Technology

[ad_1] The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is hoping to spur a new wave of innovation tackling some of global agriculture’s biggest challenges. The organization recently launched the Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development, which has three areas of focus including the future of food and digital ag. The other two categories are […]

[ad_1] For most shoppers, it is easy to spot the squelchy, sad-looking tomatoes marooned on the back of the shelf. Subtle traits in color, feel, smell, or texture swiftly drive reactions like, “ah, well: they’re discounted and still edible; I guess I’ll still buy them,” or, “it’s definitely past its best, so I’ll find another […]

[ad_1] MycoWorks, which produces a lab-grown leather from mycelium (the root structure of mushroom) announced its $17 million Series A earlier this week, after its unveiling at NY Fashion Week with a feature in Vogue Magazine a couple of weeks ago. The round was led by DCVC Bio, with investment from Novo Holdings, 8VC, Future […]

[ad_1] Editor’s Note: George McBride is the co-founder and CEO of Hanway Associates, a London-based strategic consultancy specialising in cannabis research, new market entry, commercial diligence and M&A strategy. Here he writes about the developing legal cannabis market in the UK and the creation of CROP17, a collaboration between Hanway Associates, Savills and CambridgeHOK focused […]

[ad_1] In the discourse about agriculture’s impact on the environment, some voices are advocating for a new way to perceive the people who grow our food. Instead of viewing them as the source of the problem, this camp believes they ought to be viewed as the source of our solution. “The bottom line is that […]

[ad_1] Humans have deployed technology to defy nature’s limitations on the cultivation of food – often to nature’s detriment. Now, a growing number of venture capitalists are doubling down on technology to harmonize agriculture and nature.  Mission-driven investment firms are writing early stage checks to companies making biological crop treatments, food preservation techniques and tech-controlled […]

[ad_1] AgFunder’s sixth annual investment report — rather flirtatiously described by the research team as “our love letter to the industry” — is now officially published; it can be downloaded right here, right now. There’s more maths behind this romantic agri-foodtech gesture than quills by moonlight: “Utilizing new advanced machine-learning algorithms and artificial intelligence to […]

[ad_1] NewLeaf Symbiotics, which develops and commercializes proprietary microbes for biological inputs, has raised $20 million in Series D funding. Koch Agronomic Holdings, Leaps by Bayer, Otter Capital, S2G Ventures and RockPort Capital were participants in the investment round. The company raised a $30 million Series C in 2017 that was used to triple its […]

[ad_1] The global food system is changing in a few key ways. Chief among them is increasing consumer demand for more information about where their food comes from. As a farmer producing pasture-raised, grass-finished beef, lamb, and goat meat for direct-to-consumer sales, I see it happening every day. The demand extends to more than just […]

[ad_1] The non-profit program backs growing companies solving key challenges in agriculture with up to $1 million in funding — apply by March 26! Elemental Excelerator is now accepting applications for its 9th cohort of startups that can help meet the environmental, social, and economic challenges brought on by a changing climate. With 99 companies […]

[ad_1] ICL, the $5 billion Israeli fertilizer company, has acquired North Carolina-based Growers Holdings, a data-driven farming platform that aims to provide farmers, agronomists, and other professionals with better decision-making capabilities. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed but it is understood the deal was similar in size to recent precision ag acquisitions such […]

[ad_1] A note from Abigail Ryder, Program Director, Rethink Events: We’re looking forward to a lively debate at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit as Meredith Ellis adds the farmer’s voice to a key discussion about how agriculture can be part of the climate change solution. Here, she shares not only her passion for ranching but also how […]

[ad_1] When an entrenched big food company buys a progressive newcomer, skepticism over whether the startup can maintain its integrity under the parent company’s shadow often runs rampant. The situation was no different when Perdue purchased Niman Ranch in 2015. According to Niman Ranch general manager Chris Oliviero, the relationship between itself and parent company […]

[ad_1] Equinom, an Israeli seed breeding startup designing enhanced crops like “shatter-free sesame” or peas bulked with a higher protein content without genetic engineering, has closed its Series B funding round at $10 million. Leading the round is BASF Venture Capital, which marks the first early-stage investment from the German chemicals giant into an Israeli […]

[ad_1] Bayer held a Crop Science R&D Pipeline Showcase last week that highlighted the ag giant’s current portfolio of technology and revealed that a new herbicide is coming down the pipeline. The chemical is still in R&D and Bayer could not reveal many details about the new addition but stated that it will make its […]