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Partnerships Season
Key updates from Phytech, Lumo, Burro, ADAMA, Soilytix, and others in AgTech.
Sepehr Achard
December 20, 2024
Happy Holidays! 🎄🎉
As we wrap up the year, we’re excited to share the latest updates in AgTech, from strategic partnerships and funding news to groundbreaking projects and innovative products shaping the future of agriculture. Whether it’s advancements in precision irrigation, carbon-negative farming, or cutting-edge soil analytics, this edition has you covered.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season filled with joy and success!
Dive into this week’s highlights below! 👇
This Week’s Highlights Include:
Estimated Reading Time: 5 - 6 minutes
You can also listen to the full episode here.
Welcome To The Latest Companies Joining Our Directory
We’re thrilled to welcome Ounce of Hope Aquaponics and Women in CEA to our directory!
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
Partnerships & Acquisitions: Phytech, Lumo, Burro and More!
Phytech Partners with Rivulis and Netafim
Who is involved? Phytech, Rivulis, and Netafim.
What is the goal? Integrate real-time monitoring tech into precision irrigation systems, improving yield and water efficiency.
What’s new? Rivulis becomes a shareholder in Phytech, leveraging its retail network to expand tech adoption.
Lumo & AvidWater Collaborate for Smart Irrigation in California
Who is involved? Lumo and AvidWater.
What is the goal? Expand Lumo’s smart irrigation systems across California with local expertise from AvidWater.
What’s unique? Smart valves offer real-time flow data, remote operation, and deployment in 70+ vineyards.
GEODNET Enhances Burro’s GPS Precision
Who is involved? Burro and GEODNET.
What is the goal? Boost GPS accuracy for Burro’s autonomous robots using RTK corrections.
What’s the benefit? Robots perform better in areas with limited GPS coverage, enhancing flexibility for users.
Burro and AdeptAg Join Forces for Robotics in Agriculture
Who is involved? Burro and AdeptAg.
What is the goal? Address labor shortages and improve operational efficiency with autonomous robots.
What’s happening? Petitti Family of Farms will deploy 10 Burro Grande robots in 2025.
Growers Edge Acquires AQUAOSO Technologies
Who is involved? Growers Edge and AQUAOSO Technologies.
What is the goal? Strengthen ag lending with tools for assessing climate risks and managing portfolios.
What’s the outcome? Lenders gain improved farmland valuation models and streamlined loan processes.
Koppert and Amoéba Team Up on Biofungicide
Who is involved? Koppert and Amoéba.
What is the product? AXPERA, a biofungicide made from amoeba lysate to fight fungal diseases.
What’s next? European approval expected by late 2025, with distribution, financing, and production in progress.
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FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Funding Received: Sound Agriculture & AEA
Sound Agriculture Spins Out Plant Epigenetics Platform, Raises $25M Series D Extension
Who is involved? Sound Agriculture, with funding co-led by BMO Impact Investment Fund and S2G Ventures.
What is the goal? Expand nutrient efficiency solutions and achieve profitability.
What’s new? SOURCE® and BLUEPRINT™ products enhance soil health and nutrient efficiency, and the Efficient Acre program offers growers incentives for optimized nutrient use.
Advancing Eco Agriculture Secures $3.8M USDA Grant
Who is involved? Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA) and the USDA's Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP).
What is the goal? Improve production capacity to support regenerative agriculture.
What’s happening? Funding upgrades AEA’s Aurora facility, launched in 2023, to streamline delivery and reduce its environmental footprint.
USDA Allocates $116M to Expand Fertilizer Production in Nine States
Who is involved? USDA, Commodity Credit Corporation, and multiple projects, including Biofiltro USA Inc. and Reve Solutions.
What is the goal? Strengthen domestic fertilizer supply chains, reduce input costs, and increase farmer options.
What’s the impact? $517M invested since 2021 to support rural economic growth and supply chain resilience.
NEW PRODUCTS & PROJECT
ADAMA’s Feralla® EFSA Announcement & IGS’s GigaFarm
ADAMA’s Feralla® Receives Positive EFSA Assessment
Who is involved? ADAMA Ltd. and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
What is the product? Feralla®, a novel active ingredient for slug and snail management.
What’s unique? Rapid stop-feeding effect, enhanced pellet integrity, and low active ingredient concentration.
What’s next? Awaiting EU Commission regulatory approval.
Intelligent Growth Solutions & Empire State Greenhouses Partner on Carbon-Negative GigaFarm
Who is involved? Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) and Empire State Greenhouses (ESG).
What is the project? A 385,000 sq. ft. carbon-negative facility in Cobleskill, New York.
What’s innovative? Circular production model, 100 IGS Growth Towers, renewable energy integration, and 98% water efficiency.
What’s the impact? Over 8M pounds of annual fresh produce, reduced energy costs, and a climate-resilient agricultural model.
OTHER NEWS
Plenty Shifts Focus To Strawberries, Soilytix Study, BW Fusion Seed Treatment & More!
Plenty Shifts Focus to Strawberries, Closing Compton Leafy Greens Farm
Who is involved? Plenty Unlimited.
What is the change? Launching commercial strawberries at Richmond Farm, focusing on premium, year-round local fruit.
What’s happening? Closing the Compton leafy greens farm due to rising costs in California.
Acknowledgment: Thanks expressed to Compton Mayor Emma Sharif, City Council, and the community for their support.
Soilytix Links Soil Microbiome Data to Global Crop Yield Predictions
Who is involved? Soilytix GmbH.
What’s the study about? Machine learning model predicting maize yield variability using soil microbiome data.
What’s the impact? Model predicts 65% of local yield variability and performs well across global datasets in North and South America and Asia.
Publication: Study published in Science of the Total Environment.
BW Fusion Introduces BioBoost™ Seed Treatment for Corn & Soybeans
Who is involved? BW Fusion.
What is the product? BioBoost™, a seed treatment powered by Environoc® 401, supporting crop health and improving yields.
What’s unique? Enhances seed germination, plant metabolism, and root-to-shoot ratios, leading to stronger plants and better yields.
What’s the outcome? Trials in 2024 showed yield increases and improved plant structure.
MENAT Regenerative Agriculture Venture Program Opens Applications
Who is involved? Goumbook, Saudi Awwal Bank, HSBC, EIT Food, and the Climate Champions Team.
What is the program? 2024/2025 cohort focuses on food security, biodiversity loss, climate change, and water management in MENAT.
What’s unique? Supports scalable, nature-based solutions for small to medium farm holders in arid climates with saline soils and water scarcity.
Goal: Foster collaboration between academia, research, and business sectors to address agricultural challenges in the region.
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