Desert Tech

Featuring updates from Flat6Labs, Green Desert Technologies, MOVA, Blooms, Brilliant Harvest, Silal, Shouguang Vegetable Group, Enko, Pivot Bio, VGrid, Biotalys, AgroFresh, LettUs Grow, CambridgeHOK, and more.

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Good Morning, Growers.
This weekā€™s edition highlights major funding rounds, biotech breakthroughs, and strategic partnerships shaping the future of agriculture and food systems. From algae innovation in the desert to ammonia reduction tech for poultry, catch up on the latest from across AgTech.

What We Are Covering Today:

Estimated Reading Time: 6 - 7 minutes

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Catch the full recap on this weekā€™s AgTech Digest Podcastā€”available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform. here.

AGRITECH
AgTech Highlights: Investment, Funding Round & More!

Flat6Labs Invests in Green Desert Technologies

  • Flat6Labs invests in Green Desert Technologies, a startup developing algae-based biomanufacturing for desert climates.

  • Focus on food security and climate resilience using chemical engineering, IoT, and machine learning.

  • Aims to enhance algae cultivation efficiency and lower costs.

  • Part of Flat6Labsā€™ broader strategy supporting biotech and environmental startups in the Middle East and Africa.

Clean Air for Poultry: MOVA's Ammonia Reduction Tech

  • Project aims to prevent 47,100 lbs of nitrogen from entering the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

  • One of nine projects selected from 30 applicants; field trials to start in summer 2025, with broader rollout in 2026.

Blooms Seed Funding

  • Raises $2.6 million to grow AI-driven trade finance platform for Latin American produce exporters.

  • Platform offers working capital, FX, and payments to improve exporter liquidity and reduce food waste.

  • Goal: enhance supply chain stability and produce pricing in North America.

Brilliant Harvest Secures Funding

  • Secures $500,000 from SVG Venturesā€™ Pioneer Fund to scale agtech innovation.

  • Part of a $50M fund backed by Farm Credit Canada and Alberta Innovates' Scale-Up GAP program.

  • Funding supports technology growth and expanded agricultural impact in Alberta.

Silal and Shouguang Vegetable Industry Group Sign Strategic Partnership for Agritech Development in Al Ain

  • Silal and Shouguang Vegetable Industry Group (SVG) signed a strategic partnership to establish a 100,000mĀ² Agritech facility in Al Ain, UAE.

  • The project involves an investment of over AED 120 million and will deploy advanced greenhouse, AI, and robotics technologies.

  • The facility will feature SVGā€™s Shouguang Model adapted to UAE climate conditions.

THIS WEEKā€™S EDITORIAL
Tom Meade on How Enko Leverages AI to Enhance Crop Protection

  • Tom Meade emphasizes the continued importance of human oversight in molecule design and AI validation.

  • Enkoā€™s ENKOMPASSā„¢ platform identifies crop protection molecules 75% faster and at 90% lower cost than traditional methods.

  • AI enables safer, more targeted agrochemical development, potentially improving both sustainability and regulatory efficiency.

  • Field testing and farmer collaboration are a core part of Enkoā€™s research and development model.

  • Enko uses a ā€œScientist-in-the-Loopā€ approach to balance AI capabilities with scientific evaluation.

PLANT SCIENCE
Plant Science Updates: New Products, Product Certification, R&D Facility & More!

MAHA Report Highlights Links Between Ag Chemicals & Childhood Health Concerns

  • The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission Report raises concerns over the cumulative exposure of U.S. children to agricultural chemicals, particularly pesticides, dioxins, and microplastics.

  • The report calls for a paradigm shift in agricultural policy, focusing on whole foods and health-conscious farming practices.

Pivot Bio Opens R&D and HQ Hubs in Midwest

  • Pivot Bio establishes two new centers for R&D, innovation, and operations, including a new Global HQ.

  • Focuses on enhancing collaboration, accelerating product development, and aligning with partners.

  • Its nitrogen-fixing microbial technology is deployed on 15M+ acres in North America.

  • Expansion plans include South America and Africa; integration of AI/ML technologies underway.

VGrid Earns Organic Certification for Biochar & Bioliquid

  • VGrid Energy Systems receives Organic Input Material certification from CDFA.

  • Products PersistĀ® Biochar and PersistĀ® PAF Bioliquid approved for organic farming.

