Decibel Bio, Nitricity, Ascribe,Pivot Bio, Bayer, Reinke, Oasthouse Ventures Ltd, 80 Acres Farms, Kalera Inc, BrightFarms, Agro Care Growers, AgZen, French AgriFood, Bühler, Improvin’, xFarm Technologies, Farmland Partners’, BASF, Boortmalt, GoodSAM Foods - This Week in AgTech

Anna: 00:00

Welcome to another episode of AgTech Digest, your go-to source for the latest in agricultural innovation. Today, we're exploring groundbreaking advancements in crop protection, genomics, and controlled environment agriculture. Exciting developments include a biotech startup securing $12 million to enhance crop traits through epigenetics, a sustainable fertilizer company expanding production with a new facility, and a natural crop protection breakthrough showing an 83% reduction in bacterial leaf blight. Meanwhile, investments in greenhouse and vertical farming are scaling up, with major funding supporting expanded operations and sustainable food production. We’ll also dive into cutting-edge solutions in nitrogen fixation, herbicide-tolerant crops, and smart irrigation, alongside key partnerships driving transparency in agricultural supply chains. There's a lot to cover, so let's get started!

Anna: 00:59

Crop protection and genomics are making significant strides, with major funding and innovations shaping the future of sustainable agriculture.Leading the charge, Decibel Bio, a plant biotechnology startup, has secured $12 million from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Future Ventures, Bayer, and Syngenta. This funding will help scale its epigenetic platform, which allows real-time crop trait adjustments based on weather, water availability, and environmental stress—all without genetic modification. The company is now focused on expanding industry partnerships and preparing for commercial use. Meanwhile, Nitricity, a California-based sustainable fertilizer startup, has raised $10 million to build a new organic fertilizer facility in Delhi, California. This facility will increase production 100 times, using recycled almond shells and renewable energy to create a pathogen-free, organic fertilizer. With full capacity already secured through 2028 under binding agreements, the project is set to create 20 new jobs in Merced County as construction begins. In crop protection, Ascribe has reported promising results from its 2024 field trials in India, where its biological solution, Phytalix, achieved an 83% reduction in Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB) and increased crop yields by up to 30%. This natural alternative to synthetic crop protection is compatible with both smallholder and large-scale farming. Moving forward, the company is pursuing regulatory approvals in Asia, Brazil, and the U.S. while working to expand farmer access. Turning to nitrogen fixation, Pivot Bio has announced the launch of CERT-N, a biological nitrogen-fixing product for cotton, set to debut in 2025 for select U.S. growers. This innovative solution reduces synthetic nitrogen use by 20%, supports early square retention, increases boll counts, and promotes healthier plants. A full commercial rollout is planned for 2026, with availability through distribution partners in Cotton Belt states. Lastly, Bayer is making waves in soybean farming with the introduction of Vyconic soybeans, which offer five herbicide tolerances (Dicamba, Glufosinate, Glyphosate, Mesotrione, and 2,4-D). Designed to tackle weed resistance and optimize yields, this new solution addresses key challenges in soybean cultivation. With regulatory approvals pending, Bayer aims for a U.S. and Canadian market launch by 2027. These advancements highlight the ongoing transformation in plant science, fertilization, and crop protection, paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future.

Anna: 03:43

This week’s interview explores Reinke’s insights on smart irrigation and water management, highlighting how growers are adapting to climate change by shifting to water-efficient irrigation using real-time soil moisture and evapotranspiration data. Precision irrigation plays a key role in reducing water and energy use while maintaining yields. When it comes to data, platforms like Reinke's ReinCloud enable real-time irrigation monitoring and control. Automation, AI, and IoT are improving efficiency, but adoption remains limited. The main challenges include cost, infrastructure constraints, and knowledge gaps, which slow adoption. Incentives, training, and education are essential to driving wider use. On the policy side, regulations must balance water conservation with growers’ needs, and collaboration between industry and policymakers is key.

