AgriFrontiers

Good Morning, Growers.
This week’s edition highlights strategic investments, cross-border partnerships, and breakthrough technologies driving agricultural transformation. From autonomous tractors and peptide-based biofungicides to electric weed control, saffron vertical farming, and AI-powered irrigation, explore the latest from innovators like Voltrac, Corteva, RootWave, BlueRedGold, Signify, CropLife International, and more.

A heartfelt thank you to all our new members for joining the iGrow Network – we’re excited to have you on board and look forward to sharing the latest innovations and updates with you! Instant access here!

What We Are Covering Today:

1. AgTech Highlights: New Initiatives, Collaboration, Funding & More!

2. Plant Science Updates: Collaboration, New Product, Certification & More!

3. CEA Updates: New Tech, Collaboration, Funding Round & More!

4. Other Updates: Partnerships, Acquisition, Funding & More!

5. Upcoming AgTech Events, Conferences & Webinars

Estimated Reading Time: 6 - 7 minutes

🎧 Prefer listening over reading?

Catch the full recap on this week’s AgTech Digest Podcast—available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform. here.

🚀 Now Live: 2025 European Indoor Farming Report

We’re excited to announce the release of our 2025 European Indoor Farming Report, developed in partnership with Grow-tec, Würth Elektronik Group, and the AVF Summit powered by VertiFarm.

Inside the report:

• Key trends in greenhouse consolidation and vertical farm integration

• Rising demand for automation in lighting, propagation, and climate control

• Regional investment patterns and future growth opportunities

• Expert insights from operators, technology providers, and analysts across Europe

📥 Download the full report here

AGRITECH
AgTech Highlights: New Initiatives, Collaboration, Funding & More!

Voltrac Autonomous Electric Tractor Platform:

• Valencia-based startup Voltrac has launched an autonomous electric tractor platform with €2 million in funding from FoodLabs and Antler.

• The tractor eliminates traditional drivetrains, using per-wheel electric motors to lower maintenance and operational costs.

• It is designed for both agricultural and defense applications, with first deliveries planned for Q1 2026.

• Voltrac is collaborating with Aguirre Agricola and NATO departments.

Treetoscope and Nutrien Ag Solutions Collaboration:

• Treetoscope and Nutrien Ag Solutions announced a multi-year partnership to combine plant-based irrigation sensors with agronomic services.

• The goal is to improve water use efficiency at the plant level and optimize irrigation management.

• Treetoscope's technology employs sap flow sensors and AI to measure real-time water uptake.

• This data will be integrated into Nutrien’s CropConnect platform to support sustainability and yield improvement.

Biotope by VIB Investment Fund:

• Biotope by VIB has raised €5 million in its second investment fund, bringing the total to €9 million towards its target.

• The fund will invest €250,000 each in up to 30 early-stage biotech startups.

• Support includes business and technical guidance, with backing from multiple partners including BNP Paribas Fortis and the Flemish Biotechnology Institute.

• The fund emphasizes scientific de-risking, IP strategy, diversity, and global impact.

RootWave Electric Weed Control Technology:

• UK-based RootWave has raised $15 million to scale its electric weed control solution targeting herbicide-resistant weeds.

• The technology uses high-frequency electricity and has shown up to 99% kill rates in trials.

• The funding round was led by Clay Capital and includes $3 million in debt facilities from Innovate UK.

• RootWave offers a chemical-free, sustainable alternative to traditional herbicides.

EIT Food RisingFoodStars 2025 Cohort:

• EIT Food RisingFoodStars announced its 2025 cohort of 16 agrifood scaleups.

• The selected companies focus on climate resilience, food affordability, and sustainability across Europe.

• Key areas include sustainable agriculture, foodtech, functional ingredients, alternative proteins, and sustainable packaging.

• Since 2018, the program has supported 146 scaleups, raised €870M, and created over 1,140 jobs.

PLANT SCIENCE
Plant Science Updates: Collaboration, New Product, Certification & More!

Micropep Technologies and Corteva R&D Collaboration:

• Micropep Technologies and Corteva have launched a multi-year R&D collaboration to develop peptide-based biofungicides.

• The project leverages Micropep's Krisalix™ platform to identify new crop protection peptides.

• Corteva gains exclusive global rights to use a defined peptide library for biocontrol applications.

• The agreement builds on Corteva’s 2024 investment via its Catalyst platform, supporting biological innovation in agriculture.

Syngenta’s New Herbicide – Metproxybicyclone:

• Syngenta has introduced metproxybicyclone, a new herbicide targeting herbicide-resistant grass weeds in soybean and cotton.

• It represents the first new subclass of ACCase inhibitors since 2006.

• The herbicide launch is planned for Argentina in 2026, pending regulatory approval.

• Development was driven by early resistance detection and complements Syngenta’s existing crop protection portfolio.

EU Approval for Amoéba’s Biocontrol Substance:

• French greentech company Amoéba has received final EU approval for Lysate of Willaertia magna as a low-risk biocontrol substance.

• The approval follows a five-year evaluation and unanimous support from all 27 EU Member States.

• The substance supports sustainable agriculture by reducing reliance on synthetic crop protection.

