🔍 This Week’s Highlights
- Plant Science & Biocontrol: Recent funding and product developments in sustainable crop protection
- Indoor Farming Insight: A feasibility study on indoor strawberry cultivation
- Precision Ag & Autonomous Tech: Key platform launches and partnerships
- Company Spotlight: Tidal Grow AgriScience’s chitosan-based crop inputs
- Sustainability & Industry Collaborations: Latest initiatives in agri-tech efficiency
- Events Calendar: Upcoming agriculture and agri-tech conferences for 2025
🎧 Prefer audio? Listen to the recap on the AgTech Digest Podcast – available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.
🌾 AgTech Directory: Search. Discover. Connect.
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🧬 Crop Protection & Plant Science
Vestaron Raises $20M for Bioinsecticide Expansion
- Focus on peptide-based alternatives to conventional insecticides
- Funding supports market growth and R&D
- Aims to address pest resistance, particularly in tomato production
Sylvan Secures Investment from Novo Holdings & KKR
- Largest Planetary Health investment in Asia by Novo Holdings
- Funds to expand production and upgrade R&D infrastructure
ADAMA Receives EU Approval for Feralla® Molluscicide
- Approved as a low-risk active substance
- Enables launches in the UK and other European markets
- Noted for fast action and improved durability
Twist Bioscience & Curio Genomics Collaborate on NGS
- Combines high-throughput prep kits with bioinformatics
- Targets breeding and trait discovery through NGS platforms
AdvancedAg Raises $2M in Seed Funding
- Backed by Raven Indigenous Capital
- Developing soil-health biologicals
- Focus on maintaining farm profitability while reducing chemical use
FMC & Bayer Collaborate on Isoflex™ Herbicide
- Expansion into Europe to target resistant weeds
- Isoflex™ demonstrates efficacy across multiple crops
Syngenta Signs U.S. Distribution Deal for STROVEQ and SPREXIMA
- Agreement with Agrauxine for ornamental crop protection
- Strengthens Syngenta’s biologicals portfolio in the U.S.
KUBTEC Launches XSEED Seed Imaging Systems
- Offers non-destructive internal seed analysis
- Product line includes XSEED Mini, Mid-Range, and Plus
Pro Farm Group Introduces ARINO™ for Tuber Crops
- EPA-approved biocontrol for nematode and wireworm management
- Targeted for potatoes, onions, and similar crops
Read More Plant Science News →
🍓 This Week’s Editorial
Indoor Strawberry Farming: A Feasibility Study
This week’s editorial explores the technical and commercial viability of indoor strawberry farming. The analysis draws from expert interviews and market data to assess whether indoor production can meet quality expectations and achieve profitability.
📡 Precision Ag & Autonomous Systems
New Precision Ag Consortium Formed in Canada
- Led by Zone AgTech, Bayer Crop Science, and Axceta
- Focused on IoT-based smart agriculture tools
- Bayer’s HortiView platform forms the tech backbone
EarthOptics Launches Total Farm Platform
- $4/acre subscription includes fertility maps and soil health insights
- Centralized data to guide crop planning and input efficiency
Farmblox & Eion Launch Carbon Monitoring Pilot
- Tracks soil CO₂ removal using Enhanced Rock Weathering
- Covers 10,000+ acres in Virginia
- Real-time tracking of weather, soil, and CO₂ data
Carbon Robotics Unveils AutoTractor
- Retrofit kit and remote operations center
- Compatible with John Deere 6R and 8R tractors
- Pay-per-hour pricing designed to lower entry costs
Explore the Latest in Precision Ag →
🌱 Interview: Tidal Grow AgriScience on Chitosan-Based Inputs
Tidal Grow AgriScience is developing chitosan-based alternatives to conventional inputs. The company is part of Tidal Vision, which also applies chitosan to water treatment and textiles.
Key developments:
- Biopesticides produced using zero-waste manufacturing
- Received EPA Safe Chemistry Award and 25(b) exemption
- Solutions aim to balance sustainability with farm economics
🌍 Sustainability & Startup Collaboration
EcoAct & MyEasyFarm Partner for Emissions Platform
- Designed to help agri-food businesses monitor and reduce GHGs
- Combines emissions reporting with sustainability metrics
Grodan & Philips Trial Energy-Efficient Tomato Production
- Aims to cut heat input by 50%
- Incorporates stone wool substrates, advanced lighting, and climate monitoring
Nasekomo Enhances Automated Insect Rearing Efficiency
- New system reaches 25% feed conversion ratio
- Modular setup capable of processing 16,000 tons annually
Yanmar Ventures Joins StartLife Accelerator as Investor Partner
- Provides funding and mentorship to early-stage agrifood startups
- Based in Wageningen, Netherlands
📅 Upcoming AgTech Events
- Plant Empowerment Workshop | May 6–7, 2025 | UK
- Electronic Conference on Entomology | May 19–21, 2025
- Transform Food & Agriculture Europe | Reuters Events | June 2025
- Commercial UAV Expo | September 2–4, 2025 | Las Vegas, USA
- Taiwan Smart Agriweek | September 3–5, 2025 | Taiwan
- Global Vertical Farming Show | September 10–11, 2025 | Dubai, UAE
- SPACE 2025 | September 16–18, 2025 | Rennes, France
🙌 Special Thanks to Our Directory Members
Established Plan:
SpectraGrow, LettUs Grow, Harvest Returns, Women in CEA, Harnois Greenhouses, Verde Compacto
Scale-Up Plan:
Sollum Technologies, Babylon Micro-Farms, Ounce of Hope Aquaponics, Grow-Tec
