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🌱 AgriBuzz
TECHCOOP’s $70M funding, Solis Agrosciences’ expansion, Netafim’s Hybrid Dripline launch, Yamaha’s new AI-driven farming solutions, Syngenta’s latest acquisition, Bayer’s satellite imagery partnership, and more.
Sepehr Achard
February 28, 2025
🌱 Happy Friday! Welcome to This Week’s AgTech Digest!
The weekend is almost here, but before you wrap up the week, here’s your quick and easy update on what’s shaping the AgTech industry.
From new funding rounds to cutting-edge innovations in AI, robotics, and sustainable farming, this edition keeps you informed on the latest trends and developments. Whether you're tracking investments, exploring new technologies, or looking ahead to upcoming industry events, we've got you covered.
📩 Grab a coffee, take a quick break, and dive into this week’s insights.
🚀 Ready? Let’s get started!
This Week’s Highlights Include:
Estimated Reading Time: 9 - 10 minutes
You can also listen to the full episode here.
FUNDING ROUND & INVESTMENTS
💰 Funding & Investment Announcements: TECHCOOP, Solis Agrosciences & REKA Group
TECHCOOP Raises $70M to Expand Digital Agritech Solutions
📌 What happened? Vietnam-based agritech platform TECHCOOP secured a $70 million Series A round, consisting of both equity and debt financing.
📌 Why does it matter? This investment will help TECHCOOP scale its digital agritech platform, improve agricultural value chain integration, and enhance risk control measures for global expansion.
📌 Who invested? The round was co-led by TNB Aura and AVV, with new participation from BlueOrchard, FMO, AppWorks, and Capria Ventures.
📌 What’s next? With this funding, TECHCOOP aims to expand globally, boost financial inclusion, and enhance agricultural resilience—key factors in sustainability and food security.
Solis Agrosciences Secures Series A for Commercial Growth
📌 What happened? Solis Agrosciences received Series A funding from Cultivation Capital to expand its commercial services and R&D capabilities.
📌 Why does it matter? Solis supports both startups and major agribusinesses by providing capital-efficient access to specialized agricultural research and scientific expertise.
📌 What are their core capabilities? Solis Agrosciences specializes in:
Genomics & gene editing
Scientific consulting for AgTech startups
Infrastructure & research access
📌 What’s next? With this funding, Solis plans to scale its services and support the commercialization of new AgTech innovations.
Horticoop Invests in REKA Group to Boost Regenerative Agriculture
📌 What happened? Horticoop, an investment cooperative focused on agriculture and horticulture, invested in REKA Group BV, a company specializing in regenerative soil improvement.
📌 What does REKA Group do? REKA develops soil improvers that enhance soil structure, microbiology, nutrient and water uptake, ensuring sustainable farming practices.
📌 What’s next? Horticoop and REKA will collaborate on scaling regenerative solutions for global agriculture, focusing on climate-resilient farming and long-term soil health.
THIS WEEK’S EDITORIAL
How Climate Change is Reshaping Seed Breeding, Technology, and Market Demand – Insights from Jean-Marie (Jim) Rozec of Voltz Maraîchage
📌 Why does this matter? Climate change is forcing the agriculture industry to rethink seed development strategies, focusing on resilience, sustainability, and adaptability. This shift impacts farmers, breeders, and consumers alike.
📌 What’s changing?
Field Selections in Grower Conditions – Instead of controlled environments, seed trials are moving to real-world farm conditions to ensure performance in unpredictable climates.
Government Incentives – Policymakers are encouraging the development of climate-resilient varieties through funding and regulatory support.
Technology Revolution in Breeding – Molecular markers, gene editing (CRISPR-Cas9), and AI-driven breeding are reshaping the speed and efficiency of new seed variety development.
📌 How are seed breeders adapting? Seed companies are tackling key challenges by:
Developing disease- and stress-resistant varieties
Improving flavor, nutritional content, and yield stability
Breeding for bolting resistance in herbs like dill and coriander for warmer regions
Expanding organic seed certifications to support sustainable agriculture
📌 What’s the impact on indoor and vertical farming? A shift toward fast-cycle, high-density crops is taking off in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). However, variety selection remains complex, influenced by:
Growing conditions (open-field vs. controlled environments)
Consumer preferences (taste, texture, nutrition)
Regulatory restrictions (GMOs and novel breeding techniques)
📌 What’s next? As demand for sustainable farming practices grows, seed companies are developing varieties that:
✅ Require fewer resources (e.g., water-efficient crops)
✅ Adapt to broader climate windows
✅ Improve pest and disease resistance through breeding
📌 Who to watch? Graines Voltz is leading the charge in bolting-resistant herb varieties and expanding its organic seed certification to meet rising demand.
