Dow,TriCal Soil Solutions,GreenLight Biosciences, Jord BioScience, Rainbow Crops, Ulé, Molton Brown, DSM-Firmenic, OSRAM, Nature Fresh Farms, DENSO, Delphy, VegPro, Freight Farms, Planet Farms, Swiss Life Asset Managers

Anna: 00:00

Welcome to another episode of AgTech Digest, your go-to source for the latest in agricultural technology. In today’s episode, we delve into pivotal industry shifts and innovations reshaping food production. We cover a major crop protection divestiture aimed at streamlining product portfolios, advances in RNA-based herbicides offering targeted weed control with lower environmental impact, and promising soybean yield gains driven by microbial inputs and precision analytics. We’ll also look at funding fueling AI-powered breeding for climate-resilient crops and vertical farming’s surprising role in cosmetics ingredient supply chains. Greenhouse developments are heating up too, with new partnerships and cutting-edge facilities advancing year-round, local production. In the UK, regenerative ag advocate Thomas Gent shares his family’s journey from tradition to innovation, while vertical farming faces both setbacks and renewed investment. And finally, we touch on new funding rounds, M&A activity, and ag-biotech breakthroughs aimed at reducing emissions and boosting farm profitability. There’s a lot to unpack—let’s get started.

Anna: 01:13

Exciting developments in crop protection are unfolding as companies advance novel technologies, realign strategies, and secure fresh investments to address the evolving challenges in agriculture. Dow has sold its Telone soil fumigant business to TriCal Soil Solutions for 121 million dollar, a move that underscores Dow’s strategy to focus on its core downstream markets while demonstrating its “best-owner mindset.” In response, TriCal plans to make targeted investments to expand and grow the Telone product line. Meanwhile, GreenLight Biosciences has achieved a major milestone in RNA-based herbicide development, targeting herbicide-resistant horseweed in soybeans through a platform that minimizes environmental impact. With both greenhouse and field trials successfully completed, GreenLight is now preparing for commercialization based on these promising results. In another breakthrough, Jord BioScience has reported strong yield gains in soybeans—up to 3.1 bushels per acre—following two years of trials with microbial inputs. These beneficial microbes, now integrated into standard seed treatments, have proven effective thanks to data analytics and a deep understanding of microbial interactions. Finally, Rainbow Crops has secured strategic investment from PINC to scale its Trait Foundry—an AI-powered breeding platform designed to develop climate-resilient crops. This funding will support efforts to improve drought tolerance, enhance heat resilience, and boost input efficiency, while aligning with Paulig’s goals to build a more sustainable global food system.

Anna: 02:49

This week’s editorial spotlights a fascinating new frontier in agricultural innovation, vertical farming for cosmetic as beauty brands face increasing pressure. Shedding light on an emerging trend transforming both agriculture and the beauty industry, vertical farming for cosmetics, highlighting its opportunities, technical requirements, crop fragility, economic considerations, and limitations. As beauty brands face increasing pressure to source ingredients sustainably and transparently, indoor farming is stepping up as a viable solution. Traditionally focused on leafy greens, vertical farming is now being leveraged to produce medicinal and aromatic plants for use in skincare and fragrance products, offering consistent, high-quality harvests year-round. In this in-depth feature, we explore how forward-thinking companies such as Ulé, Molton Brown, and DSM-Firmenich are leading the charge by incorporating vertically farmed botanicals including tulsi, centella, patchouli, and saffron, into their product lines. These developments not only reflect a growing shift toward sustainable ingredient sourcing but also reveal the expanding role of controlled environment agriculture in sectors beyond food production.

Anna: 04:01

Greenhouse & horticulture developments are making headlines this week with legal battles, strategic partnerships, and major infrastructure investments shaping the future of controlled environment agriculture. ams OSRAM has filed a patent lawsuit against Nature Fresh Farms USA, alleging unauthorized use of its hyper-red LED technology. The case involves seven U.S. patents related to high-efficiency horticultural lighting, particularly the critical 660nm LED architecture used in advanced greenhouse environments. ams OSRAM has also indicated it may pursue additional legal action internationally. Meanwhile, DENSO and Delphy have entered into a strategic partnership, signing a Memorandum of Understanding to co-develop integrated, data-driven greenhouse systems. DENSO will contribute expertise in environmental control and robotics, while Delphy’s QMS platform will integrate crop data to optimize production, with full system integration aimed for 2030 to ensure stable yields. In Canada, VegPro has opened its new $135 million Vermax glass greenhouse in Quebec, a 5.2-hectare facility designed to ensure year-round production of local leafy greens. Key features of the greenhouse include water recirculation systems, rain and snow collection, and energy optimization technologies. The facility is developed in partnership with Harnois Greenhouses and incorporates patented technologies to support Quebec’s food sovereignty and emission reduction goals.

