Repair Rift

Innovations and Strategies from John Deere, Bayer, Phytech, Rantizo, CH4 Global, TTA-ISO, Priva, and More!

Author

Sepehr Achard
January 24, 2025

Welcome to this week’s AgTech Digest! 🌱

Stay updated on the latest advancements driving agriculture forward. This edition highlights transformative partnerships, innovative tools, and strategic investments shaping sustainability, efficiency, and global expansion. Whether it’s Deere’s Startup Collaborator program, Bayer’s biological solutions, or FAO’s roadmap for Turkey, this week is packed with impactful updates.

Grab a coffee and let’s dive in! 🚜

This Week’s Highlights Include:

Estimated Reading Time: 6 - 7 minutes

You can also listen to the full episode here.

Explore the AgTech Directory

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With plans for startups, scale-ups, and established companies, the directory offers features like profile customization, event promotion, and homepage visibility to meet your needs.

Whether you’re looking to explore the latest in AgTech or showcase your organization, the directory provides the tools to help you succeed.

FUNDING & INVESTMENTS
Funding & Innovations in AgTech: Key Investments Driving AI, CEA, and Sustainable Food

  • The51 Food and AgTech Fund:

    • Closed at $51M, with ATB Financial making the final investment.

    • Focused on AI, robotics, and biotechnology to improve crop yields and soil health.

    • Aims to foster innovation in Alberta’s agriculture sector and support early-stage companies.

  • Agroz (Malaysia):

    • Filed for a $10M IPO with Tiger Brokers as the sole bookrunner.

    • Specializes in CEA, operating vertical farms and selling fresh, pesticide-free produce.

    • Plans to expand to Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Middle East by 2024.

  • Pluri:

    • Secured $6.5M equity investment led by Alejandro Weinstein.

    • Plans to acquire a 71% stake in Kokomodo Ltd. for $4.5M to advance cellular agriculture.

    • Focused on sustainable food production, including cacao, coffee, and meat.

    • Kokomodo acquisition expected to close in Q2 2025.

DEBATE OF THE WEEK
FTC Sues John Deere Over Repair Restrictions for Farmers

  • FTC Complaint:

    • Accuses John Deere of monopolizing repair services for its agricultural equipment.

    • Claims farmers are forced to rely on authorized dealers, leading to higher costs and limited competition.

  • Deere’s Response:

    • Denies allegations and highlights plans to expand repair tools, including reprogramming electronic controllers.

    • Aims to empower farmers and independent technicians with better repair access.

  • FTC's Goal:

    • Seeks a permanent injunction requiring Deere to provide farmers and independent repair providers access to fully functional repair tools, including the Service ADVISOR tool.

Do you think agriculture is dominated by monopolies or oligopolies?

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STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Notable AgTech Partnerships: Addressing Automation, Sustainability, and Innovation

TTA-ISO Merger

  • Purpose: Address global demand for horticulture automation and food production.

  • Key Areas: Transplanting, sorting, robotics, and automation to tackle labor shortages, sustainability, and quality standards.

  • Growth Plans: Expand in the Americas, Middle East, and Oceania; anticipate 8-10% annual horticulture sector growth.

  • Support: Backed by Rabobank and existing shareholders.

John Deere & LDC Collaboration

  • Focus: Promote regenerative agriculture through digital tools.

  • Features: John Deere Operations Center offers real-time insights and data for sustainability incentives like the US 45Z tax credit.

  • Scope: Pilot program launching in the US, with global expansion across all row crops.

  • Objective: Enhance environmental and financial sustainability for farmers.

Priva & Blue Radix Partnership

  • Objective: Enable efficient greenhouse operations with AI-powered Crop Controller.

  • Key Benefits: Improved yields, resource efficiency, and autonomous climate/irrigation management.

  • Adoption: Active in 100 greenhouses across 17 countries.

  • Commitment: Flexible, tailored solutions for greenhouse operators.

Bayer & Ecospray Collaboration

  • Product: Velsinum™, a garlic-based biological nematicide for vegetable and potato crops.

  • Market: Distributed across the EU as a natural alternative to synthetic chemicals.

  • Alignment: Supports Bayer's strategy to advance biological innovations and sustainable agriculture.

MyEasyFarm & ReGeneration Partnership

  • Goal: Transition 450,000 hectares across 4,000 farms in France and Belgium to regenerative agriculture by 2025.

  • Tool: MyEasyCarbon platform tracks carbon impact and supports farm transitions.

  • Impact: Carbon sequestration, ecosystem restoration, and measurable sustainability benefits.

CH4 Global & Mitsubishi Corporation Partnership

  • Product: Methane Tamer™, a feed supplement with Asparagopsis seaweed, reducing methane emissions by up to 90%.

  • Market: Expanding sales in Australia and introducing the product in Japan.

  • Future Plans: Scale seaweed production in Southeast Asia to target regional emissions.

Pantaleon & Bright Yeti Collaboration

  • Objective: Improve sugarcane germination, growth, and yields with electrophysiology technology.

  • Technology: Non-chemical solutions previously applied to corn and soybeans in the US.

  • Vision: Integrate innovation with sustainable production in Central America.

Indoor Farming in the UAE: Opportunities, Challenges, and Growth

Discover the latest insights on indoor farming in the UAE, including market growth, technological advancements, policy initiatives, and industry challenges.

www.indoorverticalfarm.com/p/indoor-farming-in-the-uae-opportunities-challenges-and-growth

OTHER NEWS
Other AgTech News: Updates on Startups, Innovations, and Global Expansion

Deere & Company's 2025 Startup Collaborator Program

  • Overview: Deere selected six startups to drive innovation in agriculture and construction.

  • Startups: Array Labs, Landscan, LIDWAVE, Presien, ReSim, and Witricity.

  • Goal: Foster new technologies to provide significant value to customers and address industry challenges.

Phytech Expands into Latin America

  • Markets: Now operating in Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Uruguay, Guatemala, and Mexico.

  • Solutions: Plant and field sensors, hydraulic monitoring systems, and mobile platforms for efficient resource management.

  • Impact: Monitoring 45M trees across 18,000 farms globally to enhance sustainability and productivity in tropical conditions.

Neogen Corporation Launches Igenity® BCHF Test

  • Purpose: Genomic test to assess cattle risk for Bovine Congestive Heart Failure (BCHF).

  • Features: Risk score (1-10) reduces expected incidence rates, improving herd health and economic outcomes.

  • Significance: Addresses a growing concern in the cattle industry, from calves to feedlot cattle.

Rantizo Adds XAG P150 Spray Drone

  • Product: 18.5-gallon capacity drone with speeds over 30 mph and high gallons-per-acre efficiency.

  • Focus: Productivity and operational excellence, extensively tested for agricultural spraying needs.

FAO and EBRD Report on AgTech in Turkey

  • Challenges: Climate change, economic fluctuations, limited advanced technology adoption, and aging workforce.

  • Recommendations: Tailored solutions, financial incentives, and collaboration to overcome barriers.

  • Priority Areas: Smart irrigation, IoT-based soil monitoring, and precision farming tools to support local startups and scale AgTech adoption.

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