.

  • What: Agtonomy raised $10M to close its Series A, bringing total funding to $32.8M.

  • Purpose: The funding will help Agtonomy expand its team, scale operations, and grow its pilot program for autonomous equipment in agriculture.

FarmDroid Secures $11.33M to Accelerate Global Expansion

  • Who: The funding round was led by Convent Capital, with participation from EIFO and Navus Ventures.

  • What: FarmDroid secured a $11.33 million investment to accelerate its global growth.

  • Purpose: The investment will support the global expansion of FarmDroid’s autonomous, solar-powered robots.

Creation Investments Announces $20M Investment in Agrolend

  • Who: Creation Investments has made a US$20 million investment in Agrolend.

  • What: The funding round brings Agrolend’s total capital raised to nearly US$100 million, with a capital base of approximately BRL 500 million.

  • Purpose: This investment will support the expansion of Agrolend’s credit offerings to industries, retailers, and farming cooperatives throughout Brazil.

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STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
AgTech Collaborations: AgroSpheres, Taranis, Vestaron, CIBO Technologies, Varda & More!

AgroSpheres & BASF Partner for Bioinsecticide Innovation

  • Who: AgroSpheres, a biotech innovator, and BASF, an agricultural giant.

  • What: Joint development of an AgriCell-powered bioinsecticide targeting lepidopteran pests.

  • Purpose: To enhance crop protection with sustainable, low-dose bioinsecticide technology, merging biotech with agricultural expertise to help farmers boost yields and reduce chemical reliance.

Taranis & Syngenta Collaborate on Farm Technology

  • Who: Syngenta Crop Protection and Taranis, a digital agronomy company.

  • What: A three-year partnership integrating Taranis’ AI-driven insights with Syngenta’s Cropwise platform.

  • Purpose: To improve farm productivity, streamline sustainable practices, and support U.S. farmers in data-driven decision-making for long-term farm profitability.

Vestaron & ADM Partner for Crop Protection Expansion

  • Who: Vestaron Corporation, a leader in peptide-based pest control, and ADM, a global leader in food processing and commodities.

  • What: Long-term partnership to scale production of Vestaron’s peptide-based crop protection products.

  • Purpose: To meet growing demand for sustainable crop protection through ADM’s manufacturing capacity, facilitating Vestaron’s global market expansion.

CIBO & Truterra Expand Sustainability Partnership

  • Who: CIBO Technologies, a climate software provider, and Truterra, a sustainability-focused agricultural business.

  • What: Expanded partnership to enroll millions of acres in sustainability programs that support emissions reduction.

  • Purpose: To enable companies to meet emissions goals while offering farmers access to sustainability programs, thus enhancing corporate accountability and environmental impact.

Varda & MyEasyFarm Advance Precision Farming

  • Who: Varda, a company specializing in geospatial agricultural solutions, and MyEasyFarm, an AgTech startup focused on precision agriculture.

  • What: Partnership to integrate Varda’s GlobalFieldID into MyEasyFarm’s platforms for precision agriculture and low-carbon farming.

  • Purpose: To support agriculture’s transition towards eco-friendly practices by improving field traceability and precision, fostering sustainability and profitability in the sector.

Agri Automation & GEODNET Partner on RTK Network

  • Who: Agri Automation, a leader in agricultural automation in Australia and New Zealand, and the GEODNET Foundation, the largest global RTK network provider.

  • What: Partnership to deploy GEODNET’s RTK stations across rural Australia and New Zealand.

  • Purpose: To enhance autonomous farming capabilities in the region, offering farmers high-precision, cost-effective solutions that reduce labor requirements and boost productivity.

NEW PRODUCTS
New Product Releases: Crop Insurance, Autonomous Tractors & More!

Image provided by Verdant Robotics

Verdant Robotics Unveils the 2025 Sharpshooter

  • Who: Verdant Robotics.

  • What: Launch of the 2025 Sharpshooter, a robotic system for precision application.

  • Purpose: To reduce chemical inputs by over 96% and hand-weeding costs by 65% through its Bullseye Aim & Apply Technology.

  • Features: The Sharpshooter integrates Spatial AI, Machine Learning, and Aiming-Nozzle technology to control weeds, thin crops, and manage fertility with millimeter accuracy.

  • Benefit: Covers up to 5 acres per hour, ideal for high-density crops, providing detailed agronomic insights and enhancing sustainability for growers.

Sabanto to Unveil Sabanto Steward™ at FIRA USA 2024

  • Who: Sabanto.

  • What: Introduction of the Sabanto Steward™, an autonomous retrofit kit for tractors.

  • Purpose: To address labor shortages and rising costs by converting existing tractors to autonomous mode with a toggle for manual control.

  • Features: The kit supports multiple field operations—rolling, aerating, spraying, seeding, and more.

  • Benefit: Increases productivity, reduces labor costs, and offers a high ROI for farmers needing flexible, cost-effective solutions.

Digital Agricultural Services Launches Crop Insurance Solution in Australia

  • Who: Digital Agriculture Services (DAS).

  • What: New crop insurance solution to address climate risks and financial losses.

  • Purpose: To mitigate under-insurance and premium leakage using machine learning, geospatial data, and automapping for improved policy accuracy.

  • Features: Reduces fraud, speeds up claims, and offers both standalone and integrated insurance options.

  • Benefit: Provides accessible, affordable, and accurate insurance coverage to support the financial resilience of Australian farmers.

THIS WEEK’S INTERVIEW
Low Chill Cherry Varieties: Bloom Fresh’s Response to Climate Change

Image provided by BloomFresh

  • Who: Bloom Fresh, an innovator in cherry cultivation.

  • What: Development of low chill cherry varieties that require less than half of the traditional 800 chill hours.

  • Purpose: To enable cherry farming in warmer climates with milder winters, addressing challenges posed by climate change.

  • Features: These varieties allow earlier harvests, extend the growing season, and yield increases of 20-30% compared to traditional cherry trees.

  • Benefit: Supports sustainability by reducing the carbon footprint, as cherries can be grown closer to consumer markets.

  • Feedback: Growers report strong production levels and praise for the cherries’ flavor, sweetness, and firmness, indicating market acceptance.

  • Impact: As climate change affects agriculture, low chill cherry varieties are poised to become essential in maintaining cherry production.

OTHER NEWS
Other News: New Product Certified, Expansions, Milestones & More!

  • BASF Liberty ULTRA herbicide, incorporating Glu-L™ Technology, has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

  • Agreena reports that over 2,300 farmers have adopted regenerative agriculture practices on 4.5 million hectares across Europe.

  • Jungle, a French vertical farming company, is facing compulsory winding up after encountering financial difficulties.

  • Pivot Bio’s N-OVATOR® program reaches 1.4 million acres qualified to generate nitrogen credits for the 2024 growing season, nearly double the previous year’s enrollment.

  • Boehringer Ingelheim has invested $66.1 million to expand its Athens, Georgia facility, adding 63,000 square feet of administrative and 28,000 square feet of laboratory space.

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