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AgTech Innovation and Sustainability
Highlights from The Reservoir, AGCO, Treefera, Ecorobotix, Kubota, Cargill, Arugga AI Farming, Harvest House, Bayer, Koppert and More.
Diletta Di Iorio
June 06, 2025
Good Morning, Growers.
This week’s edition highlights significant investments, collaborations, and cutting-edge technologies driving the evolution of agriculture. From AI-powered farming solutions to automation in precision ag, catch up on the latest developments from leading companies like AGCO, Treefera, Ecorobotix, 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:
Estimated Reading Time: 6 - 7 minutes
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AGRITECH & PRECISION AG
AgTech Highlights: New Initiative, Collaboration, Funding Round & More!
The Reservoir's Agricultural Innovation Initiative
The Reservoir has signed a long-term lease for 40 acres in Salinas, California, to establish Reservoir Farms, a nonprofit incubator for agricultural technology startups.
The site will support the real-world testing of robotics, automation, and sustainable farming practices.Initial test plots (10 acres) will focus on strawberries, leafy greens, and vegetables.
The initiative aims to bridge the gap between innovation and deployment in agriculture. The project will support 50+ startups, create 500+ jobs, and promote environmental stewardship.
AGCO Corporation Expands PTx™ Dealer Network
AGCO Corporation is expanding its PTx™ dealer network in North America, integrating Precision Planting® and the newly launched PTx Trimble™ brand.
By the end of 2025, AGCO plans to equip all North American production agriculture dealerships with PTx Trimble guidance and steering solutions.
The company is implementing a Technology Dealer Strategy to support this rollout. AGCO's network will be divided into Base Technology and Full Line Precision Ag dealers.
Treefera Secures Series B Funding for AI-driven Platform
Treefera has secured $30 million in Series B funding, led by Notion Capital, to expand its AI-driven supply chain intelligence platform.
The funding will accelerate the development of real-time commodity tracking and regulatory compliance tools.
Treefera will use the funds to expand its operations in North America, APAC, and Europe.
Ecorobotix Launches AI-Powered Lettuce Thinning Algorithm
The algorithm allows users to perform automated tasks without needing additional hardware or manual labor.
The new feature enhances crop uniformity and reduces labor costs for lettuce growers.
Existing ARA users can activate the feature via a subscription.
Kubota and Agtonomy Collaborate on Smart Agricultural Solutions
The collaboration integrates Kubota machinery with Agtonomy's automation and data platforms.
The partnership’s sales, support, and commercial rollout are ongoing.
INTERVIEW
Complete Farmer uses satellite imagery, AI, and soil data APIs to guide smallholder and commercial farmers.
Smallholder farmers now make up over 70% of Complete Farmer’s user base, driving the company’s impact strategy.
The business model is commission-based, with no upfront costs for farmers.
Future plans include expanding to more African countries and building an end-to-end digital ecosystem for agriculture.Technology Leadership in African Agriculture.
PLANT SCIENCE
Plant Science Updates: New tool, Agreement and Acquisition & More!
Protein Industries Canada AI-Powered Grain Quality Tool
Protein Industries Canada has announced a $3 million initiative to develop an AI-powered smartphone-based grain quality tool for Canadian ingredient manufacturers and food processors.
The tool will enable real-time soybean quality assessments using standard smartphones, improving information flow across the value chain.
The platform will employ computer vision and machine learning algorithms to assess high-resolution soybean samples.
FMC Corporation and Corteva Agriscience Strategic Agreement
The agreement allows both companies to market fluindapyr-based products to growers across key regions.
Fluindapyr targets foliar diseases like tar spot and southern rust.
Corteva plans to launch its fluindapyr-based product in the 2026 growing season, subject to EPA approval.
Advanta Seeds Acquires Corn Germplasm and Hybrid Pipeline
Advanta Seeds has acquired temperate corn germplasm and a hybrid pipeline from K-Adriatica to expand its European portfolio.
The acquisition will enhance Advanta’s product offerings tailored to European growing conditions.
The acquired assets will be integrated into Advanta's global breeding program.
The deal aligns with Advanta Seeds' broader global growth strategy in the corn market, strengthening its presence in Europe.
