Independent Growth

Good Morning, Growers,
This week’s edition spotlights bold investments, strategic acquisitions, and deployment-ready innovations transforming agriculture. From AI-powered financial tools and drone-based analytics to RNA crop protection, biologicals, and satellite-enabled irrigation, discover how companies like Ambrook, ZenaTech, GDM, Syngenta, Terrana Biosciences, and more are shaping the future of agtech and agribusiness.

A heartfelt thank you to all our new members for joining the iGrow Network – we’re excited to have you on board and look forward to sharing the latest innovations and updates with you! Instant access here!

What We Are Covering Today:

1. AgTech Highlights: Acquisition, Funding Round, New Initiatives & More!

2. Interview:Danny Bernstein on Fixing AgTech’s Capital Problem and Accelerating Real-World Adoption

3. Plant Science Updates: New Initiative, Funding Round & More!

4. Other Updates: Partnerships, Investment, Funding Round & More!

5. Upcoming AgTech Events, Conferences & Webinars

Estimated Reading Time: 6 - 7 minutes

🎧 Prefer listening over reading?

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

AGRITECH & AGRIBUSINESS
AgTech Highlights: Acquisition, Funding Round, New Initiatives & More!

Ambrook Raises $26.1M to Expand Ag-Focused Financial Tools

• Ambrook secured a $26.1 million Series A led by Thrive Capital and Field Ventures.

• The funding will support AI-native financial tools, enhanced workflows, and expansion of Ambrook Pay.

• Over 2,500 operations across all 50 U.S. states have used the platform, managing $1.6 billion in transactions.

• Ambrook aims to support increasingly complex agricultural operations with an expanded product suite.

ZenaTech Expands with West Coast Acquisition

• ZenaTech has signed an agreement to acquire a California-based civil engineering and land surveying firm.

• This is ZenaTech's first acquisition in the Southwest or West Coast.

• The move expands its Drone as a Service (DaaS) offerings for applications like crop health monitoring.

• The acquisition supports growth in precision agriculture and irrigation analytics.

Bunge Sells Milling Operations to Grain Craft & Completes Merger With Viterra

• Bunge Global completed the sale of its North American dry corn and masa milling operations to Grain Craft.

• The deal supports Bunge’s focus on core global value chain operations.

• The acquisition includes six facilities and approximately 600 employees in the U.S. and Mexico.

• Bunge Global SA also finalized its merger with Viterra Limited, creating a combined entity focused on food, feed, and fuel across a global footprint.

• The merger supports Bunge’s strategy to strengthen its core global value chain operations.

Kelly Hills Launches The Forge for On-Farm Innovation

• The Forge is a new initiative by Kelly Hills to scale proven ag technologies into deployable tools.

• The program focuses on interoperability, agronomic relevance, and measurable on-farm ROI.

• The inaugural cohort includes Precision AI, Pyka, Yamaha Precision Agriculture, Taranis, and others.

• It aims to bridge the gap between innovation and in-field implementation through pilots and product integration.

Source Agriculture Invests in Hydrosat for Smart Irrigation

• Source Agriculture has invested in Hydrosat to enhance satellite-based water and yield optimization.

• Hydrosat’s tools have demonstrated up to 30% water savings and 50% yield gains.

• The company operates across 4 million acres in 43 countries, partnering with ESA and U.S. Space Force.

• The investment supports Source Agriculture's commitment to sustainable and efficient food production.

INTERVIEW
Interview:Danny Bernstein on Fixing AgTech’s Capital Problem and Accelerating Real-World Adoption

• Danny Bernstein, CEO of The Reservoir, highlights a structural capital gap in AgTech driven by illiquidity and a lack of standardized financial tools.

• The Reservoir is developing investment structures like bundled SPVs and ETF-style exposure to support early-stage commercialization.

• Bernstein advocates for real-world grower engagement, early product launches, and value delivery from day one.

• The Reservoir is actively shaping policy by working with Western Growers, government agencies, and elected officials to support innovation-friendly environments.