  • Made from agricultural waste using proprietary biomass-to-energy tech.

  • Supports soil health, plant productivity, and regenerative agriculture goals.

Biotalys & AgroFresh Partner to Develop Sustainable Post-Harvest Fungicides

  • Biotalys and AgroFresh have announced a strategic collaboration to develop biological fungicides for post-harvest protection of fresh produce.

  • The initiative targets fungal spoilage, a major contributor to the estimated 14% of global produce loss between harvest and retail.

Biopesticide Innovation: Super Growers Launches Omnicide IPM

  • Super Growers introduces Omnicide IPM, a nano-emulsion biopesticide targeting pests and fungi.

  • Features 3-in-1 functionality: insecticide, fungicide, and sporicide.

  • EPA FIFRA 25(b) exempt, non-toxic, biodegradable, and leaves no residue.

  • Suitable for both small- and large-scale farming, including organic operations.

  • Product efficacy supported by independent testing from universities and research centers.

SPONSORED 
Mushroom Farming in Containers: Setup, Grow & Harvest Tips

  • Compact, All-in-One System: Mushrooms are grown in 40-foot containers with climate control and segmented growing zones.

  • Efficient and Scalable: Uses minimal space, water (~15 gal/day), and energy (~50ā€“70 kWh/day), and can be placed near markets.

  • High Yield, Strong Demand: Blue Oyster yields ~400 lbs/week; Lionā€™s Mane sees growing demand in health and food sectors.

  • Automated Controls: Sensors manage temperature, humidity, CO2, and misting for consistent results.

  • Cost and Sales Options: Startup is ~$235K; growers sell via farmers markets, wholesale, or specialty retailers.

PRECISION AG
Precision AG Updates: Drones & Sustainable farming pratices!

Expanding Rural Connectivity: Microsoft & Emergent Connext

  • Emergent Connext, Microsoft Airband, and Cal.net partner to boost rural broadband across Californiaā€™s Central Valley.

  • Network will support precision agriculture and sustainable farming practices.

  • Enables real-time data for irrigation, input cost reduction, and crop/livestock monitoring.

  • Microsoft highlights goals of digital equity, climate resilience, and rural economic development.

Smart Drones for Agriculture: Ascent AeroSystems x AgEagle

  • Ascent AeroSystems and AgEagle sign MOU to integrate the RedEdge-P multispectral camera with the Spirit UAV.

  • Marks the first multispectral payload for Ascentā€™s coaxial UAVs.

  • Aims to enhance agricultural drone capabilities with flexible, modular imaging solutions.

  • Targets applications in crop health monitoring and precision agriculture.

FARM VISIT
Inside Greenerationā€™s Vertical Flower Farm Supplying Dubaiā€™s Fine Dining Sector

  • Greeneration operates a high-end vertical farm in Dubai focused on edible flowers, microgreens, and specialty leaves for premium HoReCa (Hotel, Restaurant, and CafĆ©/Catering).

  • The facility uses full-spectrum white LED lighting to support both plant quality and workplace visibility.

  • Environmental control systems are adapted to meet the challenges of the UAEā€™s climate.

  • Precision nutrient and water management strategies are used to support a wide range of flower species.

  • The farm supplies freshly harvested produce to chefs across the city within a short timeframe.

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OTHER NEWS
Other Updates: Dairy Sector Report & New Agreement!

  • Dairy Cares and Californiaā€™s dairy sector report a collective annual reduction of 5 million metric tons COā‚‚e in methane emissions.The reduction is attributed to manure management technologies, including digesters and alternative practices, and milk production efficiency improvements.

  • LettUs Grow has entered a strategic partnership with CambridgeHOK, a UK leader in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) infrastructure. The collaboration aims to integrate Advanced Aeroponicsā„¢ into commercial greenhouse and vertical farm projects across the UK.

  • Bioxytranā€™s antiviral PHM23 has been selected by the University of Georgia for inclusion in its USDA HPAI Poultry Innovation Grand Challenge grant submission. The program, funded with up to $100 million, seeks solutions to combat Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1).

  • Bartlett, a Savage company, has entered into an agreement to acquire Ceres Global Ag Corp., expanding its grain and oilseed storage and merchandising capabilities. Ceres operates 10 facilities across Minnesota, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, with a combined capacity of approximately 45 million bushels.

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