💡 AgriTech Spotlight

Spotlighting EarthOptics, Arable, and Ginkgo Bioworks in This Week’s AgTech Digest

Author

Sepehr Achard
August 30, 2024

Good morning, AgTech Digest community!

This week, we’re excited to share the most cutting-edge developments in agriculture, from breakthrough technologies to strategic industry shifts.

Let's dive into the exciting news shaping the future of farming.

What We Are Covering Today?

Estimated Reading Time: 5 - 6 minutes
Listening Time: 12 - 13 minutes

🚜 MERGERS THAT MATTER
EarthOptics & Pattern Ag Merge to Form Soil Digitization Company

Earlier this week, EarthOptics and Pattern Ag merged to create a new leader in soil digitization, operating under the EarthOptics name. This merger combines Pattern Ag’s advanced lab-based soil analysis with EarthOptics' field-based sensing technologies, promising farmers unprecedented insights into their soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties.

Key Highlights:

  • High-Resolution Soil Data: A digital twin of soil properties, including pests, nutrients, and moisture content.

  • Precision Agronomy: Integration of predictive agronomy to enhance decision-making by over 100x.

  • Scalable Impact: The merger aims to scale operations rapidly, driving profitability and sustainability for farmers.

Leadership Insights:

  • Lars Dyrud, CEO of EarthOptics, envisions delivering value to farmers with precise soil insights previously unattainable.

  • Rob Hranac, CEO of Pattern Ag, highlights the merger’s potential to revolutionize the scope and resolution of soil data.

🌊 WATER-SMART AGRICULTURE
Arable & Google Collaborate For Water-Smart Agriculture in Nebraska

In a groundbreaking collaboration, Arable and Google are joining forces to tackle one of agriculture’s biggest challenges: water scarcity. Farmers in southwest Nebraska will soon benefit from Arable’s advanced crop intelligence solution, funded and supported by Google, to refine irrigation practices and conserve water.

Why It Matters:

  • Climate Change Impact: Rising temperatures and prolonged droughts have made water conservation more critical than ever. Groundwater depletion is accelerating, threatening global food production.

  • Sustainable Solutions: This partnership focuses on sustainable water management, with the goal of replenishing more water than is consumed by 2030.

Deployment and Impact:

  • On the Ground: Google’s funding enables the deployment of Arable’s technology across 25,000 acres in the Twin Platte Natural Resources District (TPNRD).

  • Data-Driven Decisions: Arable’s system synthesizes data on weather, crop conditions, and soil health, translating it into actionable insights that can be accessed via mobile and web apps.

  • Proven Success: In 2023, Paulman Farms in Nebraska reduced irrigation by 22% across 27 fields using Arable’s technology—a monumental leap in water conservation.

Voices of the Leaders:

  • Suzie Shin, Google: “Our commitment is to replenish more water than we consume by 2030, ensuring water security in the communities where we operate.”

  • Jim Ethington, Arable CEO: “This partnership equips growers with the tools to produce more with less, securing both their bottom line and the planet’s future.”

🌱 BIOCONTROL PRODUCTS
Ginkgo Bioworks & Vitales: Accelerating Sustainable Agriculture with Biocontrol Products

Image provided by Ginkgo Bioworks

Ginkgo Bioworks has partnered with Vitales, a subsidiary of Uby Agro, to fast-track the development of two pioneering biocontrol products to combat critical soybean diseases in Brazil. This collaboration is set to significantly impact the country's rapidly growing bio inputs market.

Partnership Overview:

  • Targeted Innovation: Ginkgo Bioworks is leveraging its extensive strain collection, validated through rigorous screenings, to develop biocontrol products addressing Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) and target spot.

  • Rapid Market Entry: The pre-validation process allows Vitales to introduce these biocontrol solutions to the Brazilian market faster.

  • Tailored Formulations: Ginkgo is developing formulations specifically designed for Brazilian agriculture, including seed treatments and foliar applications.

The Growing Bioinputs Market:

  • Market Surge: Brazil’s bio inputs market is booming, with biocontrol products experiencing a 35% annual growth rate over the past five seasons.

  • Sustainability Focus: As biocontrol products make up 4.2% of Brazil’s crop protection market, this partnership is key to meeting the increasing demand for sustainable agricultural solutions.

Leadership Insights:

  • Magalie Guilhabert, Ginkgo Bioworks: “This partnership is a perfect match, combining our biocontrol expertise with Vitales’ deep understanding of Brazilian agriculture.”

  • Fernando Eduardo Alves de Sousa, Vitales: “By collaborating with Ginkgo, we’re accelerating the development of sustainable solutions that will benefit Brazilian growers and the environment.”

🚜 PRODUCT LAUNCH
Next Gen Plug-and-Play Devices, A New Tractor Series In America & More!

This week, exciting product launches across the agriculture sector will feature next-generation devices and tools that promise to enhance farming efficiency and productivity.

  • 🇺🇸 AGCO Corporation’s Fendt® 600 Vario® Series Tractor:

    • Now available in North America, this award-winning tractor offers farmers a versatile, high-performance machine capable of easily tackling a wide range of tasks.

    • Why It Matters: The Fendt 600 Vario® Series is designed for efficiency and adaptability, making it a valuable asset for modern farms.

  • 🛜 Bayer’s FieldView Drive 2.0:

    • Bayer has introduced an upgraded version of its plug-and-play device, enhancing data connectivity and monitoring capabilities across various types of farm equipment.

    • Why It Matters: This device optimizes digital farming solutions, allowing for more precise management of key agricultural activities like planting and harvesting.

  • 🌾 Lumo’s 4-Inch Smart Valve:

    • Lumo expands its irrigation solutions with a new 4-inch smart valve, ideal for managing larger vineyard blocks.

    • Why It Matters: This product gives winegrowers enhanced control over irrigation processes, reducing costs and improving water efficiency.

OTHER NEWS
AgriTech Weekly: USDA Investments, Awards, Certifications & More!

Here’s a snapshot of other significant developments this week:

  • 🌱 Haelixa & regenagri: Strategic partnership to advance regenerative agriculture through cutting-edge traceability technology.

  • 🌾 Bioceres Crop Solutions: The USDA approves HB4 wheat technology, paving the way for its production in the U.S.

  • 🇺🇸 Biodyne USA: ENVIRONOC 401 earns the Certified Biostimulant label from The Fertilizer Institute.

  • 📄 Pheronym: Receives a second U.S. patent for its biocontrol solution targeting plant-parasitic nematodes.

  • 🥇 Bayer’s Golden Ticket Award: Genvor Inc. wins a year-long access to lab space and resources at Bayer’s innovation hub.

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