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AgTech Growth
Featuring John Deere, Precision AI, Verdant Robotics, FarmQA, NEC X, Lucent Biosciences, Protein Industries Canada, Confluence Genetics, Plenty Unlimited, Ostara, Phoenix Contact, HITS Solutions, Gevo, WSSA, Rabobank, and TRACT.
Diletta Di Iorio
May 30, 2025
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Good Morning, Growers.
This week’s edition highlights key acquisitions, investments, and innovative technologies shaping the future of agriculture. From vertical farming advancements to AI-driven solutions for precision agriculture, catch up on the latest developments from across AgTech.
What We Are Covering Today:
Estimated Reading Time: 6 - 7 minutes
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PRECISION AG & AGRITECH
AgTech Highlights: Acquisition, Investment, Funding Round & More!
John Deere & Sentera Acquisition
John Deere has acquired Sentera, a Minnesota-based provider of remote sensing and drone imagery solutions for agriculture.
The acquisition expands John Deere's digital agriculture capabilities and enhances its farm management tools.
Sentera’s technology enables high-resolution imagery and customized weed mapping for precision spraying.
Sentera will maintain its sales to OEMs and individual users, ensuring compatibility with other drone platforms.
Farm Credit Canada Commits $2Bn to AgTech Investment Through FCC Capital
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) will invest $2 billion in agtech innovation by 2030 through its new investment arm, FCC Capital.
The funding will support Canadian agriculture and food sector startups and scale-ups, from pre-seed to late-stage.
In its first year, FCC Capital closed nine direct investments totaling $170 million and supported three new funds.
Cooperative Ventures & Precision AI Investment
Cooperative Ventures has invested in Precision AI, an AI-driven agricultural practice operating in the U.S. and Canada.
The investment round included Farm Credit Canada, The 51 Food and AgTech Fund, Green Spark Ventures, Fulcrum Global Capital, BDC Capital, and At One Ventures.
Precision AI uses autonomous aerial systems to collect real-time, plant-level data to help farmers make precise input decisions.
The partnership aims to enhance farm profitability, sustainability, and decision-making capabilities for North American farmers.
Verdant Robotics & SharpShooter Expansion
Verdant Robotics has expanded its SharpShooter precision application system across the U.S.
The system delivers 99.9% accurate input applications across various crop types using AI and computer vision.
Updates based on grower feedback have improved shot rate by 40% and field speed by 42%.
The SharpShooter is now in use across key growing regions, with ROI reported within 6-18 months.
Verdant Robotics aims to help growers optimize resource use and increase efficiency.
FarmQA Series Seed Funding
The round, led by gener8tor 1889, will support product development, AI analytics, data integration, and strategic acquisitions.
FarmQA’s platform currently manages 37 million acres globally, aiming to enhance decision-making tools for agronomic advisors.
The funding will also support expanding FarmQA’s global footprint and advisor network.
NEC X & Elev X! Ignite Program
NEC X is accepting applications for its Elev X! Ignite startup acceleration program, offering up to $250K in funding and mentorship.
The program supports entrepreneurs in the problem discovery and validation phases of startup development, offering deep tech expertise and global market access.
Successful applicants will start in August 2025, with over 150 startups having been accelerated to date.
PLANT SCIENCE
Plant Science Updates: Funding, Acquisition & GHGE Study!
Lucent Biosciences & Greenhouse Gas Emission Study
Lucent Biosciences has completed a greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) study confirming that its Soileos fertilizer can sequester an average of 2.3 tonnes of carbon per acre, with results reaching up to 10 tonnes in select conditions.
The fertilizer is made from upcycled agricultural byproducts and is free from microplastics and synthetic chelators.
Soileos enhances soil microbiome health and supports climate-smart agriculture and decarbonization efforts in the food supply chain.
Lucent Biosciences is scaling production and plans to establish a new seed coating facility.
Protein Industries Canada & Government Funding
Protein Industries Canada has received $15 million in government funding to support genomics and AI in agriculture.
The funding will strengthen the entire agri-food value chain, from plant breeding to food manufacturing.
The initiative aims to build a more sustainable, resilient, and efficient domestic food system.
The funding is available on a rolling basis, with applications currently open. The announcement was made under the administration of Minister of Industry, Mélanie Joly.
Confluence Genetics & Acquisition of Benson Hill Assets
Confluence Genetics has acquired Benson Hill’s business assets through a bankruptcy court-approved sale, creating a new agtech-focused entity.
Confluence Genetics will leverage over 350 patents and a proprietary AI-driven platform for future R&D and commercialization.
CEO Kim Hurst will focus on scaling proprietary ultra-high protein soybean varieties and entering new geographies, while Mike DeCamp will serve as Executive Chairman of the Board.
CEA
CEA Updates: Funding, Prototype & More!
Plenty Unlimited Inc. & Chapter 11 Exit
Plenty Unlimited Inc. has successfully exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy, focusing on expanding its vertical farming operations for strawberries.
Creditors reached agreements enabling the resumption of farm construction and development.
Plenty’s reorganization was supported by interim and exit financing from One Madison, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and other investors.
Bethnal Green Ventures & Ostara Pre-Seed Funding
Bethnal Green Ventures has led a pre-seed funding round for Ostara, a company developing real-time optimization software for controlled environment agriculture (CEA).
Ostara’s platform integrates with key farm systems to reduce labor, water, and energy use, addressing inefficiencies in CEA operations.
The platform’s modular, affordable, and user-friendly design supports small to medium-sized growers, offering a scalable tool for sustainable farming.
Ostara’s founders, Dan and Adam, aim for a global vision of smart agriculture.
Phoenix Contact & HITS Solutions Precision Agriculture Prototype
The project integrates IoT, automation, and metagenomics to reduce water use and improve crop health.
This prototype, commemorating Phoenix Contact’s 100th anniversary, demonstrates the viability of smart farming technologies in arid and resource-limited regions.
The prototype delivers significant efficiency gains, reducing water usage by 86.67% and minimizing land use to 9.5 m².
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OTHER NEWS
Other Updates: Biofuel, Traceability & More!
Gevo, Inc. sells its subsidiary Agri-Energy, LLC to A.E. Innovation for $7 million.A.E. Innovation plans to restart ethanol production and establish an innovation hub at the Luverne facility.The transaction is expected to save Gevo $3 million annually in idling costs.
Rabobank and TRACT announce a strategic partnership combining finance and supply chain data.Collaboration seeks to enhance transparency and sustainability across agricultural supply chains.TRACT’s SaaS platform centralizes and streamlines data for effective sustainability management.
Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) leaders visit Capitol Hill to highlight concerns over recent federal funding cuts.Member survey reveals substantial disruptions to agricultural research and workforce stability. Key issues include halted research projects, job losses, and reduced collaboration.
Google is funding the deployment of Arable’s irrigation technology across 20,000 acres in North and South Carolina. The initiative targets improved irrigation efficiency in the Edisto-Santee, Catawba, and Pee Dee River Basins. The goal is to save over 500 million gallons of water annually for eight years.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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