Innovation Roots

Featuring PowerPollen, Singrow, NASA, Tidal Grow, Reservoir, John Deere, TGI, NC State, NEC, ClimateAi, Rimaco Greens, Zhejiang Smart Agriculture Park, and Hort Americas.

Author

Diletta Di Iorio
August 22, 2025

Good morning, growers,

This week’s update spans pollination, genetics, space farming, biopesticides, and CEA. PowerPollen has unveiled its AI-powered pollination fleet, while Singrow raised $4.5M to expand precision agriculture in Asia. NASA astronauts are testing space crops with the VEG-03 system, and Tidal Grow AgriScience gained California approval for its Spectra biopesticide.

We also look at new agtech initiatives: Reservoir’s partnership with John Deere, TGI’s $2M food security challenge, and NC State’s Seed2Grow graduation. NEC and ClimateAi have introduced an AI model to measure climate adaptation ROI, Rimaco Greens is piloting a pressurized greenhouse in Alberta, and Zhejiang Smart Agriculture Park is demonstrating fully automated, pesticide-free vegetable production. Finally, Hort Americas’ Chris Higgins calls for pragmatic, ROI-driven innovation in CEA.

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What We Are Covering Today:

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.

AGRITECH
AgTech Highlights: New Funding, Initiative & More!

Reservoir partners with John Deere to advance crop innovation

  • Reservoir, a California-based agtech incubator, has announced a partnership with John Deere focused on high-value crops.

  • The collaboration will offer branding and field-testing opportunities to startups while combining Deere’s automation expertise with Reservoir’s grower network.

  • As part of Deere’s broader investment in U.S. agtech and sustainability, the partnership seeks to enhance efficiency, strengthen labor resilience, and promote long-term sustainability in agriculture.

Kelly Hills Unveils SpraySense and Launches Rural Autonomous Mobility Program

  • Kelly Hills introduced SpraySense, an AI-driven recommendation and application system developed through its accelerator program, The Forge.

  • SpraySense combines aerial imagery, agronomy, and autonomous spraying to guide fungicide application and future input management.

  • At the same event, Kelly Hills announced the Rural Autonomous Mobility Program (RAMP), enabling autonomous farm equipment on public roads in Kansas.

TGI launches $2M Geospatial Innovation for Food Security Challenge

  • The Taylor Geospatial Institute has introduced the Geospatial Innovation for Food Security Challenge, committing up to $2 million in funding.

  • The program encourages collaboration among academia, industry, and non-profits to address agricultural and food system challenges.

  • Priority focus areas include advanced crop modeling, nitrogen efficiency tools, and supply chain resilience.

  • Applications are open through October 31, 2025.

NC Plant Sciences Initiative celebrates Seed2Grow’s first graduation

  • The Seed2Grow program at North Carolina State University has marked its first graduation with Hoofprint Biome, a startup developing methane-reducing cattle feed, which raised $15 million to scale operations.

  • Seed2Grow has expanded to eight startups, offering lab access in the Plant Sciences Building, mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, and support for business development.

  • Backed by Bayer Crop Science, the program will open incubator space to startups beyond NC State ties while continuing to build entrepreneurial capacity within the university.

  • With Seed2Grow’s first graduation and continued growth, the initiative highlights North Carolina’s emerging role in agtech innovation.

NEC and ClimateAi develop AI model for climate adaptation ROI

  • NEC Corporation and ClimateAi have co-developed an AI model designed to measure the effectiveness of climate change adaptation measures in cocoa and rice production.

  • The model quantifies the return on investment for measures such as irrigation, changing crop varieties, and adjusting planting times.

  • By providing ROI analysis, the tool is intended to help international organizations, development banks, and private investors finance climate resilience initiatives.

  • Findings from the project will be presented at TICAD 9 in Japan in August 2025.

INTERVIEW
Chris Higgins on the State of CEA:
Pragmatism Over Hype

  • Chris Higgins, President of Hort Americas, reflects that controlled environment agriculture has advanced steadily but not experienced the sweeping technological revolution once anticipated.

  • He notes that market consolidation in North America has narrowed opportunities for innovation, as greenhouse operations become fewer and increasingly dominated by Canadian and Mexican growers.

  • Higgins also raises concerns about the sustainability of current agtech funding models, pointing out that agriculture’s long-term, low-margin realities require financial products better suited to the industry.

  • Farmers, he argues, are looking for incremental innovations that deliver measurable returns on investment rather than flashy technologies without economic grounding.

  • The broader conversation highlights the growing importance of brand building, supply chain strategy, and technical expertise in shaping the future of greenhouse and indoor farming.

Read the complete interview here.

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

PowerPollen rolls out AI-powered pollination fleet

  • PowerPollen has launched an autonomous fleet designed to deliver precision pollen application in commercial corn fields.

  • The system relies on AI and machine vision to optimize pollen distribution, with claims of boosting yields by up to two times.

