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Decibel Bio, Pivot Bio, Nitricity, 80 Acres Farms, Bayer, AgZen, BASF, Bühler & more—this week’s top AgTech updates!
Sepehr Achard
March 07, 2025
🌱 Happy Friday! Welcome to This Week’s AgTech Digest!
The weekend is near, but before you wrap up the week, here’s your essential update on what’s happening in AgTech.
This edition covers breakthroughs in plant science, precision irrigation insights, CEA expansions, AgTech investments, and regenerative agriculture initiatives. Whether you’re following funding rounds, tracking sustainability efforts, or exploring new technologies, we’ve got the latest updates in one place.
📩 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: 7 - 8 minutes
You can also listen to the full episode here.
CROP PROTECTION & GENOMICS
🌿 Plant Science Innovations: Advancements in Crop Traits, Fertilization, and Protection
Decibel Bio Secures $12M to Advance Crop Epigenetics
📌 Who? Decibel Bio, a plant biotechnology startup.
💰 How much? $12M in funding from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Future Ventures, Bayer, and Syngenta.
🎯 Why it matters? Enables real-time crop trait adjustments based on weather, water availability, and environmental stress without genetic modification.
🚀 What’s next? Scaling its epigenetic platform for commercial use and expanding industry partnerships.
Nitricity Secures $10M to Build Organic Fertilizer Facility
📌 Who? Nitricity Inc., a California-based sustainable fertilizer startup.
💰 How much? $10M in project funding.
🌱 Why it matters? Facility will increase production 100x, with full capacity secured through 2028 under binding agreements. Uses recycled almond shells and renewable energy for organic, pathogen-free fertilizer.
🏗️ What’s next? Constructing the facility in Delhi, California, creating 20 new jobs in Merced County.
Ascribe Reports 83% Reduction in Bacterial Leaf Blight with Phytalix®
📌 Who? Ascribe, a natural crop protection company.
🛡️ What’s new? 2024 field trials in India showed 83% reduction in Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB) and up to 30% yield increase.
🌾 Why it matters? Phytalix® is compatible with both smallholder and large-scale farming as a biological alternative to synthetic crop protection.
🌍 What’s next? Seeking regulatory approvals in Asia, Brazil, and the U.S., with plans to expand farmer access.
Pivot Bio Launches CERT-N™ for Nitrogen Fixation in Cotton
📌 Who? Pivot Bio, a leader in biological nitrogen solutions.
🌱 What’s new? CERT-N™ is a biological nitrogen-fixing product for cotton, launching in 2025 for select U.S. growers.
🎯 Why it matters? Reduces synthetic nitrogen use by 20%, supports early square retention, higher boll counts, and healthier plants.
📈 What’s next? Full commercial rollout planned for 2026, available through distribution partners in Cotton Belt states.
Bayer Introduces Vyconic™ Soybeans with Five Herbicide Tolerances
📌 Who? Bayer, a global agricultural solutions company.
🌾 What’s new? Vyconic™ soybeans offer five herbicide tolerances (Dicamba, Glufosinate, Glyphosate, Mesotrione, and 2,4-D).
🌍 Why it matters? Designed for weed resistance management and yield optimization, addressing challenges in soybean farming.
🚜 What’s next? Pending regulatory approvals, expected commercial launch in the U.S. and Canada by 2027.
THIS WEEK’S INTERVIEW
Reinke’s Insights on Smart Irrigation and Water Management
📌 How are growers adapting to climate change?
Shifting to water-efficient irrigation using real-time soil moisture and evapotranspiration data.
Precision irrigation reduces water and energy use while maintaining yields.
📌 What role does data play?
Platforms like Reinke's ReinCloud® enable real-time irrigation monitoring and control.
Automation, AI, and IoT are improving efficiency but adoption remains limited.
📌 What are the main challenges?
Cost, infrastructure constraints, and knowledge gaps slow adoption.
Incentives, training, and education can drive wider use.
📌 How can policy support smart irrigation?
Regulations must balance water conservation and growers’ needs.
Collaboration between industry and policymakers is key.
CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE
🌿 Controlled Environment Agriculture: Expansion & Investments
Oasthouse Ventures Invests $104.8M in U.S. Greenhouse Operations
📌 Who? Oasthouse Ventures Ltd.
💰 What’s new? Investing $104.8M to build its first U.S. CEA facility in Virginia, creating 118 jobs.
🍅 Why it matters? The 65-acre greenhouse will produce 45M lbs of tomatoes annually, using Virginia-grown hardwood residuals for heating.
📍 What’s next? Supported by $800K in state and local grants, aiming for sustainable indoor farming and regional economic growth.
