Key Takeaways
- This week’s agtech digest includes Precision ag companies such as Taylor Farms, CNH, and BeeHero expand their automation strategies.
- Indoor agriculture sees both contraction and growth, with JFC’s closure and ReFarm Global’s new facility.
- AI and computational biology play a growing role in product development and breeding programs.
- High tunnels gain traction as a cost-effective, climate-resilient option for open-field farming.
- Seed treatments, livestock analytics, and methane reduction receive renewed investment and attention.
Weekly AgTech Digest
This week’s AgTech Digest covers advancements in automation, controlled environment agriculture, AI-powered life science platforms, and recent funding news. From labor-saving robotics to regional mega-projects, the AgTech sector continues to evolve with a focus on long-term efficiency, sustainability, and scalability.
Prefer to listen? The full audio recap is available on the AgTech Digest Podcast, streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms.
AgTech & Precision Agriculture
Taylor Farms has acquired FarmWise, known for its Vulcan platform—a precision robotic solution for weeding and thinning in open-field vegetable production. The move aligns with Taylor Farms’ strategy to improve labor efficiency and enhance sustainable farming practices. FarmWise’s existing customer base will remain supported post-acquisition.
CNH Industrial announced the acquisition of Advanced Farm Technologies, a company focused on robotic harvesting of apples and strawberries. A successful pilot in Washington state during 2024 helped validate field performance, and the integration will include key technical staff joining CNH’s innovation team.
BeeHero launched the Million Hives Network, aiming to scale its smart hive deployments from 300,000 to one million by 2030. The initiative will use in-hive and in-field sensors powered by AI to enhance pollination and colony health in regions facing pollinator stress and high agricultural dependence.
Read the latest Precision Ag news here.
Editorial Spotlight
The Role of Field-Scale High Tunnels in Modern Agriculture
High tunnels are gaining attention as an effective midpoint between traditional open-field farming and greenhouse systems. Growers are using these structures to extend growing seasons, protect crops from wind and pests, and improve fruit quality.
TunnelPro Plus™ by Harnois Greenhouses is one such solution, offering passive ventilation and durable winter covers. The technology supports compatibility with existing systems, making it suitable for a wide range of growers including those focused on strawberries, raspberries, and leafy greens.
For many farms, high tunnels present an affordable, lower-maintenance option compared to fully automated greenhouses, offering faster returns on investment and flexibility under economic pressures.
Read the complete editorial here.
Controlled Environment Agriculture
Jones Food Company (JFC) has entered administration following the closure of its Lydney facility, resulting in 61 redundancies. Eleven staff remain on-site to support administrative tasks. The company’s ongoing JFC2 project—a next-generation 3.6-acre vertical farm—continues, with a focus on producing multiple herb and salad varieties. RSM UK has been appointed as administrator, and Ocado Group confirmed the decision.
In Dubai, ReFarm Global has begun development of the world’s first GigaFarm in collaboration with Intelligent Growth Solutions. The 900,000 square foot site at Dubai Food Tech Valley will integrate six agriculture technologies in a closed-loop, zero-waste system. Once operational, the facility expects to produce over 3 million kilograms of crops annually and divert more than 50,000 tonnes of food waste, potentially offsetting 1% of the UAE’s fresh produce imports.
A breeding partnership between Heritable Agriculture, CIV, and Paul J. Mastronardi aims to develop high-performance strawberry varieties suited for indoor and tabletop systems. The effort combines AI-based predictive modeling, elite germplasm, and commercial-scale experience to deliver varieties with improved yield, uniformity, and disease resistance.
Read the complete Vertical Farming & Greenhouse news.
Interview of the Week
AI Computational Biology Platforms Transform Life Science Development
Evogene ($EVGN) is advancing its role in life sciences using three proprietary platforms: MicroBoost AI, ChemPass AI, and GeneRator AI. These systems are designed to support microbial, small molecule, and genomic-based product development.
The company’s AI engines are developed internally and serve as a foundation for its subsidiaries, including Lavie Bio and Casterra. CEO Ofer Haviv emphasized the importance of shifting public and regulatory perspectives toward genome editing, characterizing these tools as necessary for sustainable agriculture and health outcomes.
Evogene also plans to expand into pharmaceutical development, with ChemPass leading efforts to create an in-house drug pipeline by 2030.
Read the complete conversation here.
Other AgTech News
Zayndu launched S-Prime, a spinach-specific seed treatment protocol designed to optimize germination and early-stage plant health. The rollout marks the beginning of a crop-specific treatment line intended for diverse growing environments.
AgBoost, which offers analytics for livestock producers, closed a $500,000 investment round and signed a licensing deal with Australia-based MedIrAlis. The partnership aims to expand data-driven decision-making in animal health.
FMC Corporation announced the registration of Sofero™ Fall in Brazil, the first product under its Sofero™ pheromone solutions platform. The solution targets fall armyworm through mating disruption techniques.
A new methane-reduction initiative backed by the Bezos Earth Fund ($19.3M) and Global Methane Hub ($8.1M) will support breeding research aimed at reducing emissions in cattle and sheep herds.
Read all the most recent news here.
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