Anna: 04:37

Controlled Environment Agriculture continues to expand with major investments and acquisitions driving growth across the sector. Oasthouse Ventures Limited is making a significant move by investing $104.8 million to establish its first U.S. CEA facility in Virginia, creating 118 jobs. Notably, the 65-acre greenhouse will produce 45 million pounds of tomatoes annually while utilizing Virginia-grown hardwood residuals for heating. Additionally, the project is supported by $800,000K in state and local grants, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable indoor farming and regional economic development. Meanwhile, 80 Acres Farms is strengthening its national presence by acquiring three vertical farms from Kalera, Inc. in Georgia, Texas, and Colorado. As part of its expansion strategy, the company plans to retrofit these farms with Infinite Acres technology to enhance efficiency. This acquisition aligns with a broader industry consolidation effort, following 80 Acres Farms' recent purchases of Mother Raw and Plantae Biosciences. At the same time, BrightFarms is scaling up operations with the launch of Georgia’s largest greenhouse in Macon, spanning 1.5 million square feet. Already shipping fresh, pesticide-free leafy greens, the facility is expected to create over 250 jobs while significantly reducing farm-to-store time. Looking ahead, BrightFarms is set to open three additional greenhouse hubs within six months, positioning itself to serve two-thirds of the U.S. population. Lastly, Agro Care Growers is expanding into the Scandinavian market by acquiring a majority stake in Nordic Greens. This acquisition further strengthens Agro Care’s extensive 500 hectare greenhouse network across Europe and North Africa. However, regulatory approval remains pending, with Nordic Greens’ CEO, Mads Pedersen, retaining a minority stake as the company moves forward with its growth plans.

Anna: 06:35

AgTech is making headlines with significant investments, trends, and partnerships aimed at enhancing sustainability and efficiency in agriculture. AgZen, an agricultural technology company, raised $10 million in Series A funding, led by DCVC Bio and Material Impact. The funds will support AgZen’s RealCoverage technology, which improves pesticide efficiency by 30 to 50%, enhancing weed and disease control while reducing chemical waste. The company plans to expand RealCoverage to include fertilizers and pesticides, develop new efficiency standards, and advance automation technologies. Meanwhile, French AgriFood Tech startups have seen a funding decline in 2024 due to economic factors, including interest rate hikes and investor caution. However, key sectors like Alternative Proteins, AgTech & Precision Agriculture, Food Waste & Circular Economy, and Regenerative Agriculture continue to attract investment. Going forward, corporate and public funding are expected to play a larger role in driving innovation and sustainability in 2025. In another major move, Bühler has partnered with Improvin’ and xFarm Technologies to improve data transparency and traceability in agricultural supply chains. This partnership will provide primary field-level data to assess environmental impact, aligning with Bühler’s 50-50-50 sustainability strategy. The goal is to connect agricultural data with processing technology to support sustainable food and agriculture supply chains.

Anna: 08:09

Sustainable agriculture is advancing through key investments and initiatives focused on regenerative practices and environmental responsibility. Farmland Partners’ Vital Farmland three, has been certified as a COIN-approved investment under California’s Department of Insurance. This certification attracts institutional investors focused on sustainability and social responsibility. The next steps for Fund III include acquiring farmland and transitioning it to organic and regenerative agriculture. Meanwhile, BASF and Boortmalt have launched Verified Impact Units (VIUs) to track and reduce Scope 3 emissions in agriculture. This initiative is important because Irish barley farmers using cover cropping achieved nearly 90% GHG reductions and improved soil health. BASF will expand its Global Carbon Farming Program, while Boortmalt aims to cut barley emissions by 30.3% by 2030. Finally, GoodSAM Foods has raised $9 million in Series A funding, led by Alive Ventures and Desert Bloom, to expand direct trade partnerships with smallholder and indigenous farmers across Colombia, Mexico, Kenya, and six other countries. This funding will support new product lines, team expansion, and ethical sourcing initiatives.

Anna: 09:24

Looking ahead, mark your calendars for World Agri-Tech San Francisco 2025, followed by the Indoor Ag Con in Las Vegas, USA, from March 11th to 12th, 2025. Next, don’t miss VIV Asia in Bangkok, Thailand, from March 12th to 14th. Then, the 2nd International Electronic Conference on Entomology will take place from May 19th to 21st. Finally, Reuters Events: Transform Food & Agriculture Europe 2025 will be another key event to look out for.

Anna: 09:55

That wraps up today's episode of AgTech Digest. We explored the latest developments in sustainable agriculture and innovation, from investments in regenerative farming to advancements in carbon farming and sustainable food systems. We also covered the funding and expansion of controlled environment agriculture, precision irrigation, and cutting-edge agrochemical technologies. With impactful partnerships and new funding rounds, the agtech sector continues to drive sustainability, efficiency, and growth. Thanks for joining me, I'm Anna, signing off. Stay inspired and keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible!