Crop Funding

Featuring updates from Vestaron, Bayer, Syngenta, Carbon Robotics, EarthOptics, Grodan, and more—your 5-minute recap of the latest in AgTech.

Author

Sepehr Achard
April 04, 2025

👋 Welcome to this week’s AgTech Digest!

From breakthroughs in crop protection and precision ag to key sustainability partnerships and funding news, we’ve rounded up the latest developments shaping the future of agriculture.

Scroll down for concise updates, expert insights, and upcoming industry events—all in one place.

This Week’s Highlights Include:

Estimated Reading Time: 6 - 7 minutes

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Catch the full recap on this week’s AgTech Digest Podcast—available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform. here.

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CROP PROTECTION & PLANT SCIENCE
🧬 Plant Science, Biocontrol & Crop Protection – This Week's Key Developments

Vestaron raises $20M to scale peptide-based bioinsecticides

  • Funding will accelerate expansion into key markets and R&D efforts.

  • Focused on combating pest resistance and enhancing sustainability in tomato production.

  • Continues development of novel peptide-based alternatives to chemical insecticides.

Novo Holdings & KKR invest in fungal biotech firm Sylvan

  • Marks Novo’s largest Planetary Health investment in Asia and first in fungal biotech.

  • Sylvan will:

    • Expand production capacity.

    • Modernize its research infrastructure.

    • Improve market access throughout Asia.

ADAMA receives EU approval for Feralla® Molluscicide

  • Approved as a low-risk active substance by EU regulators.

  • Enables ADAMA to launch Feralla®-based products across multiple countries, starting with the UK.

  • Feralla® features:

    • Rapid action against mollusks.

    • Long-lasting performance.

    • Improved bait durability.

Twist Bioscience & Curio Genomics partner on NGS for agriculture

  • Aims to ease the transition from microarrays to next-generation sequencing (NGS).

  • Combines:

    • Twist's FlexPrep™ ultra-high throughput library prep kits.

    • Curio's CURIO™ bioinformatics platform.

  • Designed for use in trait discovery, breeding, and genetic selection.

AdvancedAg raises $2M seed funding led by Raven Indigenous Capital

  • Based in Alberta, Canada, the firm develops biologicals to improve soil health and reduce chemical reliance.

  • Capital will be used to:

    • Scale research operations.

    • Advance IP development.

    • Expand across North American markets.

  • Supports goals of maintaining farm profitability while enhancing sustainability.

FMC & Bayer collaborate to expand Isoflex™ Active in Europe

  • Targets herbicide-resistant weeds in cereal and oilseed crops.

  • Isoflex™ is a Group 13 herbicide with demonstrated efficacy in cereals, pulses, and oilseed rape.

  • Partnership offers broader access to herbicide options for European growers.

Syngenta signs 5-year distribution deal with Agrauxine (Lesaffre)

  • Gains exclusive rights in the U.S. ornamental crop market to two biologicals: STROVEQ and SPREXIMA.

  • Syngenta will private label and distribute the products through its existing U.S. channels.

  • Focused on growing its biological crop protection portfolio.

KUBTEC unveils XSEED systems for non-invasive seed analysis

  • Offers internal seed imaging without cutting or staining.

  • Product line includes:

    • XSEED mini

    • XSEED mid-range

    • XSEED Plus

  • Designed for consistent, repeatable, and fast agricultural testing.

Pro Farm Group launches ARINO™ for nematode and wireworm control

  • In-furrow insecticide/nematicide formulated for potatoes, onions, and other tuber crops.

  • Uses RinoTec™, a novel biocontrol technology disrupting root-feeding pests.

  • Approved by the U.S. EPA and deployed in on-farm demos for the 2025 growing season.

THIS WEEK’S EDITORIAL
🍓 Indoor Strawberry Farming: A Feasibility Study

Indoor strawberry farming has emerged as one of the most discussed opportunities in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), driven by strong consumer demand for year-round fruit, food security concerns, and advancements in agtech. This edition presents a comprehensive feasibility study drawing from expert interviews and industry research to answer one critical question: Can strawberries be grown indoors profitably?

