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Rooted In Innovation
This week, discover groundbreaking advancements from GrowDirector, Gooddrop, KIND Snacks, and more, as they drive sustainable farming, secure major funding, and introduce innovative products shaping the future of agriculture.
Sepehr Achard
November 01, 2024
In partnership with Harnois Greenhouse
Welcome to This Week’s AgTech Digest!
In partnership with Harnois Greenhouse, we’re excited to bring you the latest updates. This week, we cover major projects, and exciting partnerships that are shaping the future of farming.
Grab a coffee, check out what we are covering today, and dive into this week’s digest!
What We Are Covering Today?
Estimated Reading Time: 6 - 7 minutes
You can also listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or below👇
SPONSORED BY HARNOIS
Harnois Greenhouses: Low to High-TechPoly Greenhouse Solutions for Berries
Greenhouse-grown berries offer numerous benefits over traditional open-field cultivation, including extended growing seasons, better crop protection, and increased yields.
At Harnois, we provide a full range of greenhouse structures for berry production, from cost-effective open-field solutions like TunnelPro Plus to advanced high-tech gutter-connected greenhouses like Luminosa.
We offer turnkey solutions, backed by a team of agronomists and equipment experts, ensuring growers get tailored systems that fit their needs and budgets. As technology evolves, greenhouse berry production will continue to play a crucial role in sustainable, year-round farming.
INVESTMENTS & FUNDING ROUNDS
Funding and Innovation Roundup: Companies Secure Millions For AI Agronomist, Indoor Farming Cotton, Biotech & More!
Image provided by Gooddrop
GrowDirector Secures $1M for AI Agronomist
Who: GrowDirector, an AgTech startup.
What: Raised $1 million in seed funding.
Purpose: To develop its AI Agronomist tool, which will offer plant diagnostics and treatment recommendations, addressing horticulture’s labor and cost challenges.
Gooddrop’s £1M Funding for Indoor Cotton Farming
Who: Gooddrop, a UK-based AgTech startup.
What: Secured £1 million in investment.
Purpose: To pioneer vertical farming for cotton, reducing water use by 95% and eliminating pesticide needs for sustainable cotton production.
Oyster Agribusiness Expands Climate-Smart Farming with $2M
Who: Oyster Agribusiness, operating in Ghana.
What: Received $2 million from investors including Root Capital.
Purpose: To expand climate-smart agricultural practices, supporting food security and providing fair opportunities for smallholder farmers.
SugaROx Gains Funding for Wheat Productivity Research
Who: SugaROx, a UK-based biostimulant company.
What: Secured Innovate UK funding.
Purpose: To research and optimize T6P biostimulant applications for increasing wheat yields under varying conditions.
ERGO Bioscience Expands with GAAP’s Support
Who: ERGO Bioscience, an Argentinian biotech startup.
What: Investment from the Global Agri-Food Advancement Partnership (GAAP).
Purpose: To establish a base in Saskatoon and leverage precision fermentation technology for sustainable, plant-based proteins.
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STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
AgTech Collaborations: Food Tech Valley, MyEasyFarm, Treehouse California Almonds & More!
Food Tech Valley and Badia Farms Partner in 27-Year Agreement
Who: UAE’s Food Tech Valley and Badia Farms (hydroponic grower backed by Gulf Islamic Investments).
What: Signed a 27-year agreement to cultivate fruits and vegetables on a 236,000-square-foot plot.
Purpose: To advance the UAE's food security goals by boosting local food production, using water-efficient hybrid farming techniques that reduce environmental impact.
MyEasyFarm & MyCarbon Partner to Advance Regenerative Ag in Brazil
Who: MyEasyFarm (regenerative agriculture and carbon farming solutions provider) and MyCarbon (subsidiary of Minerva Foods).
What: Partnered to implement a Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) tool for carbon credits on over 40,000 hectares in Brazil’s Cerrado.
Purpose: To promote regenerative agriculture, improve biodiversity, soil health, and support food security through carbon credit validation, aligned with sustainability goals in agriculture.
Treehouse California Almonds & Sitos Group Partner on $9M Biochar Production Facility
Who: Treehouse California Almonds and Sitos Group.