Anna: 05:34

Additionally, this week’s interview spotlights Thomas Gent, a UK-based advocate of regenerative agriculture, who began transitioning his family farm in 2008 in response to declining soil health and economic pressures. Through his Gentle Farming principles, Gent emphasizes improving soil health, reducing chemical inputs, and creating space for nature. He highlights the important role of Agreena in enabling farmers to monetize sustainable practices via carbon credits. Driven by necessity, Gent’s family also developed their own direct drill technology—now patented and sold globally, showcasing grassroots innovation. He concludes with a call to action for farmers to take charge of the sustainability narrative, rather than allowing it to be shaped by retailers or regulators.

Anna: 06:27

Vertical farming sees both turbulence and transformation this week, as the sector grapples with financial pressures and strategic investments. Freight Farms officially ceased operations on April 30, 2025, following sustained financial strain that led to the shutdown of its farmhand software, support services, and local operations. The closure comes in the wake of a failed merger with Agrinam Acquisition Corp. and earlier layoffs this year, underscoring broader challenges in the AgTech sector such as high operational costs, persistent profitability issues, and shifting investor sentiment. In contrast, Planet Farms and Swiss Life Asset Managers have launched a major €200 million controlled environment agriculture partnership aimed at expanding large-scale vertical farming infrastructure across Europe. As part of the deal, Swiss Life Asset Managers is committing up to €125 million, while Planet Farms contributes its technological expertise. The initiative includes development at Planet Farms’ Cirimido facility in Italy, with additional sites planned in the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. This strategic joint venture is designed to meet the growing demand for locally produced, sustainable food and represents a bold step forward in scaling vertical farming solutions across the continent.

Anna: 07:35

Other news in the agri-innovation landscape brings a wave of strategic funding, acquisitions, and breakthrough sustainability efforts. Growers Edge has announced the first close of a new financing round led by S2G Investments, Cibus Capital, and Lowercarbon Capital, with additional participation from Otter Creek, iSelect Fund, and Jeff Ubben, the founder of ValueAct Capital, to support its ag-fintech platform. Meanwhile, Moolec Science has entered into a Business Combination Agreement with Bioceres Group, Nutrecon, and Gentle Technologies Corp., forming an expanded entity dedicated to molecular farming, biological agriculture, and biotech manufacturing. In the livestock sustainability space, Hoofprint Biome has raised $15 million in a Series A round to fast-track commercialization of its methane-reducing feed additive for cattle, backed by SOSV, Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, Breakthrough Energy Fellows, and Alexandria Venture Investments. On the financial services front, Harvest Returns has launched its second Private Credit Fund, following the success of its twenty twenty three initiative, enabling accredited investors to earn steady income by lending directly to U.S. farmers and agribusinesses. Innov8.ag has acquired second Sight Bioscience to bolster its end-to-end data ecosystem for specialty crop growers, integrating capabilities such as labor and yield tracking, produce traceability, and agronomic forecasting. Lastly, Boomitra has completed its first issuance of soil organic carbon removal credits through the URVARA Project, which supports over six thousand smallholder farmers and stands as the first initiative in India to be verified under the Social Carbon regenerative land management methodology.

Anna: 09:42

Looking ahead to upcoming industry events, mark your calendars for a series of important gatherings shaping the future of agriculture and food systems. The 2-Day Plant Empowerment Workshop will take place on May 6th to 7th, 2025 in the UK, followed by the second International Electronic Conference on Entomology happening virtually from May 19th to 21th. In June, industry leaders will converge at Reuters Events: Transform Food & Agriculture Europe. Later in the year, the spotlight turns to technology and innovation with the Commercial UAV Expo from September 2nd to 4th in Las Vegas, USA, and Taiwan Smart Agriweek running September 3rd to 5th 2025 in Taiwan. The Global Vertical Farming Show twenty twenty five is scheduled for September 10th to 11th in Dubai, UAE, and the month concludes with SPACE, a major livestock exhibition set for September 16th to 18th, 2025 in France.

Anna: 10:38

That wraps up today's episode of AgTech Digest. We explored the latest developments in agricultural technology, from advancements in crop protection and vertical farming to groundbreaking greenhouse solutions and innovative partnerships. Key highlights included major strides in RNA-based herbicides, climate-resilient crops, and smart horticulture systems. With strategic investments, new greenhouse technologies, and industry collaborations on the horizon, it's clear that the future of agriculture is moving toward sustainability and precision. Thanks for joining me, I'm Anna, signing off. Stay inspired and keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible!