Key Takeaways:
- Crop Protection & Genomics: Decibel Bio raised $12M for epigenetic crop trait adjustments; Nitricity secured $10M to build an organic fertilizer facility; Ascribe’s Phytalix® reduced bacterial leaf blight by 83%.
- Smart Irrigation & Water Management: Reinke discussed precision irrigation’s role in water conservation, AI and IoT’s impact on efficiency, and policy challenges in balancing water use and agricultural needs.
- Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA): Oasthouse Ventures invested $104.8M in U.S. greenhouse operations; 80 Acres Farms expanded by acquiring Kalera’s vertical farms; BrightFarms launched Georgia’s largest greenhouse.
- AgTech Investments & Trends: AgZen raised $10M to optimize agrochemical applications; French AgriFood Tech funding declined, but key sectors remain strong; Bühler partnered with Improvin’ and xFarm to enhance supply chain transparency.
- Sustainable Agriculture: Farmland Partners’ Fund III received COIN certification for sustainable investments; BASF & Boortmalt launched Verified Impact Units (VIUs) for carbon farming.
🌿 Plant Science Innovations: Advancements in Crop Traits, Fertilization, and Protection
- Decibel Bio Secures $12M to Advance Crop Epigenetics
- Nitricity Secures $10M to Build Organic Fertilizer Facility
- Ascribe Reports 83% Reduction in Bacterial Leaf Blight with Phytalix®
- Pivot Bio Launches CERT-Nâ„¢ for Nitrogen Fixation in Cotton
- Bayer Introduces Vyconicâ„¢ Soybeans with Five Herbicide Tolerances
🔗 Read the latest plant science news here
This Week’s Interview: Reinke’s Insights on Smart Irrigation
📌 Key Topics:
- Shifts to water-efficient irrigation based on real-time soil moisture data.
- Precision irrigation techniques to maintain yields while conserving resources.
- The role of automation, AI, and IoT in improving efficiency.
- Challenges such as cost and infrastructure constraints.
- Policy considerations for balancing water conservation and agricultural needs.
🔗 Read this week’s interviews here
Controlled Environment Agriculture: Expansion & Investments
- Oasthouse Ventures Invests $104.8M in U.S. Greenhouse Operations
- 80 Acres Farms Expands with Acquisition of Kalera’s Vertical Farms
- BrightFarms Launches Georgia’s Largest Greenhouse
🔗 Read the latest vertical farming and greenhouse news here
AgTech: Investments, Market Trends & Sustainability Initiatives
- AgZen Secures $10M to Optimize Agrochemical Applications
- French AgriFood Tech Faces Funding Decline
- Bühler Partners with Improvin’ and xFarm for Supply Chain Transparency
🔗 Read the latest AgTech news here
Sustainable Agriculture: Investments & Sustainability Initiatives
- Farmland Partners’ Fund III Gains COIN Certification
- BASF & Boortmalt Generate First Verified Impact Units for Carbon Farming
🔗 Read the latest regenerative agriculture news here
Upcoming Events
- 📅 World Agri-Tech San Francisco 2025
- 📅 Indoor Ag Con | March 11–12, 2025 | Las Vegas, USA
- 📅 VIV Asia | March 12–14, 2025 | Bangkok, Thailand
- 📅 2nd International Electronic Conference on Entomology | May 19–21, 2025
- 📅 Reuters Events: Transform Food & Agriculture Europe 2025
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