Key Takeaways:
- Voltrac, RootWave, and BlueRedGold secure funding for autonomous, electric, and vertical farming innovations.
- Corteva partners with Micropep on peptide-based biofungicides; Syngenta launches a new herbicide subclass.
- New EU approvals and global stewardship programs are reinforcing sustainable pesticide management.
- Signify updates its GrowWise lighting platform; Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands announce SAR428M in AgTech agreements.
- U.S. Sugar adopts precision farming; Naïo Technologies enters judicial recovery proceedings.
🔍 AgTech Sector Highlights: Investment, Partnerships, and Product Launches
Voltrac Secures €2M for Autonomous Tractor
Spanish startup Voltrac has raised €2 million from FoodLabs and Antler to launch its autonomous, electric tractor platform. The vehicle uses individual electric motors per wheel to cut operational costs and is aimed at both agriculture and defense sectors. Partnerships with Aguirre Agricola and NATO are already in place, with delivery set for Q1 2026.
RootWave Raises $15M for Electric Weed Control
UK-based RootWave secured $15 million, including $3M in debt from Innovate UK, to scale its high-frequency electric weed-killing system. The company’s chemical-free approach offers a sustainable option for combating herbicide-resistant weeds, achieving up to 99% efficacy in trials.
Treetoscope and Nutrien Ag Solutions Collaborate
Treetoscope and Nutrien announced a long-term partnership that merges AI-driven irrigation monitoring with agronomic services. The integration with Nutrien’s CropConnect platform targets improved plant-level water efficiency using real-time sap flow data.
🧬 Plant Science: Biocontrol, Certifications, and Resistance Management
Corteva and Micropep Announce Biofungicide R&D Project
Corteva Agriscience and Micropep Technologies launched a multi-year research collaboration to co-develop peptide-based biofungicides using the Krisalix™ platform. Corteva gains exclusive access to a defined peptide library as part of its broader biologicals strategy.
Syngenta’s New Herbicide Class: Metproxybicyclone
Syngenta introduced metproxybicyclone, a new ACCase-inhibiting herbicide designed for resistant grass weeds in soy and cotton. Pending regulatory approval, the launch is scheduled for 2026 in Argentina.
EU Approves Amoéba’s Biocontrol Agent
French firm Amoéba received final EU approval for its biocontrol substance, Lysate of Willaertia magna, classified as low-risk. The company is seeking market access in nine EU nations and awaiting U.S. EPA review.
CropLife International Expands Pesticide Stewardship
The Sustainable Pesticide Management Framework (SPMF) has expanded to nine countries. Backed by $13 million, the program aims to enhance regulatory systems and climate resilience, aligning with the ICoC standards.
🌱 CEA Sector: Indoor Farming, Climate Tech, and Automation
Signify Unveils New GrowWise System
Signify rolled out an upgraded Philips GrowWise platform, offering centralized, remote lighting control for greenhouse operators. The system supports real-time adjustments, site-wide customization, and wireless integration into energy market programs.
BlueRedGold Secures €2.73M for Saffron Farming
Swedish startup BlueRedGold raised funding to scale a robotics-powered indoor saffron cultivation system. The investment supports Paulig’s sustainability and ingredient sourcing goals and builds a model for high-value crop farming.
Saudi-Netherlands Agreements Worth SAR428M
Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands signed 27 deals to boost cooperation in biotechnology, CEA, water, and potato processing. The move supports Saudi Vision 2030 and fosters global trade and tech transfer.
Skytree & Algae Capital Partner on DAC
Amsterdam-based Skytree and Algae Capital will capture over 2,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually using Direct Air Capture (DAC) at a facility in Iceland, feeding CO₂ into algae-based agriculture and biotech.
🤝 Other Updates: M&A, Financial News, and Stewardship
U.S. Sugar Deepens Precision Ag Commitment
U.S. Sugar has partnered with Everglades Equipment Group to implement John Deere‘s precision technologies across 255,000 acres. This includes automated land leveling, fuel optimization, and fertilizer use.
AgroFresh to Distribute NatuWrap® Globally
AgroFresh becomes the sole distributor of Nabaco’s NatuWrap®, an OMRI-certified, post-harvest fruit coating solution. The partnership adds to AgroFresh’s natural freshness preservation offerings.
Naïo Technologies Files for Judicial Recovery
French robotics firm Naïo Technologies, known for autonomous weeding robots, entered judicial recovery amid financial restructuring. Revenues declined to €2.4M in 2024 from €3.96M in 2021.
USDA Opens New Facility to Combat NWS
The USDA has broken ground on an $8.5M facility in Texas to combat New World Screwworm outbreaks. The initiative is part of a broader national pest management strategy.
📅 Upcoming AgTech Events
- Commercial UAV Expo | Sept 2-4 | Las Vegas, USA
- Taiwan Smart Agriweek | Sept 3-5 | Taiwan
- Global Vertical Farming Show | Sept 10-11 | Dubai
- SPACE 2025 | Sept 16-18 | France
- AgraME | Oct 6-7 | Dubai
- Vertical Farming World Congress | Oct 7-9 | Amsterdam
🎧 Listen Instead?
Catch this full recap on the AgTech Digest Podcast – available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.
📥 Download Now:
2025 European Indoor Farming Report
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