AgTech Snapshot

Featuring GreenLight Biosciences, Oishii, Nutrien, CropX, Plenty, Reinke, Moa Technology & more in this week’s top AgTech developments.

Author

Sepehr Achard
March 28, 2025

This week’s edition covers a broad sweep of developments shaping the future of agriculture—from global recognition of leading GreenTech firms to new precision ag technologies, biotech advancements, and key shifts in vertical farming. We’re tracking innovation, funding, partnerships, and operational updates across core areas of the AgTech landscape

📩 Grab a coffee, take a quick break, and catch up on this week’s industry highlights.

🚀 Let’s dive in!

This Week’s Highlights Include:

Estimated Reading Time: 5 - 6 minutes

You can also listen to the full episode here.

🌾 Discover What’s Powering the Future of Farming

🔍 The Ultimate AgTech Directory Is Here
From AI-driven crop management to next-gen irrigation, explore hundreds of vetted AgTech companies, tools, and startups transforming agriculture.

✅ Search by sector, tech, or region
✅ Find partners, products, or inspiration
✅ Stay ahead of what’s next in precision ag & digital farming

🚜 Whether you're an investor, grower, or founder — this is your go-to resource for innovation in ag.

PRECISION AG & DIGITAL FARMING
🌱 AgTech Weekly Highlights: The 2025 GreenTech Rankings Unveiled

🌍 AgTech Leaders Featured in TIME’s 2025 GreenTech Rankings

  • TIME & Statista spotlight 250 top global GreenTech firms

  • Evaluation criteria: innovation, financial strength, environmental impact

  • Notable AgTech mentions:

    • Innovafeed (France)

    • IGS (UK)

    • Pivot Bio (USA)

    • Carbon Robotics (UK)

    • CropX (Israel)

🧪 Nutrien’s Illinois Innovation Farm Opens New R&D Facility

  • New site at Champaign Innovation Farm supports full-acre agronomic research

  • Active since Nov 2023 with 18+ events hosted

  • 16-person team focused on real-world solutions for growers

  • Emphasis: synergy between inputs, digital tools, and equipment

💦 Reinke Launches ReinCloud 3 for Smarter Irrigation

  • New platform offers precision irrigation & farm data management tools

  • Features: updated UI, smart dashboard, telemetry, layer mapping

  • Compatible with RC3™; pre-installed on upcoming E3™ pivots

  • Now available in Apple App Store & Google Play

⚡ crop.zone Expands Electric Weed Control to U.S.

  • Partners with Big Iron Equipment for U.S. market expansion

  • Target crops: potatoes and non-chemical applications

  • Promotes electric desiccation as herbicide-free solution

  • Focus on improving service for Midwest growers

THIS WEEK’S INTERVIEW
Zespri’s Approach to Innovation & Sustainability in Kiwi Fruit Farming

  • Zespri is leveraging its ZAG Innovation Fund to connect with global startups and researchers to address industry challenges.

  • The company focuses on sustainability, productivity, and climate resilience, aiming to support growers while ensuring long-term profitability.

  • Zespri’s strategy integrates collaborations with growers, technology startups, and research institutes to advance innovation in kiwi fruit production.

  • The fresh fruit industry, particularly kiwi fruit, has significant growth potential, with Zespri on track to exceeding its longstanding global revenue target of $4.5 billion by 2025.

  • Jiunn Shih emphasizes that businesses should balance profitability with social and environmental responsibility to create long-term value.

CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE
🏢 Vertical Farming Updates: Contrasting Stories

🤖 Oishii Acquires Tortuga AgTech’s Robotics IP & Team

  • Acquisition includes Tortuga’s AI models, robotics software, and hardware

  • Goal: integrate robotic harvesting at Oishii’s Jersey City strawberry farm

  • Plans to deploy 50 robots to enhance efficiency and scalability

  • Strengthens Oishii’s push toward automated indoor farming

📉 Plenty Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

  • Filed for Chapter 11 under U.S. Bankruptcy Code to restructure liabilities

  • Objective: reduce costs, stabilize finances, and preserve operations

  • Secured $20.7M in debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing to support operations

  • Core facilities to remain operational during proceedings

  • Restructuring aimed at long-term viability of key vertical farming assets

CROP PROTECTION & PLANT SCIENCE
🌿 Plant Science & Biotech Highlights

💸 GreenLight Biosciences Raises $25M for RNA Crop Protection

  • $25M Series C extension provided by impact investor Just Climate

  • Supports commercialization of:

    • Calantha™ – RNA-based crop protection spray

    • Norroa™ – RNA solution for varroa mites in honeybees

    • Fortivance™ – new adjuvant to reduce environmental impact

  • Focus: alternatives to chemical pesticides, pollinator health, and biodiversity

🧬 Moa Technology Partners with NAICONS for Bio-Herbicide Discovery

  • Joint effort to develop biological herbicides using NAICONS’ 70,000+ microbial extract library

  • Moa will use high-throughput screening to identify effective compounds

  • Goal: combat herbicide resistance (273+ resistant weed species globally)

  • Moa gains exclusive development rights with revenue-sharing model for commercialization

🔊 HypeSound Raises €1.2M to Scale Microbial Sound Tech

  • Closes €1.2M pre-seed round to expand So'Sweep™ platform

  • Uses low-frequency sound waves to boost performance of algae, yeast & bacteria

  • Plans to:

    • Expand R&D team

    • Open lab in Perugia, Italy

    • Explore broader use cases in bioproduction

🔄 Koppert Transfers Biostimulant Portfolio to REKA Group

  • REKA to take over management of biostimulants & fertilizers by 2025

  • Includes production, R&D, logistics, compliance & sales

  • Koppert subsidiaries will continue distribution; REKA to expand global reach

  • Strategic partnership with Orion supports in-furrow biological applications in Europe

  • Field trials conducted in France, the Netherlands & Italy

How Did You Like Today's Newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

OTHER NEWS
🌍 Regen Ag, Lab Analyses Partnership For Horticulture & Bankruptcy Updates

  • Sienna IM has provided a €2 million sustainability-linked loan to GreenPods for its La Esperanza farm project. Funding will support the planting of almond and olive trees, alongside soil and ecosystem restoration efforts.

  • Goumbook, a MENAT-based social enterprise dedicated to sustainability, has announced the 20 semi-finalists selected for the 2025 MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Venture Programme. The initiative is delivered in partnership with Saudi Awwal Bank, HSBC Bank Middle East, the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) Food, and the Climate Champions Team.

  • CE-LINE and Eurofins Agro Testing partner to combine real-time nutrient data with broader lab analyses. The collaboration provides faster access to essential and diagnostic data for horticulture growers.

  • Benson Hill, Inc. (Nasdaq: BHIL), a seed innovation company, announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware has approved its initial first-day motions. These approvals follow the company’s voluntary filing under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on March 20, 2025.

Reply

or to participate.