• Amoéba is pursuing market authorizations in nine EU countries and awaiting a decision from the U.S. EPA.

CropLife International Expands Sustainable Pesticide Management Program:

• CropLife International has extended its Sustainable Pesticide Management Program (SPMF) to nine countries, including Guatemala and Chile.

• The program aligns with the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management (ICoC). Member companies have committed $13 million to support the initiative.

• Objectives include enhancing access to crop protection tools, improving climate resilience, and strengthening pesticide stewardship and regulatory systems.Implementation relies on collaboration with local partners and governments.

GB Potatoes and HCP Crop Protection Partnership:

• GB Potatoes has partnered with Horticulture Crop Protection Ltd (HCP) to enhance seed potato crop protection strategies.

• The initiative is supported by residual AHDB Potato Levy funds.

• A new Technical Working Group will focus on authorizing key plant protection products.

• Efforts will target Extension of Authorisation for Minor Use (EAMU) and Emergency Authorisation (EA) to support sustainable seed potato production in Great Britain.

CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE
CEA Updates: New Tech, Collaboration, Funding Round & More!

Signify Launches Upgraded Philips GrowWise System:

• Signify introduced an enhanced Philips GrowWise control system for greenhouse lighting management.

• The system offers centralized, remote, multi-site control with customizable light spectra and real-time data.

• It integrates with climate control systems and supports both wired and wireless configurations.

• Wireless users in Benelux can participate in energy market services like Automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve (aFRR).

Dutch Greenhouse Delta at GreenTech 2025:

• Dutch Greenhouse Delta hosted delegations from Egypt, the Gulf, Central Asia, India, and Southeast Asia at GreenTech 2025.

• The initiative aimed to foster global collaboration in climate-smart horticulture and agritech.

• Agreements were signed with Egypt and Saudi Arabia to enhance cooperation in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA).

• Activities included expert sessions, company visits, and innovation-focused discussions.

BlueRedGold Secures Funding for Indoor Saffron Cultivation:

• Swedish AgriTech firm BlueRedGold raised €2.73 million to scale its indoor saffron cultivation system.

• The funds will be used to build a modular facility replicating ideal saffron-growing conditions with automated processing.

• The project aims to create a scalable model for high-tech saffron production.

• The investment supports Paulig’s sustainability and spice sourcing objectives.

Skytree and Algae Capital Partner on DAC for Algae Cultivation:

• Skytree and Algae Capital will use Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology to supply sustainable CO₂ for algae production.

• Over 2,000 tonnes of CO₂ will be captured annually and utilized at Algae Capital’s facility in Iceland.

• Iceland’s renewable energy infrastructure supports low-impact DAC operations.

• The partnership promotes circular CO₂ usage in agricultural and biotech applications.

Saudi Arabia and Netherlands Sign AgTech Agreements:

• Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands signed 27 agreements and MoUs worth over SAR428 million.

• The agreements span agriculture, water, and environmental technologies in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

• Collaborations include biotechnology, greenhouse systems, crop protection, and potato processing.

• The deals aim to modernize agriculture, diversify the economy, and strengthen global trade links.

OTHER NEWS
Other Updates: Partnerships, Acquisition, Funding & More!

• U.S. Sugar has entered a strategic partnership with Everglades Equipment Group to implement John Deere precision agriculture technologies across its South Florida operations. The initiative includes advanced data connectivity, autonomous equipment research, and tools to optimize land leveling, fuel use, and fertilizer efficiency. The partnership builds on a decades-long relationship between the two organizations and supports U.S. Sugar’s use of precision farming on 255,000 acres.

• AgroFresh becomes exclusive global distributor of Nabaco’s NatuWrap® post-harvest fruit protection solution. NatuWrap is OMRI certified and made from USDA NOP-listed ingredients.The partnership supports AgroFresh’s strategy to expand its portfolio of natural, sustainable freshness solutions.

• Naïo Technologies filed for judicial recovery on June 5, 2025, to enable the search for a potential buyer.Company revenue declined from €3.96 million in 2021 to €2.4 million in 2024.Operations and negotiations continue as part of the court-supervised recovery process.

• SDA broke ground on an $8.5 million sterile fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base, Texas.U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced a five-pronged national plan to prevent New World Screwworm (NWS) spread. Recent NWS detections in Mexico led to temporary import restrictions at the U.S. southern border.
  

UPCOMING EVENTS

Commercial UAV Expo | September 2-4, 2025 | Las Vegas, USA

Taiwan Smart Agriweek | September 3-5, 2025 | Taiwan

Global Vertical Farming Show 2025 | 10th – 11th September, 2025 | Dubai, UAE

SPACE | September 16 – 18, 2025 | France

AgraME | October 6 – 7, 2025 | Dubai

Vertical Farming World Congress | Oct 7-9, 2025 | Amsterdam

Special Thanks to Our Directory Members

Established Plan:
SpectraGrow, LettUs Grow, Harvest Returns, Women in CEA, Harnois Greenhouses, Verde Compacto

Scale-Up Plan:
Sollum Technologies, Babylon Micro-Farms, Ounce of Hope Aquaponics, Grow-Tec

Not listed yet? Add your company to the directory and start getting noticed!