  • By reducing the need for seasonal labor, the technology aims to make pollination more efficient and scalable.

  • The new fleet is integrated into PowerPollen’s broader platform, supporting efforts to advance precision agriculture globally.

Singrow secures $4.5M to accelerate expansion

  • Singrow, a Singapore-based company specializing in plant genomics and precision agriculture, has raised $4.5 million in Series A funding.

  • The investment will help expand its core focus areas, which include seedlings, vertical farming, and reverse genetics breeding.

  • With this funding, the company plans to move beyond Singapore and China into Southeast Asia and other international markets.

  • Singrow has also introduced climate-resilient strawberries and developed new technology for saffron production.

Tidal Grow AgriScience gains California approval for biopesticide

  • Tidal Grow AgriScience has received state approval to market its Spectra biopesticide in California.

  • The product is formulated for crops such as tree nuts, citrus, and grapes, where it targets pests and diseases.

  • Spectra functions as a fungicide, bactericide, and nematicide while also strengthening plant resilience.

  • The approval expands grower access to sustainable, chitosan-based technologies that can be used alongside conventional crop protection programs.

Pivot Bio Partners with Soil and Water Outcomes Fund to Expand Sustainable Nitrogen Management

  • Pivot Bio has partnered with the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF) to support farmers in Indiana and Illinois.

  • Farmers can use Pivot Bio’s PROVEN® 40 and PROVEN® G3 corn products while participating in SWOF’s outcomes-based conservation program.

  • The collaboration aims to reduce synthetic fertilizer use, greenhouse gas emissions, and nitrogen runoff.

Monsanto moves toward settlement of PCB-related claims

  • Monsanto has reached agreements in principle to settle more than 200 claims connected to the Sky Valley Education Center in Washington state.

  • The settlements are confidential and remain subject to final approval by all parties involved.

  • The company continues to pursue a multi-pronged litigation strategy aimed at managing risks through 2026.

  • Monsanto has stated that the financial impact of the agreements will be covered by its existing PCB litigation provisions.

CEA
CEA Updates: New Initiatives & More!

NASA astronauts test space farming with VEG-03 system

  • Crew-11 astronauts have begun experiments with NASA’s VEG-03 system, which combines LED lighting and a clay-based growing medium.

  • The project allows astronauts to select crops from a “seed library,” offering both nutritional and psychological benefits during long missions.

  • Harvested crops will be consumed in space, while samples are returned to Earth for further analysis.

  • The research aims to validate crop varieties, diversify astronaut diets, and generate insights that may also benefit agriculture on Earth.

Rimaco Greens debuts pressurized greenhouse system in Canada

  • Canadian AgTech firm Rimaco Greens has introduced a patent-pending pressurized greenhouse designed to cut energy use and boost sustainability.

  • The system integrates thermal energy storage with coordinated air and water flows to maintain precise climate control.

  • A pilot site in Alberta will host the first commercial demonstration of the technology.

  • The company is now seeking strategic grower-investors to help scale adoption and validate both operational and economic performance.

AI-powered farm in Zhejiang grows pesticide-free vegetables

  • The Zhejiang Smart Agriculture Park in Deqing County uses AI and IoT to automate the production of pesticide-free vegetables.

  • Automated systems manage tasks such as transplanting, transportation, cleaning, and greenhouse oversight without human labor.

  • One highlight is an auto-transplanting machine capable of planting 30 seedlings in just 40 seconds.

  • The initiative is positioned to reduce labor needs, improve efficiency, and deliver safer vegetables to major retailers while modeling future food production practices.

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OTHER NEWS
Other Updates: New Initiative, New Program & More!

  • Forager Project introduces The Cashew Project, a multi-year program to support cashew farmers in Côte d’Ivoire. Initiative includes training in organic certification, financial literacy, and climate-smart agriculture. Program seeks to empower women in farming, with more than 1,000 women already participating.

  • GrubMarket introduces AI-powered Multi-Format Document Processor in its AI Orders system. New feature automates ingestion and processing of PDFs, Excel files, and CSVs. Designed to reduce manual data entry, human error, and operational inefficiencies. Integrates seamlessly with leading ERP and accounting systems.

  • Halter, BLM, and the Foundation for America’s Public Lands launch a $2.7 million program to support ranchers using virtual fencing. The initiative aims to improve grazing efficiency, land stewardship, and flexibility in ranch management. Halter’s technology uses solar-powered collars, sound, and vibration to guide cattle without physical fences. Cotoni-Coast Dairies in California will be the first site to implement the program.

  • Bion’s Liquid AB fertilizer demonstrates strong growth performance across cannabis, tomato, and sorghum trials. OMRI Listed ammonium bicarbonate fertilizer provides immediate nitrogen availability for organic crops. Trials indicate potential for higher yields and profitability in the organic agriculture sector.

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