What’s Inside This Week:
- Funding and Innovation Roundup: Key agtech investments for AI agronomy, indoor cotton farming, and more biotech breakthroughs.
- Strategic Partnerships: Major collaborations from Food Tech Valley to California Almonds.
- New Products and Releases: Soil health initiatives, a self-fertile almond variety, and a new Grain Innovation Center.
- Industry Spotlight: The KIND Almond Acres Initiative’s impact on sustainable almond orchards.
- Consumer Trends: Rising demand for regenerative agriculture products.
- Additional Updates: New underground greenhouse, expansions, and milestone achievements in AgTech.
Sponsored By Harnois Greenhouses: Advanced Solutions for Berry Cultivation
Harnois Greenhouses offers a range of low- to high-tech solutions for greenhouse berry production, promoting longer growing seasons and better crop protection. Their systems, like TunnelPro Plus and the high-tech Luminosa, support sustainable, year-round berry farming. Backed by agronomy experts, Harnois aims to bring tailored solutions to growers worldwide.
AgTech Investments & Funding Rounds
Funding and Innovation Roundup:
- GrowDirector raises $1M to develop an AI agronomist to assist with plant diagnostics.
- Gooddrop secures £1M to pioneer indoor cotton farming, drastically reducing water use.
- Oyster Agribusiness receives $2M for climate-smart farming initiatives in Ghana.
- SugaROx gains funding from Innovate UK for biostimulant research to increase wheat productivity.
- ERGO Bioscience expands with GAAP support to advance plant-based protein production.
Strategic Partnerships
AgTech Collaborations:
- Food Tech Valley & Badia Farms: Signed a 27-year partnership to enhance food security with water-efficient farming in the UAE.
- MyEasyFarm & MyCarbon: Collaboration to advance carbon credit solutions across 40,000 hectares in Brazil, promoting biodiversity and soil health.
- Treehouse California Almonds & Sitos Group: Launching a $9M biochar facility to convert almond shells into biochar, supporting sustainable agriculture.
New Products and Innovations
New Releases:
- WHEATWATCHER Project in Europe to enhance soil health with real-time monitoring.
- Ohalo’s FruitionOne™ Almond Variety: A new self-fertile almond that streamlines production and cuts pollination costs.
- Bühler’s Grain Innovation Center: Opened in Switzerland to test sustainable grain processing technologies.
Industry Spotlight
Rethinking Almond Orchards: KIND Almond Acres Initiative KIND Snacks, in partnership with BeeWise, LandScan, and UC Davis, has committed to sourcing 100% of almonds from regenerative farms by 2030. The initiative utilizes technologies like subsurface irrigation and remote beekeeping to promote sustainable almond farming and resource conservation.
Read the complete article here.
Consumer Trends in Regenerative Agriculture
A 2024 report by Regenified™ shows increasing consumer demand for regenerative agriculture, especially among health-conscious buyers. The findings reveal a strong interest in certified regenerative products, underscoring the need for brands to enhance education and transparency in their offerings.
Other News
- Aya Kenz has launched the UAE’s first off-grid underground greenhouse in Sharjah.
- Enza Zaden opened a large seed production facility in Tanzania.
- Entocycle and EnviroFlight successfully trialed an innovative insect dosing solution in North Carolina.
Upcoming AgTech Events
- REAP Conference | Nov 6 | UK
- Inhouse Farming Feed & Food Show | Nov 12-15 | Hanover
- AgriNext Conference | Nov 13-14 | Dubai
- Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit | Nov 19-21
- Discover other events here.
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