THIS WEEK’S INTERVIEW
This Week’s Interview: Netafim’s Hybrid Dripline – A New Era in Precision Irrigation
📌 What’s the big news? Netafim has launched the Hybrid Dripline, an advanced irrigation solution designed to:
✅ Enhance clog resistance for better water distribution
✅ Simplify installation and reduce labor costs
✅ Integrate seamlessly with precision agriculture tools
📌 How is this different from traditional drip irrigation? The Hybrid Dripline builds on Netafim’s UniRam™ dripper technology but improves clog resistance with a large, deep, and wide cross-section, preventing sediment buildup. This ensures consistent water flow even in low-quality water environments.
📌 What are the benefits for farmers?
Lower labor costs & faster installation – No manual hole punching or migration rings required
Better water efficiency – Reduces blockages, ensuring optimal irrigation
Higher crop yields – Consistent hydration leads to improved plant health
Data-driven farming – Fully integrates with Netafim’s GrowSphere™ system for real-time monitoring and insights
📌 Is it sustainable? Yes! The Hybrid Dripline supports sustainable agriculture by:
♻️ Using recyclable polyethylene materials
🚜 Reducing material waste
💰 Lowering operational costs and labor requirements
📌 Where is this technology being deployed? Beyond traditional agriculture, Netafim is also expanding its Hybrid Dripline into heavy wall dripline applications, including mining operations.
NEW PRODUCT & FACILITY
🆕 New Products & Facilities in AgTech
🚜 Pure Harvest & PlanTFarm Unveil High-Tech Farming Facility in UAE
📌 What’s new? Pure Harvest Smart Farms and PlanTFarm have launched a high-tech Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) facility in Al Ain, UAE, focused on fresh produce and animal feed production.
📌 Why does it matter? This project aims to:
✅ Reduce import dependence by 95% for livestock feed
✅ Provide fresh, locally grown animal feed at lower costs
✅ Grow high-quality Korean strawberries in the UAE’s arid climate
✅ Ensure year-round leafy greens production through climate-controlled systems
📌 What’s the impact? The AI-driven climate control, precision irrigation, and data analytics used in this facility will enhance food security and sustainability in the Middle East, while optimizing water use in an arid climate.
📌 What’s next? The farm will expand its product range to leafy greens and explore further applications of precision agriculture in desert environments.
🌿 SweetWater Launches DRONEZONE™ RECHARGED for Longer Stress Protection
📌 What’s new? SweetWater Technologies has introduced DRONEZONE™ RECHARGED, a plant growth regulator (PGR) designed to extend stress resistance in crops from 2 weeks to 30 days.
📌 Why does it matter?
✅ Increases plant resistance to environmental stress (drought, temperature fluctuations, etc.)
✅ Extends plant defense to 60 days when used in a two-pass drone application program
✅ Optimized for drone-based application, allowing precise and ultra-low volume delivery
📌 What’s the impact? By using DRONEZONE RECHARGED, farmers can reduce crop losses, improve efficiency, and fortify yields against environmental fluctuations.
📌 What’s next? Growers are integrating this drone-applied solution into precision farming programs to improve sustainability and efficiency.
🌱 Tidal Grow AgriScience Introduces Four New Regenerative Ag Products
📌 What’s new? Tidal Grow AgriScience has launched four regenerative farming products in Canada:
Tidal Grow® GENBOOST – A seed treatment activating plant defense mechanisms
Tidal Grow® Chroma – A biostimulant enhancing plant health, stress tolerance, and yield
Tidal Grow® Oceanic – A liquid seafood hydrolysate biofertilizer boosting soil fertility
Tidal Grow® SeaPhos – A phosphorus-rich biofertilizer made from upcycled seafood byproducts
📌 Why does it matter?
✅ Supports regenerative farming and soil health
✅ Aligns with Fertilizer Canada’s 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles
✅ Promotes circular economy by upcycling seafood byproducts into fertilizers
📌 What’s next? Tidal Grow aims to scale its biofertilizer solutions globally, focusing on sustainability, soil health, and nutrient efficiency.
💧 Lumo Enhances Smart Irrigation with Real-Time Pressure Monitoring
📌 What’s new? Lumo has integrated pressure monitoring into its smart irrigation system, allowing growers to:
✅ Track real-time pressure levels to detect issues faster
✅ Prevent costly irrigation failures with proactive maintenance
✅ Optimize water distribution across vineyard blocks
📌 Why does it matter? This feature, combined with block-level flow data from smart valves, improves:
System diagnostics & efficiency
Water conservation & irrigation scheduling
Pump, filter, and infrastructure management
📌 What’s next? Lumo’s Ops Center irrigation management software now provides block-level insights into pressure and flow data, helping growers pinpoint inefficiencies before they impact yield.
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
🔄 Mergers & Acquisitions in AgTech
🤖 Yamaha Motor Launches Yamaha Agriculture, Inc. for AI & Robotics in Farming
📌 What’s new? Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. has established Yamaha Agriculture, Inc., a new company focused on autonomous farming equipment and AI-driven digital solutions for specialty crop growers.
📌 Why does it matter?
✅ Addresses labor shortages through robotic automation
✅ Enhances resource efficiency with AI-driven farm management tools
✅ Optimizes farm decision-making using advanced data analytics
📌 What solutions will Yamaha Agriculture offer? The company will integrate robotics solutions for:
🚜 Automated spraying & weeding
🌱 AI-powered crop management
📊 Precision farming insights
📌 What’s next? Yamaha Agriculture aims to scale globally, providing efficient, sustainable solutions as the industry shifts toward automation and robotics in specialty crop production.
🌱 Staphyt Merges with Héliantis Group to Expand Seed Research & Production
📌 What’s new? Staphyt, a leader in agricultural research, has merged with Héliantis Group, a specialist in varietal experimentation and seed production.
📌 Why does it matter? This merger expands Staphyt’s research network and testing capabilities, adding new research stations in:
Rhône-Alpes
Occitanie
Atlantique Vendée
📌 How will this impact seed innovation?
✅ More advanced seed trials – covering disease resistance, stress tolerance, and optimal densities
✅ Expanded European network – now 25 seed stations across 12 countries
✅ Better climate-adapted seed development – testing across multiple agronomic conditions
🧬 Syngenta Acquires Novartis’ Natural Compounds & Genetic Strains for Biologicals Innovation
📌 What’s new? Syngenta has acquired Novartis’ natural compound repository and genetic strain collection, strengthening its biologicals research and development.
📌 Why does it matter?
✅ Expands Syngenta’s capabilities in bioengineering & fermentation
✅ Boosts development of biological crop protection & soil health solutions
✅ Accelerates next-gen agricultural biologicals for sustainable farming
📌 What did the deal include?
Transfer of Novartis’ Natural Products & Biomolecular Chemistry team
Leasing of Novartis’ fermentation pilot plant & labs in Basel, Switzerland
📌 What’s next? Syngenta is integrating this new research into its biologicals innovation pipeline, alongside key partnerships with Provivi, Ginkgo Bioworks, Intrinsyx Bio, Lavie Bio, Lithos Crop Protect, and TraitSeq.
How Did You Like Today's Newsletter? |
OTHER NEWS
🌍 Other Notable AgTech News
Planet Labs has signed a multi-year enterprise license agreement with Bayer, strengthening their collaboration on satellite imagery and analytics.
Farmers Edge is providing Managed Technology Services to support Conduit’s digital financing platform, which connects customers with financing & profitability optimization solutions.
UPL Corp has received emergency approval from the EPA and CDPR to use KASUMIN® 2L bactericide in California almond orchards to combat bacterial blast.
NRGene Canada has developed a clubroot-resistant trait for canola, using genomic trait mapping and marker-assisted breeding to improve disease resistance.
Lundberg Family Farms has introduced Black Pearl Rice, a nutrient-rich, high-yield variety developed over 12 years to thrive in California’s Sacramento Valley.
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