What: Collaborating on a $9 million biochar production facility in Delano, California, that converts almond shells into biochar.
Purpose: To explore biochar’s role in carbon removal and sustainable agriculture by enhancing soil properties, generating clean electricity, and serving as an educational hub for biochar’s climate benefits.
NEW PRODUCTS, PRODUCTS & PROJECTS
New Releases: Soil Health In Europe, A Self-Fertile Nonpareil Almond Variety, New Grain Innovation Center & More!
WHEATWATCHER Project Launches to Enhance Soil Health Across Europe
Who: EU Horizon Europe program, led by Ghent University with a consortium of European universities, research centers, and industry partners.
What: Launch of the WHEATWATCHER project to improve soil health and food traceability across Europe.
Purpose: To implement real-time soil monitoring on farms in Greece, Poland, Germany, and Belgium, fostering sustainable agriculture through advanced monitoring tools and collaborative engagement with farmers, policymakers, and researchers.
Ohalo™ Launches FruitionOne™, a Self-Fertile Nonpareil Almond Variety
Who: Ohalo, an agricultural biotech company.
What: Launched FruitionOne™, a self-fertile Nonpareil almond variety, eliminating the need for pollenizer trees.
Purpose: To streamline almond production, reduce pollination costs, and address water and sustainability challenges, providing economic and environmental benefits for growers by offering a consistent, cost-effective, and sustainable almond variety.
Rainbow Bio Launches With Focus on Biological Solutions
Who: Rainbow Bio, a subsidiary of Rainbow Agro.
What: Newly launched division focusing on biological solutions for crop protection.
Purpose: To deliver sustainable agricultural solutions, addressing drought, pest pressure, and nutrient management for crops like corn and soybeans. Targeting global regions such as South and Central America and Asia-Pacific, Rainbow Bio seeks to establish itself in the biologicals market through partnerships and innovative products.
Bühler Opens Grain Innovation Center in Uzwil, Switzerland
Who: Bühler, a Swiss technology company.
What: Opened a 2,000-square-meter Grain Innovation Center (GIC) for grain processing innovation.
Purpose: To support customers in the food and animal nutrition industries by enabling testing of new technologies for enhanced product quality and efficiency. The GIC promotes sustainable practices and resource efficiency, with additional facilities for training and skill development in grain technology.
THIS WEEK’S INTERVIEW
Rethinking Almond Orchards: The KIND Almond Acres Initiative
Image taken during a field trip at KIND’s Almond Acres Initiative
Who: KIND Snacks, with partners BeeWise, LandScan, and UC Davis.
What: Committed to sourcing 100% of almonds from regenerative farms by 2030, supported by advanced AgTech solutions and sustainable farming practices.
Purpose: To transform almond farming toward sustainability, reducing water usage, enhancing soil health, and supporting bee populations. KIND’s initiative uses innovative methods like subsurface irrigation, dendrometers, and remote beekeeping to optimize resources, promote environmental resilience, and improve crop yield consistency.
REGENERATIVE AG REPORT
Growing Consumer Demand for Regenerative Agriculture Revealed
Who: Regenified™, surveying 850 U.S. consumers, including Values Based Shoppers and the Emerging Regenerative Market segment.
What: Released a 2024 report highlighting consumer awareness, interest, and purchasing intent for regenerative agriculture products.
Purpose: To benchmark consumer trends in regenerative agriculture, revealing strong interest in certified regenerative products, especially for health and environmental benefits. The report underscores opportunities for brands to meet this demand by expanding availability, increasing consumer education, and ensuring transparency through certification.
OTHER NEWS
Other News: New Underground Greenhouse, Expansions, Milestones & More!
Aya Kenz, based in Abu Dhabi, has announced the construction of the UAE’s first-ever off-grid underground greenhouse, located in Sharjah.
Enza Zaden, an international vegetable breeding company, has opened a 16,000-square-meter seed production facility in Arusha, Tanzania.
Entocycle and EnviroFlight have completed successful trials of Entocycle’s Entosight Neo optical dosing solution at EnviroFlight’s R&D Center in North Carolina.
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