Wild Bio Partners with Oxford University for Crop Resilience Project
The initiative is part of ARIA's Synthetic Plants programme and seeks to enhance productivity and sustainability in agriculture.
The project focuses on modifying the chloroplast, an organelle essential to photosynthesis and plant metabolism.
Bayer Introduces Virus-Resistant Tomato Varieties
Bayer has introduced multi-stacked virus-resistant tomato varieties to combat the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV).
The new hybrids target beef, truss, cocktail, and cherry plum tomatoes.
Bayer's multi-gene approach aims to provide longer-lasting protection against viral mutations. Field trials confirmed resistance to both standard and resistance-breaking virus strains.
The first commercial rollout is scheduled for 2025, following successful trials.
Koppert Secures Distribution Rights for Amoéba's Biofungicide
The biofungicide, designed for greenhouse and open-field applications, is expected to launch in early 2026.
The agreement aligns with Koppert's strategic focus on sustainable crop protection and highlights the potential of the biofungicide solution.
CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE
CEA Updates: New Tech, Partnerships & More!
BrightFarms Celebrates Opening Of Macon Greenhouse
The facility is BrightFarms’ third major greenhouse launched since summer 2024.Site is expected to produce 22,000 pounds of lettuce per day, with plans to expand to 32 acres.
The project has created over 125 new jobs and supports regional workforce development
Signify Introduces New Philips GreenPower TLF LEDs
These LEDs offer precision control of red, blue, white, and far-red spectrums.
Designed to work with Philips GrowWise control, users can adjust light channels to create dynamic light recipes.
The lights feature patented Quadro Beam optics and an IP66-rated housing for improved uniformity and maintenance.
Harvest House Partners with Source.ag to Deploy AI Platform
Harvest House, Europe’s largest greenhouse vegetable cooperative, has partnered with Source.ag to deploy the Harvest Forecast AI platform across 600+ hectares of tomato production.
The AI platform replaces manual yield estimates with automated, daily forecasts integrated into CRM systems.
Bushel Boy Farms Closes Owatonna and Mason City Facilities
Bushel Boy Farms, a greenhouse grower in Owatonna, Minnesota, and Mason City, Iowa, has closed its facilities.
The assets and facilities were sold to Best Boy Farms, registered in Minnesota as of April 2025.
The closure follows past expansion efforts and recent labor-related penalties.
Walmart Canada Partners with Lufa Farms for Hyperlocal Produce
Walmart Canada is now selling hyperlocal produce grown by Lufa Farms atop its Marché Central Supercentre in Montreal.
Customers can purchase tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers daily from the rooftop greenhouse.
This collaboration marks Lufa Farms' first retail partnership and Walmart Canada's first use of a rooftop greenhouse for in-store produce.
Weston Family Foundation Launches Scaling Phase for Homegrown Innovation Challenge
The Weston Family Foundation has entered the Scaling Phase of its $33 million Homegrown Innovation Challenge, investing up to $5 million each in four Canadian teams.
Teams from Simon Fraser University, Toronto Metropolitan University, Université Laval, and the University of Guelph will test solutions under real-world farm-scale conditions.
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OTHER NEWS
Other Updates: Policy, and Partnerships!
Arugga AI Farming has launched its first autonomous plant lowering robot, "Louie", for greenhouse-grown tomatoes and cucumbers in Europe. Louie can handle up to 300 plants per hour and cover one hectare, reducing the need for manual labor.
A WeMove Europe art campaign outside the European Parliament called for reform of the EU’s €386 billion Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Advocates argue the current system disproportionately benefits large-scale agribusiness over sustainable small- and medium-sized farms.
MyEasyFarm and Conectta Carbon have formed a strategic partnership to support regenerative agriculture and carbon farming in Brazil, with a focus on the MATOPIBA region. The initiative aims to support soil restoration, biodiversity, and sustainable land management while generating verifiable carbon credits under the VERRA VM0042 methodology.
Tomorrow.io, a U.S.-based weather intelligence company, has partnered with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in the Philippines to enhance climate resilience in agriculture.The collaboration utilizes AI-driven models and a proprietary low-orbit satellite network to provide micro-weather forecasts at the farm level.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Special Thanks to Our Directory Members
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