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Explore groundbreaking partnerships, innovative products, and major funding milestones from industry leaders like BrightFarms, Syngenta, and Terradot.
Sepehr Achard
December 13, 2024
Hi there,
We’re excited to bring you another packed edition of the AgTech Digest! This week, we’re spotlighting major strategic partnerships, groundbreaking innovations, and impressive funding milestones shaping the future of agriculture.
Whether you're interested in cutting-edge greenhouse developments, carbon removal breakthroughs, or the latest in autonomous farming tech, there’s something for everyone.
This Week’s Highlights Include:
Innovative Partnerships and Acquisitions: Silal, Bayer, AgroLiquid, and More
Inside Indoor Farming: Reflecting On 2024, Preparing For 2025
Advancements in AgTech: BrightFarms, Syngenta, Bolschare, and More
Funding Milestones: Terradot, AgriRobot, and Fotenix Drive AgTech Forward
Spotlight on AgTech Innovations: Ninjacart, EIB Group, Cultivator, and More
Estimated Reading Time: 7 - 8 minutes
You can also listen to the full episode here, or on the player below👇
Welcome To The Latest Companies Joining Our Directory
We’re thrilled to welcome Babylon Micro-Farms and Harnois Greenhouses to our directory!
Babylon Micro-Farms: Builds innovative hydroponic farms for senior living communities, hospitals, universities, and other industries, providing year-round fresh produce and promoting sustainable farming.
Harnois Greenhouses: A global leader in greenhouse solutions, providing sustainable and efficient structures tailored to meet the unique needs of growers worldwide.
Want to see your company listed? Now’s the perfect time! Take advantage of our limited-time 20% discount to showcase your company and connect with a global audience of AgTech professionals.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Innovative Partnerships and Acquisitions: Silal, Bayer, AgroLiquid, and More!
Silal & Bayer Expand Collaboration for Sustainable Desert Agriculture
What happened? Silal and Bayer signed an MoU to enhance agricultural innovation in arid environments.
Key initiatives:
Develop digital farming solutions.
Establish a sustainable farming demonstration site.
Capacity building via BayG.A.P program.
Conduct vegetable seed trials in desert conditions.
Why it matters: Partnership addresses climate challenges and promotes sustainable agricultural innovation in the UAE.
Quotes:
"This partnership is critical to our mission of advancing UAE’s agricultural sector sustainably." — Salmeen Al Ameri, CEO, Silal.
"Together, we can realize ‘Health for all, Hunger for none’ while tackling climate challenges." — Hugo Hagen, Bayer Representative.
AgroLiquid Acquires Monty’s Plant Food Company
What happened? AgroLiquid acquired Monty’s Plant Food Company, combining expertise in nutrient solutions and soil health technologies.
Key benefits:
Develop advanced crop nutrition technologies.
Optimize nutrient efficiency for growers.
Both brands to operate independently through 2025.
Why it matters: Partnership addresses grower needs for sustainable and efficient nutrient management solutions.
Agri Spray Drones Partners with EAVision for Advanced Drone Solutions
What happened? Agri Spray Drones teamed up with EAVision to bring the J100 drone to US farmers.
Key features:
Built-in lidar technology.
Advanced mist nozzles for precise spraying.
Designed for challenging terrain.
Why it matters: Drones have contributed over $80M to rural economies but face tough market conditions, making advanced solutions vital.
BioConsortia & H&T Launch FixiN 33 in New Zealand
What happened? BioConsortia and H&T introduced FixiN 33, a microbial seed treatment that converts atmospheric nitrogen into plant-usable forms.
Key benefits:
Reduces reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
Stable for 2+ years on seeds.
Compatible with NZ regulatory standards for gene-edited organisms.
Why it matters: Provides economic and environmental benefits, supporting sustainable farming practices.
Muddy Machines Acquires Fox Robotics Assets
What happened? Muddy Machines acquired Fox Robotics’ intellectual property, rebranding its logistics platform as Squirrel.
Key features:
Electric robots for farm logistics.
Improved efficiency in transporting goods on farms.
Why it matters: Expands Muddy Machines’ capabilities to address labor challenges in horticulture.
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THIS WEEK’S EDITORIAL
Inside Indoor Farming: Reflecting On 2024, Preparing For 2025
Indoor Farming Sees a Turnaround in 2024
What happened? Funding for indoor farming rebounded from $104.6M in 2023 to $582.5M in 2024.
Why the rebound?
Renewed confidence in the sector’s potential.
Shift in investor focus toward profitability, resilience, and disciplined growth.
Historical context:
2021: Funding peaked at $2.92B amid venture capital boom and low interest rates.
2023: Funding declined sharply due to market corrections and economic conditions.
Key Developments in 2024
Recovery in funding levels.
Market consolidation with fewer but stronger players.
Increased climate-driven investment in controlled environment agriculture (CEA).
Why it matters?
The sector is adapting with scalable business models and sound financial strategies.
Positioned to address global food security and climate resilience challenges.
NEW PRODUCTS, CERTIFICATIONS & FACILITIES
Advancements in AgTech: BrightFarms, Syngenta, Bolschare, and More
BrightFarms Opens First Greenhouse in Texas
What happened? BrightFarms launched a 1.5M sq. ft. greenhouse in Lorena, Texas, expanding fresh, locally grown leafy greens to the South Central and Southwest regions.
Key details:
Facility will create 250+ jobs with competitive benefits.
State-of-the-art cooling systems ensure optimal growing conditions.
