AgBowl

News From GreenLight Biosciences, FBN, GoodLeaf, Zayndu, WayBeyond, Landus, Ceradis, BiocSol, ZIVO, and More In This Week's Edition

Author

Sepehr Achard
February 07, 2025

Welcome to this week’s AgTech Digest! 🌱

As we gear up for Le Crunch and Super Bowl weekend, AgTech is making some big plays of its own! From major funding rounds in biocontrols, regenerative ag, and vertical farming to Hail Mary innovations in nanobubbles and AI-powered dairy monitoring, this week’s lineup is stacked with investment wins, product launches, and research breakthroughs.

Grab your snacks, settle in, and let’s dive into the AgTech action! 🚀

This Week’s Highlights Include:

Estimated Reading Time: 7 - 8 minutes

You can also listen to the full episode here.

🚀 Big Updates to the AgTech Directory: Jobs, Projects & More!

We’re excited to introduce new features in our AgTech Directory, making it easier than ever to connect, collaborate, and grow in the AgTech industry.

📢 What’s New?

✅ AgTech Job Board – Post openings & reach top talent. Jobs are also shared in here.
✅ “Share Your Project” Feature – Need solutions? Submit project briefs, and we’ll connect you with relevant companies.
✅ SEO Optimization – Your profile will rank higher on search engines, driving more traffic to your website.

🏆 Why Join?

🔹 Boost Visibility – Get seen by industry leaders, clients, and partners.
🔹 Direct Connections – Initiate conversations & pitch solutions to potential collaborators.
🔹 Customizable Profiles – Share press releases, events, and news to showcase your brand.

💼 Flexible Plans for Every Business

🔹 Startups: $150/year
🔹 Scale-ups: $800/year
🔹 Established Companies: $1,200/year

🔥 Sign Up Today & Get 10% Off! 🔥
Use coupon code: U3ZlFGlf at checkout to claim your 10% discount on any plan. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your AgTech business!

FUNDING & INVESTMENTS
This Week in AgTech Funding: Biocontrols, Regenerative Ag, and Vertical Farming

🔹 GreenLight Biosciences (€35M EIB Loan for RNA Biocontrols)

  • Who? GreenLight Biosciences España

  • What? €35M loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB)

  • Why? To accelerate R&D and commercialization of RNA-based biocontrol solutions

  • Impact? Supports development of 10 new biocontrol products for pest control, fungal diseases, and honeybee protection

🔹 FBN® Launches Regenerative Ag Land Loan Pilot

  • Who? Farmers Business Network (FBN®)

  • What? A pilot land loan program promoting regenerative agriculture

  • Funding? $750K from Walton Family Foundation (WFF)

  • How? Interest rate discounts for 7 years for 20 farmers adopting soil health and water conservation practices

  • Expansion Plans? Additional funding expected via Climate United & EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

🔹 GoodLeaf Farms Secures FCC Investment for Vertical Farming Growth

  • Who? GoodLeaf Farms, Canada’s largest vertical farm operator

  • What? Strategic investment from Farm Credit Canada (FCC)

  • Why? To support innovation, food security, and local production of leafy greens

  • Growth? Expanded production in Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec; 2,700 retail and foodservice locations

  • Investors? FCC, McCain Foods, and Power Sustainable Lios

🔹 BiocSol Raises €4.4M to Advance Biofungicides

  • Who? BiocSol, a UCLouvain spin-off

  • What? €4.4M funding from Pymwymic and Walloon Region’s Win4company program

  • Why? To accelerate R&D and expand its biofungicide pipeline

  • Impact? Supports proof of concept for two biofungicide products on a global scale

🔹 ICIG Ventures Backs Ascribe for Biofungicide Commercialization

  • Who? Ascribe, specializing in natural crop protection

  • What? Investment from ICIG Ventures to support Phytalix launch

  • Why? To scale commercial production via ICIG’s WeylChem Group

  • Market Potential? Secured IP, distribution deal with Nutrien, and pending regulatory approvals in the U.S. and Brazil

THIS WEEK’S EDITORIAL
Indoor Farming & Alternative Proteins: Can Peas Be Grown Profitably Indoors?

🔹 Why Peas? A key ingredient in plant-based proteins, peas must scale as alternative proteins aim for 50%+ of the market by 2040.

🔹 The Challenge: Unlike leafy greens, peas have longer cycles (6-8 weeks), high space demands, and costly energy needs.

🔹 Hurdles in Vertical Farming:

  • Low space efficiency – Peas grow 3-6 feet tall, requiring trellises.

  • Labor-intensive harvesting – No automation like lettuce.

  • High costs – 60-70% of farm energy expenses come from LED lighting.

  • Pollination & flowering issues – Controlled environments needed for self-pollination.

THIS WEEK’S INTERVIEW
Interview with Zayndu CEO: The Future of Plasma Seed Treatment 

🔹 What’s New? Zayndu’s chemical-free plasma seed treatment now covers 120 species & 200 varieties, enhancing germination, resilience, and yields.