PRECISION AG & DIGITAL FARMING
📡 Precision Ag & Autonomous Tech – Weekly Developments

Zone AgTech, Bayer Crop Science, and Axceta form precision ag consortium in Canada

  • The new collaboration aims to scale smart agriculture and greenhouse technologies in Quebec and across Canada.

  • Bayer’s HortiView platform will serve as the core technology within the initiative.

  • The consortium focuses on:

    • Advancing IoT-based tools in agriculture.

    • Promoting adoption of digital ag technologies.

    • Supporting innovation ecosystems within Quebec’s agtech sector.

EarthOptics launches Total Farm subscription platform

  • A $4/acre subscription offering for the 2025 crop season.

  • Combines high-resolution soil data with crop planning insights in a unified platform.

  • Subscription includes:

    • Soil fertility mapping.

    • Biological soil health assessments.

    • Sampling, lab analysis, and interpretation.

  • Aims to improve input efficiency and optimize profitability per acre.

Farmblox and Eion launch carbon monitoring initiative using Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW)

  • Tracks real-time soil CO₂ removal across 10,000+ acres in Virginia.

  • Integrates soil CO₂, moisture, and weather data to quantify ERW impacts.

  • Goals include:

    • Measuring carbon removal efficacy.

    • Providing independent verification of CO₂ sequestration.

    • Monitoring soil health improvements linked to ERW.

Carbon Robotics debuts AutoTractor for autonomous field operations

  • Designed to simplify daily farming tasks with real-world functionality.

  • System includes:

    • Autonomy Kit for retrofitting.

    • Remote Operations Control Center.

  • Compatible with John Deere 6R and 8R Series tractors.

  • Uses a pay-per-hour pricing model, reducing initial investment hurdles for farmers.

  • Addresses challenges like supervision complexity and workday disruptions.

THIS WEEK’S INTERVIEW
Chitosan-Based Crop Inputs: Tidal Grow AgriScience’s Sustainable Path Forward

  • Tidal Grow AgriScience leverages chitosan-based solutions to enhance crop protection. Its parent company, Tidal Vision, also uses chitosan-based solutions in the water treatment and material science industries.

  • The company’s green chemistry innovations offer supplements to traditional pesticides, fertilizers, and industrial chemicals.

  • Sustainability and profitability are central to Tidal Grow’s approach, ensuring that farmers can adopt regenerative solutions without sacrificing economic viability.

  • Tidal Vision, the parent company, Tidal Grow AgriScience has developed a zero-waste, environmentally friendly chitosan manufacturing process, positioning Tidal Grow as a leader in bio-based agricultural solutions.

  • Regulatory challenges remain a hurdle, but Tidal Grow has achieved key milestones, including an EPA Safe Chemistry Award and 25(b) exemption for its biopesticides. Tidal Vision, Tidal Grow’s parent company, earned this award with a chitosan-based solution, same active ingredient as used in Tidal Grow’s agricultural solutions.

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OTHER NEWS
🌍 Sustainability, Efficiency & Startup Collaboration – Key Industry Moves This Week

  • EcoAct and MyEasyFarm have partnered to offer a platform for measuring, reporting, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agri-food supply chains.

  • Grodan, in partnership with Philips Horticulture LED Solutions, is conducting a multi-partner trial focusing on energy-efficient tomato cultivation. The trial aims to reduce heat input by 50%, using Grodan's stone wool substrates for precise irrigation, spectral dimming, advanced screening, and vertical temperature monitoring.

  • Nasekomo, a biotechnology company, has achieved a 25% feed conversion ratio (FCR) for its Automated Insect Rearing Beds and Bots platform, a significant improvement over traditional crate-based systems. The platform has a modular design for industrial application, capable of processing 16,000 tons of feed annually.

  • Yanmar Ventures has become an official Investor Partner of StartLife, a leading agrifood startup accelerator in Wageningen, Netherlands. The collaboration will offer funding, strategic mentorship, and access to industry networks for emerging startups.

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