Key Takeaways:
- Limagrain is in talks with ADQ for a 35% stake in a new vegetable seeds venture focused on arid climate crops.
- Halter’s $100M Series D funding supports U.S. expansion and reaches $1B valuation.
- Doktar, CDotBio, Symbiomics, and others advance RNA, digital ag, and microbiome innovations.
- Lucent Bio, BASF, and AgroSpheres launch new sustainability-aligned products.
- Microsoft enters multi-million carbon credit deals tied to U.S. soil and forest initiatives.
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AgTech Highlights: Strategic Moves and Capital Influx
Limagrain Eyes Middle East Expansion via ADQ Stake
French seed company Limagrain is in exclusive discussions with UAE-based ADQ to form Limagrain Vegetable Seeds (LVS). Under the proposed structure, ADQ would hold 35% and Vilmorin & Cie would retain 65%. A research partnership with Silal will focus on developing desert-adapted vegetable genetics, aligning with Limagrain’s “Ambition 2030” plan.
Halter Raises $100M, Hits Unicorn Valuation
Halter, a New Zealand startup delivering virtual fencing and livestock management tech, has raised $100 million in a Series D round. The funds will support its growing presence in the U.S. ranching market, where it already serves 150 ranchers across 18 states.
Taranis Teams with Pivot Bio on USDA-Funded Incentives
Taranis has partnered with Pivot Bio to offer growers access to USDA conservation programs for sustainable nitrogen use. Their Taranis Conservation™ platform helps manage recordkeeping and documentation, with growers paying only upon successful grant approvals.
The Reservoir and Naturipe Launch Pilot Farm
The Reservoir and Naturipe Berry Growers have teamed up in Salinas Valley to test agtech solutions across a five-acre strawberry plot. The Reservoir aims to support 50 startups in five years, focused on robotics, automation, and labor efficiency.
Doktar Raises €7.5M for Expansion
Doktar, active across Europe, North America, and South America, raised €7.5 million in funding co-led by ECBF and Pymwymic. Its platform supports regenerative practices across 250,000 hectares and works with major agrifood companies on sustainability programs.
Plant Science: RNA, Microbes, and Seed Innovations
CDotBio Receives UK Venture Prize
UK-based CDotBio, a University of Bristol spinout, won the £25,000 Armourers & Brasiers Venture Prize for its RNA-based biopesticides targeting wheat rust, aphids, and blackgrass. The startup uses carbon nanodots to improve delivery and target precision.
Symbiomics Raises Series A with Corteva
Symbiomics secured funding to advance genome-edited microbial solutions for crop health and resilience. Brazil, with 15% growth in biologicals, is a key market. The funding round was led by Corteva Catalyst.
BASF Unveils New Canola Hybrid
BASF introduced the InVigor Gold hybrid canola seed (Brassica juncea), offering improved heat tolerance and LibertyLink® herbicide resistance. Field trials showed an 8% yield improvement over traditional canola. U.S. launch is expected in 2027 pending approval.
Lucent Bio Launches Soileos Boron + Zinc
Lucent Bio introduced a slow-release fertilizer with climate-smart features that minimize nutrient loss and align release with crop demand. It supports regenerative agriculture practices and Scope 3 emissions reduction.
AgroSpheres Launches FUN-THYME™ Biofungicide
AgroSpheres released a thyme oil-based biofungicide compatible with both organic and conventional systems. Its AgriCell® platform ensures stability, efficient delivery, and broad fungal resistance coverage.
Protein Industries Canada Funds Soybean Initiative
Protein Industries Canada launched a $4.3 million project with NRGene Canada, Pulse Genetics, Hensall Co-op, and Yumasoy Foods Ltd. The project supports the development of early-maturing non-GMO soybeans and new plant-based protein products.
Other News: Carbon Credits, Satellites, and Livestock Monitoring
- Canada and Saskatchewan Invest $3.4M in Genomics: The federal and Saskatchewan governments will jointly fund two new research centers at the University of Saskatchewan to advance beef genomics and reproductive efficiency.
- Microsoft Signs Carbon Credit Agreements
- 2.6 million soil-based carbon credits from Agoro Carbon over 12 years (Verra VM0042 methodology).
- 4.8 million forest-based credits from Anew Climate and Aurora Sustainable Lands across five states (ACR IFM v2.1 protocol).
- Globalstar & CERES TAG Continue Livestock Collaboration: Globalstar extends its partnership with CERES TAG, providing satellite coverage for real-time livestock health and location monitoring, including vector-borne disease tracking.
- EarthDaily and Muon Space Satellite Launches: EarthDaily launched the first of ten Earth observation satellites for daily monitoring, with full operation expected by 2026. Muon Space launched VanZyl-2 for Hydrosat, offering thermal and multispectral imaging of up to eight million km² per day.
- MyEasyFarm Joins EIT Food Initiative: French startup MyEasyFarm has been selected for the EIT Food Fast Track to Market program, supporting commercialization of sustainable ag data solutions.
Upcoming AgTech Events
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- SPACE 2025 | Sept 16–18, 2025 | France
- AgraME | Oct 6–7, 2025 | Dubai
- Vertical Farming World Congress | Oct 7–9, 2025 | Amsterdam
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