🔹 Key Insights from the CEO:

  • Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA): Plasma-treated seeds thrive in greenhouses & vertical farms.

  • SeedCloud Integration: Real-time monitoring & performance tracking.

  • Middle East Expansion: Addressing water scarcity & extreme climate challenges.

  • Automation & Sustainability: Reducing operator interaction & exploring solar-powered solutions for developing regions.

  • Future Vision: By 2030, plasma seed treatment could become a greenhouse & vertical farming standard.

NEW PRODUCTS, FACILITIES & PROGRAM
New AgTech Innovations: AI Irrigation, Green Ammonia, and Vertical Farming

🔹 WayBeyond Unveils AI-Powered Climate Prediction for Precision Irrigation

  • What? New Inside Climate Prediction feature in the FarmRoad platform.

  • How? Uses AI, satellite data, and climate sensors for real-time irrigation decisions.

  • Why It Matters? Helps growers reduce water waste, prevent disease risks, and optimize fertigation & harvesting.

  • Key Features: Hourly & daily forecasts for temperature, radiation, humidity, and evapotranspiration.

🔹 Landus & TalusAg Launch North America’s First Modular Green Ammonia System

  • What? A localized green ammonia production system to reduce reliance on global supply chains.

  • Why It Matters? Helps stabilize fertilizer pricing and improves supply chain resilience.

  • Sustainability Impact? Could reduce biofuel feedstock carbon intensity by up to 25%, benefiting domestic biofuel producers.

🔹 Saudi Arabia Completes Largest Vertical Farm in Riyadh

  • What? A 20,000 sqm indoor vertical farm (19 layers) by Mowreq Specialized Agriculture & YesHealth Group.

  • Why It Matters? Supports food security & sustainability with AI-driven monitoring and 90% water savings.

  • Unique Feature? Includes an experiential center where visitors can dine & observe farm operations.

  • Future Potential? Analysts predict more vertical farms in the Middle East to boost regional food resilience.

🔹 Ceradis Introduces CeraMax to Combat Red Crown Rot in Soybeans

  • What? A biological seed treatment for Red Crown Rot (RCR), a major Midwest soybean disease.

  • Availability? 2025, under a Section 2(ee) label for RCR suppression.

  • How It Works? Uses Natamycin, a soil bacteria-derived molecule, to protect roots from fungal attacks.

  • Grower Strategy? Crop rotation, strategic planting, and early-stage seed treatment with CeraMax.

LATEST RESEARCH
Latest AgTech Research: Nanobubbles, AI Dairy Monitoring & Poultry Health

🔹 Edible Garden's Nanobubble Trial Shows Promising Results

  • What? Edible Garden AG & partners tested nanobubble technology in CEA.

  • Key Findings:

    • Higher yields & faster production

    • Shorter harvest cycles & improved plant health

    • Reduced biofilm in irrigation systems

    • More efficient water & nutrient delivery

  • What’s Next? Expanding trials to refine nanobubble applications in CEA.

🔹 AI-Powered Multi-Camera Tracking for Dairy Cow Monitoring

  • Who? Tokyo University of Science research team.

  • What? A non-contact AI monitoring system for dairy cow tracking.

  • Why It Matters? Eliminates need for wearables or physical devices, ensuring non-intrusive tracking.

  • Accuracy? 90% tracking success & 80% identification accuracy for individual cows.

  • Impact? Improves barn management, cow health, and milk quality.

🔹 ZIVO Bioscience Studies Algal-Based Poultry Disease Treatment

  • What? A second study with the University of Delaware on avian influenza prevention.

  • How? Uses algal-derived active ingredients as a natural alternative to traditional treatments.

  • Why It Matters? Aims to reduce disease spread, cut costs, and combat drug resistance in poultry production.

  • Future Potential? Could lead to sustainable, scalable poultry health solutions.

How Did You Like Today's Newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

OTHER NEWS
In Other News: Harvesting Robots, Agrivoltaics, Reports & More!

🔹 Artemy, an autonomous harvesting robot, enters commercial use at The Valley greenhouse, tackling labor shortages in Dutch horticulture.

🔹 Agritask rebrands as Acclym, shifting focus to data-driven agricultural sourcing across 6M hectares in 39 countries.

🔹 CFIN’s Foodtech in Canada 2025 Report highlights funding imbalances, growth capital gaps, and supply chain inefficiencies in agrifoodtech.

🔹 American Farmland Trust & Sol Systems launch a dual-use solar project in Illinois, integrating Kernza® grain with clean energy.

🔹 EIT Food RisingFoodStars seeks Series A-ready agri-food tech startups for funding, mentorship, and market expansion.

🔹 Hylio unveils the HYL-150 ARES drone, designed for large-scale farming with modular components and NDAA compliance.

🔹 45% of European farmers expect profit declines due to market instability, input costs, and climate risks, despite widespread sustainability practices.

🔹 SynTech Research Group integrates AgIdea, enhancing agronomy, biotech, and biosolutions research in the Americas.

🔹 CFA & AgVend partner to streamline loan management for ag retailers, improving financial visibility and decision-making.

Reply

or to participate.