PLANT SCIENCE
Plant Science Updates: New Initiative, Funding Round & More!

GDM to Acquire Full Ownership of AgReliant Genetics

• GDM will purchase the remaining 50% of AgReliant Genetics from Vilmorin & Cie and KWS.

• The acquisition will expand GDM’s position in the North American corn and soybean seed markets.

• Vilmorin & Cie will retain corn germplasm and continue U.S. and Canadian operations.

• The transaction is pending regulatory approvals and standard closing conditions.

Flagship Pioneering Launches Terrana Biosciences

• Flagship Pioneering has launched Terrana Biosciences with a $50 million investment.

• Terrana develops RNA-based tools to enhance crop traits without modifying plant genomes.

• The platform targets plant growth, stress response, and yield improvement.

• Field testing and product development are already in progress.

FMC’s Tremisia® Fungicide Approved in Ukraine

• FMC received approval for Tremisia® Fungicide, its first fluindapyr-based product in the EMEA region.

• The fungicide targets diseases in oilseed rape, sunflower, and wheat.

• It covers over 10 million hectares and offers dual modes of action.

• Ukraine joins a list of approved markets including the U.S., Brazil, and South Korea.

Agrobiomics Secures €7.5M to Advance Biostimulants

• Agrobiomics raised €7.5 million from the EIC Accelerator to commercialize biostimulants.

• The products aim to enhance crop resilience to drought and salinity.

• The company plans expansion into cereals, fruits, and vegetables.

• Target markets include climate-vulnerable agricultural regions.

Syngenta Expands Biologicals Investment

• Syngenta is strengthening its biologicals portfolio through acquisitions and infrastructure.

• The company acquired Intrinsyx Bio and integrated Novartis' biological assets.

• A new 22,000 m² production facility was opened in South Carolina.

• The expansion supports sustainable agriculture and rising global demand.

OTHER NEWS
Other Updates: Partnerships, Investment, Funding Round & More!

• Cargill introduces interconnected upgrades across its cocoa supply chain from West Africa to Europe. Initiatives include biomass boilers, solar plants, electric barges, and circular packaging solutions. Company aims to reduce supply chain emissions by 30% per ton of product by 2030. New logistics and processing systems expected to cut site CO₂ emissions by up to 90% in the Netherlands.

• Oasis Grower Solutions unveils a redesigned website tailored to horticulture and agriculture professionals. New platform serves as a comprehensive knowledge hub with crop-specific content and product details. Website highlights four key market segments: Floriculture, CEA, Nursery, and AgBiotech. Includes detailed support materials, downloadable resources, and enhanced e-commerce functionality.

• Del Monte Foods has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 to facilitate a value-maximizing sale process. The company has entered a Restructuring Support Agreement (RSA) with key lenders. A going-concern sale is planned for all or substantially all of its assets. $912.5 million in debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing secured to support ongoing operations.

• Little Leaf Farms announced the development of its third campus, a 215-acre site in Manchester, Tennessee. The move strengthens the company’s national presence and reaffirms its leadership in the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) sector. Construction on the facility is set to begin in summer 2025, with operations expected to launch in Fall 2026.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Commercial UAV Expo | September 2-4, 2025 | Las Vegas, USA

Taiwan Smart Agriweek | September 3-5, 2025 | Taiwan

Global Vertical Farming Show 2025 | 10th – 11th September, 2025 | Dubai, UAE

SPACE | September 16 – 18, 2025 | France

AgraME | October 6 – 7, 2025 | Dubai

Vertical Farming World Congress | Oct 7-9, 2025 | Amsterdam

Special Thanks to Our Directory Members

Established Plan:
SpectraGrow, LettUs Grow, Harvest Returns, Women in CEA, Harnois Greenhouses, Verde Compacto

Scale-Up Plan:
Sollum Technologies, Babylon Micro-Farms, Ounce of Hope Aquaponics, Grow-Tec, Microclimates

Not listed yet? Add your company to the directory and start getting noticed!