AgTech Growth: Weekly Roundup of Developments Across Precision Ag, CEA, and Plant Science

Key Takeaways

• John Deere acquires Sentera to expand digital agriculture tools.
• Precision AI, Verdant Robotics, and FarmQA secure funding to scale precision ag technologies.
• Plenty Unlimited emerges from Chapter 11 to refocus on strawberry vertical farming.
• Lucent Biosciences reports Soileos fertilizer can sequester up to 10 tonnes of carbon per acre.
• Confluence Genetics acquires Benson Hill assets to grow protein-rich soybean genetics.

Listen or Watch The Episode Below

Precision Ag and Agritech: Funding, Expansion, and Acquisitions

John Deere Acquires Sentera

John Deere has acquired Minnesota-based Sentera, a company specializing in drone and remote sensing technologies. The deal will support integration of high-resolution imagery and weed mapping into Deere’s precision spraying solutions. Sentera will continue offering its services to OEMs and third-party platforms.

FCC Capital Commits $2B to AgTech

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has pledged $2 billion in investments through its newly formed FCC Capital division. The investment arm focuses on ag and food sector innovations, supporting companies from early-stage development through to growth. In its first year, it deployed $170 million across nine direct deals and three funds.

Precision AI Gains Investor Support

Cooperative Ventures led a new round of funding for Precision AI, joined by BDC Capital, FCC, and other agtech-focused investors. Precision AI provides drone-based tools that support precision input applications at the plant level.

Verdant Robotics Expands SharpShooter

Verdant Robotics has rolled out its SharpShooter system across multiple U.S. farming regions. The platform uses AI and vision systems for high-accuracy input delivery, with recent updates improving field speed and efficiency. ROI is reported within 6 to 18 months, based on use cases.

FarmQA Raises $4M

FarmQA closed a $4 million seed round to expand its agronomic advisory platform. The funding will go toward enhanced AI analytics, strategic acquisitions, and user base growth. FarmQA currently supports data management across 37 million acres globally.

NEC X Opens Startup Program

NEC X is now accepting applications for its Elev X! Ignite startup accelerator. Early-stage companies working on B2B SaaS, GenAI, and predictive analytics can apply for up to $250K in funding and support starting August 2025.

Plant Science: Carbon Sequestration, Genetic Assets, and Federal Support

Lucent Biosciences Releases GHGE Study

Lucent Biosciences’ Soileos fertilizer was found to sequester an average of 2.3 tonnes of CO₂ per acre, with potential peaks at 10 tonnes. Made from upcycled inputs, Soileos contains no microplastics or synthetic chelators. Lucent is scaling production and preparing a seed coating facility.

$15M Awarded to Protein Industries Canada

Protein Industries Canada received government support for AI and genomics R&D. The $15 million grant is intended to improve efficiency across the value chain, including plant breeding and food manufacturing.

Confluence Genetics Acquires Benson Hill IP

Confluence Genetics has acquired Benson Hill’s assets through a court-approved sale. The company will focus on ultra-high protein soybeans, supported by over 350 patents and proprietary AI systems. The leadership team includes CEO Kim Hurst and Executive Chairman Mike DeCamp.

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA): Restructuring, Software, and Prototypes

Plenty Unlimited Exits Bankruptcy

Plenty Unlimited has completed its Chapter 11 restructuring, with plans to expand its strawberry-focused vertical farm in Richmond, Virginia. Construction is resuming, supported by One Madison and SoftBank Vision Fund 2 among others.

Ostara Secures Pre-Seed Funding

Ostara, a CEA software company, raised pre-seed funds led by Bethnal Green Ventures. The platform offers real-time optimization to reduce labor, water, and energy usage. It is positioned to support small and mid-sized indoor farms.

Phoenix Contact & HITS Launch Prototype in Egypt

In collaboration with HITS Solutions, Phoenix Contact has introduced a smart hydroponic farming prototype. The system uses IoT and metagenomics to reduce water consumption by 86.67% while operating on a compact footprint of under 10 m².

Other Industry Developments: Biofuels, Traceability, and Research Concerns

Gevo Divests Agri-Energy Subsidiary

Gevo sold its Agri-Energy LLC facility to A.E. Innovation for $7 million. The buyer plans to restart ethanol production and establish a biofuel innovation hub in Luverne, Minnesota.

Rabobank and TRACT Form Data Partnership

Rabobank has entered a strategic agreement with TRACT to integrate finance and supply chain traceability. TRACT’s SaaS solution is designed to support sustainability metrics and streamline agricultural data reporting.

WSSA Highlights Research Funding Cuts

The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) met with U.S. lawmakers to discuss federal funding reductions. Members cited project cancellations, job losses, and disruptions to agricultural research as critical challenges.

Arable and Google Support Irrigation Tech Deployment

Google is funding the expansion of Arable’s irrigation technology across 20,000 acres in the Carolinas. The project aims to conserve 500 million gallons of water over the next eight years in the Edisto-Santee and Pee Dee river basins.

Upcoming AgTech Events

• GreenTech Amsterdam | June 10–12, 2025 | Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Commercial UAV Expo | September 2–4, 2025 | Las Vegas, USA
• Taiwan Smart Agriweek | September 3–5, 2025 | Taipei, Taiwan
• Global Vertical Farming Show | September 10–11, 2025 | Dubai, UAE
• SPACE | September 16–18, 2025 | Rennes, France
• AgraME | October 6–7, 2025 | Dubai, UAE
• Vertical Farming World Congress | October 7–9, 2025 | Amsterdam, Netherlands

This edition of AgTech Growth was compiled by Diletta Di Iorio. For more insights, tune in to the full recap via the AgTech Digest Podcast. Join the conversation in the AgTech Community at https://network.igrownews.com.

Read the entire editorial here.