80 Acres Farms Expands with Acquisition of Kalera’s Vertical Farms
📌 Who? 80 Acres Farms.
🔄 What’s new? Acquired three vertical farms from Kalera, Inc. in Georgia, Texas, and Colorado.
🚀 Why it matters? Expands national CEA footprint, retrofitting farms with Infinite Acres® technology for improved efficiency.
📈 What’s next? Part of a broader industry consolidation strategy, following acquisitions of Mother Raw and Plantae Biosciences.
BrightFarms Launches Georgia’s Largest Greenhouse
📌 Who? BrightFarms.
🌱 What’s new? Started shipping from Macon, Georgia’s largest greenhouse (1.5M sq. ft.).
🥬 Why it matters? Expands fresh, pesticide-free leafy greens supply, creating 250+ jobs and reducing farm-to-store time.
🏗️ What’s next? Three greenhouse hubs opening in six months, serving two-thirds of the U.S. population.
Agro Care Growers Acquires Majority Stake in Nordic Greens
📌 Who? Agro Care Growers.
🌍 What’s new? Acquired a majority stake in Nordic Greens, expanding into the Scandinavian market.
🔎 Why it matters? Strengthens Agro Care’s 500-hectare greenhouse network across Europe and North Africa.
📜 What’s next? Regulatory approval pending, with Nordic Greens’ CEO Mads Pedersen retaining a minority stake.
AGTECH
🚜 AgTech News: Investments, Market Trends & Sustainability Initiatives
AgZen Secures $10M to Optimize Agrochemical Applications
📌 Who? AgZen, an agricultural technology company.
💰 What’s new? Raised $10M in Series A funding, led by DCVC Bio and Material Impact.
🎯 Why it matters? AgZen’s RealCoverage™ technology improves pesticide efficiency by 30-50%, enhancing weed and disease control while reducing chemical waste.
📈 What’s next? Expanding RealCoverage to fertilizers and pesticides, developing new efficiency standards, and advancing automation technologies.
French AgriFood Tech Faces Funding Decline, But Key Sectors Still Attract Investment
📌 Who? French AgriFood Tech startups and investors.
📉 What’s new? 2024 funding slowed due to economic conditions, interest rate hikes, and investor caution, but mature startups continue to raise capital.
💡 Why it matters? Investment remains strong in Alternative Proteins, AgTech & Precision Agriculture, Food Waste & Circular Economy, and Regenerative Agriculture.
📍 What’s next? Corporate and public funding play a bigger role in driving innovation and sustainability in 2025.
Bühler Partners with Improvin’ and xFarm for Supply Chain Transparency
📌 Who? Bühler, Improvin’, and xFarm Technologies.
🔗 What’s new? New partnerships to enhance data transparency and traceability in agricultural supply chains.
🌍 Why it matters? Provides primary field-level data to assess environmental impact, aligning with Bühler’s 50-50-50 sustainability strategy.
📊 What’s next? Connecting agricultural data with processing technology to support sustainable food and agriculture supply chains.
How Did You Like Today's Newsletter? |
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
🌾 Regenerative Agriculture: Investments & Sustainability Initiatives
Farmland Partners’ Fund III Gains COIN Certification for Sustainable Investments
📌 Who? Farmland Partners’ Vital Farmland III, LLC (Fund III).
📜 What’s new? Certified as a COIN-approved investment under California’s Department of Insurance.
🌱 Why it matters? Attracts institutional investors focused on sustainability and social responsibility.
📈 What’s next? Acquiring farmland and transitioning it to organic and regenerative agriculture.
BASF & Boortmalt Generate First Verified Impact Units for Carbon Farming
📌 Who? BASF and Boortmalt.
🌍 What’s new? Launched Verified Impact Units (VIUs) to track and reduce Scope 3 emissions in agriculture.
♻️ Why it matters? Irish barley farmers using cover cropping saw nearly 90% GHG reductions and improved soil health.
📊 What’s next? BASF will expand its Global Carbon Farming Program, while Boortmalt aims to cut barley emissions by 30.3% by 2030.
GoodSAM Foods Secures $9M to Scale Sustainable Food Systems
📌 Who? GoodSAM Foods, a mission-driven food brand.
💰 What’s new? Raised $9M in Series A funding, led by Alive Ventures and Desert Bloom.
🌱 Why it matters? Expands direct trade partnerships with smallholder and indigenous farmers across Colombia, Mexico, Kenya, and six other countries.
🚀 What’s next? Funding will support new product lines, team expansion, and ethical sourcing initiatives.
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