Operates under Cox Enterprises, North America’s largest greenhouse operator.
Why it matters: Marks BrightFarms' commitment to controlled environment agriculture, addressing local food security and economic development.
Syngenta & Enko Achieve Milestone in Herbicide Innovation
What happened? Syngenta and Enko advanced their herbicide collaboration to proof-of-concept, tackling resistant weeds like Palmer amaranth and blackgrass.
Key features:
ENKOMPASS platform accelerates discovery of safe, effective solutions.
Focus on enhancing yields while reducing environmental impact.
Why it matters: Aligns with global efforts to combat yield losses from herbicide-resistant weeds sustainably.
Bolschare Group Launches Arima Platform for Sustainability Metrics
What happened? Bolschare unveiled Arima, a certified agricultural calculator for environmental impact, at the World Agri Tech Summit.
Key features:
Tracks CO2 emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 of the GHG Protocol.
Offers real-time monitoring and tools like Field Notebook and Digital Twin.
Platform valuation exceeds €2B.
Why it matters: Supports growing demand for integrating sustainability into agricultural operations globally.
Meristem Introduces HOPPER THROTTLE™ MAXSTAX™ Soybean System
What happened? Meristem launched a seed treatment system using BIO-CAPSULE™ Technology for efficient crop input delivery.
Key benefits:
Treats 40 acres per pail without specialized equipment.
Protects against seedcorn maggots, phytophthora, and sudden death syndrome.
Offers cost savings and enhanced operational efficiency.
Why it matters: Provides soybean growers with an innovative, cost-effective alternative to conventional liquid treatments.
BioSafe Systems Updates OxiDate 5.0 Label for Bee Safety
What happened? California DPR approved a label amendment for OxiDate 5.0, removing "toxic to bees" warnings under Environmental Hazards.
Key benefits:
Ensures compatibility with bee safety while controlling diseases like brown rot and bacterial blight.
Supports IPM programs for various crops.
Why it matters: Strengthens grower confidence in balancing pest management with pollinator health.
FUNDING ROUND
Funding Milestones: Terradot, AgriRobot, and Fotenix Bag Rounds
Terradot Raises $58.2M to Scale Enhanced Rock Weathering for Carbon Removal
What happened? Terradot secured $58.2M in funding from Google, Microsoft, and John Doerr to expand Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) projects.
Key initiatives:
Spreading crushed rock over farmland to bind CO₂ into stable mineral forms.
Partnership with Google for 200,000 tonnes of CO₂ removal by 2029.
ERW projects underway in Brazil, leveraging tropical soils and clean energy.
Why it matters: ERW offers gigaton-scale carbon removal potential, critical for combating climate change.
Quote: "ERW could remove billions of tons of CO₂ this decade." — James Kanoff, CEO, Terradot
AgriRobot Secures €2.5M to Develop Safety Software for Autonomous Farming
What happened? AgriRobot raised €2.5M to scale its certifiable safety software for fully autonomous agricultural operations.
Key features:
Ensures safe operation of autonomous tractors and robots.
Supports scalability from semi-autonomous to fully autonomous systems.
Focused on compliance with stringent safety standards.
Why it matters: Advances in safety software are essential for the adoption of autonomous farming technologies, promoting efficiency and sustainability.
Fotenix Receives Investment from River Capital’s fund:AI
What happened? Fotenix secured a six-figure equity investment to enhance its AI-based crop disease detection tools.
Key features:
AI Digital Twin software and multispectral cameras provide high-accuracy disease detection.
Technology already in use by major UK supermarkets.
Investment will bolster product development and sales efforts.
Why it matters: Addresses labor shortages and enhances sustainability in horticultural sectors, supporting improved crop production.
OTHER NEWS
Spotlight on AgTech Innovations: Ninjacart, EIB Group, Cultivator, and More
Ninjacart Launches Agri-Tech Startup Program to Empower Early-Stage Innovators
Program Launch: Ninjacart Startup Program is designed to support early-stage FoodTech and AgTech startups.
Eligibility: Startups founded after 2020, with up to $1M in funding, operating outside India, and focused on food supply chain innovation.
EIB Group Unveils €3Bn Financing Package for Agriculture & Bioeconomy in Europe
Support for SMEs and Mid-Caps: The financing will focus on SMEs and mid-cap companies over the next three years, with initial loans expected in the first half of 2025.
Focus Areas: The initiative targets soil health, digital tools, water management, climate resilience, and sustainable farming practices.
Cultivator’s AGTECH ACCELERATOR: Recruitment Opens for Cohort 4
Applications Open For Cultivator’s AgTech Accelerator: Agtech innovators can apply to Cohort 4 of the AGTECH ACCELERATOR by January 3, 2025.
Program Finale Update: The finale will now take place at Ag in Motion, Western Canada’s largest outdoor farm expo, running July 14–17, 2025.
World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in Dubai Showcases Region’s Potential
Event Highlights: The World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in Dubai hosted 14 start-ups, with over 300 delegates, 76 speakers, and attendees from 37 countries.
Focus Areas: Discussions centered on climate-resilient agriculture, including crop science, water scarcity, soil health, regenerative practices, and digitized seed management.
Rotor Technologies Showcases Sprayhawk & Announces Retrofit Option
Rotor Technologies Sprayhawk Demonstration: Live flight test at Perot Field Alliance Airport.
Strategic Announcements: Retrofit package for Robinson R44 aircraft, partnership with AG-NAV for precision navigation, and pricing details for 2025 models.
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