Elicit Plant, Bayer, BASF, Klim, NitroVolt, Unibaio, Mucci Farms, FarmQA, Deveron Corporation, McDonald's, Lopez Foods, Syngenta, Fieldwork Robotics, Burro, EarthOptics, TSIP, UPL Corp, Planet Labs, Abelio, xFarm Technologies - This Week in AgTech

Anna: 00:00

Welcome to another episode of AgTech Digest, your go-to source for the latest in agricultural innovation. In today’s episode, we’re diving into cutting-edge developments shaping the future of farming. We’ll spotlight an energy-efficient greenhouse solution leading the way in sustainability, explore major funding rounds backing water-saving crop technologies and regenerative agriculture platforms, and examine key acquisitions in greenhouse expansion and agronomy tech. Plus, we’ll highlight groundbreaking partnerships enhancing soil health, beef sustainability, and precision farming. Finally, we’ll unveil the latest product launches in emission monitoring and feed management systems. There's a lot to unpack, so let’s get started!

Anna: 00:48

Harnois Greenhouses introduces Vermax, an energy-efficient glass greenhouse engineered for sustainable agriculture. Vermax combines patented energy-saving technology with a semi-enclosed system to help growers cut energy costs and maintain optimal growing conditions year-round. With this innovative design, Vermax reduces greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 2,000 tonnes annually, supporting environmental sustainability without sacrificing productivity. As Harnois pursues its vision of creating the first net-zero glass greenhouse, Vermax represents a major step forward, helping growers lower their carbon footprint and increase productivity in a sustainable, energy-efficient way.

Anna: 01:31

Several significant funding rounds have made waves in the agricultural technology sector this week. Elicit Plant has secured a substantial $48 million Series B funding round, which will fuel their expansion into the U.S. Corn Belt, Europe, and Brazil. Their phytosterol-based solutions aim to reduce crop water usage by 20%, targeting crops like maize, cereals, sunflower, and soybeans, addressing water-stressed agricultural lands, which make up 23% of the U.S. The company has attracted strategic partnerships with industry giants Bayer and BASF, with plans to expand R&D to enhance crop resilience. Klim has raised $22 million in a Series A round led by BNP Paribas, with participation from Earthshot Ventures, Rabobank, and Agfunder. Their digital tools for regenerative agriculture have already made an impact, with over 3,500 farmers managing 700,000 hectares via Klim’s platform. The funding will support international expansion, platform optimization, and financial services for farmers, as well as efforts to help food companies adopt sustainable practices. NitroVolt has secured 3.5 million euros to scale their innovative on-farm green ammonia production technology, backed by key investors including BackingMinds, EIFO, EQT Foundation, Satgana, and the Breakthrough Energy Fellowship. Their Nitrolyzer unit converts air, water, and renewable electricity into green ammonia, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution while reducing CO2 emissions and supply chain dependency. As a next step, the company plans to deploy a demonstration unit on a farm. In competition news, Unibaio has claimed the $1 million Grow-NY grand prize for their natural solutions that enhance pesticide and fertilizer absorption. These innovations reduce environmental impact while maintaining agricultural efficiency. This award was part of a larger $3 million prize pool distributed among seven finalists, celebrating advancements in New York’s agricultural and food sectors.

Anna: 03:36

In acquisition news, Mucci Farms has significantly expanded its greenhouse operations through the acquisition of Greenhill Produce in Kent Bridge, Ontario. This strategic purchase adds one 150 acres of greenhouse space to their portfolio, bringing their total acreage to over 650 acres under the Cox Farms division. The Greenhill facility specializes in bell pepper production and incorporates advanced automation and robotics systems, enhancing efficiency and productivity. This expansion follows Mucci's recent acquisition of Hacienda Farms, a 160 acre facility in Coatsworth, Ontario. In the digital agriculture space, FarmQA has acquired Farm Dog from Deveron Corporation to strengthen its position in the digital agronomy platform market. This acquisition aims to improve supply chain transparency and food security by leveraging data-driven agronomic insights. FarmQA’s platform offers precision tools and insights across the entire crop production cycle, expanding the company's influence across the agricultural value chain. This move builds on FarmQA’s significant growth in managed acreage since 2021. David MacMillan, Deveron’s President and CEO, expressed confidence in FarmQA’s ability to maximize Farm Dog's potential.

Anna: 04:54

Several notable partnerships have emerged in the agricultural technology sector this week.McDonald's has joined forces with Lopez Foods and Syngenta to enhance beef sustainability using Syngenta's Enogen corn technology. This collaboration aims to improve feed efficiency by approximately 5%, potentially reducing emissions by 164,000 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent annually across McDonald's supply chain. The focus of this initiative is on climate-smart beef production, which seeks to improve sustainability metrics. In the robotics sector, Fieldwork Robotics and Burro have announced a collaboration to develop an enhanced raspberry harvesting solution. Their Fieldworker 1 robot will integrate with Burro's autonomous platform, addressing labor shortages with flexible technology suitable for farms of various sizes. Field trials have shown promising results, with larger-scale testing planned with Costa Group in 2025. EarthOptics and TSIP are working together to advance soil health insights by combining soil sensing technology with data modeling to provide detailed soil carbon and greenhouse gas insights. As part of this initiative, they are launching a National Soil Data Repository that will offer farmers free digital tools. This effort aims to enhance support for sustainable farming practices and soil health management.UPL Corporation has partnered with CAC Nantong to launch a new cyproflanilide insecticide, targeting chewing pests through both foliar and soil applications, with potential public health uses. The product is currently seeking approval in China, with international distribution planned within three years. This collaboration aims to strengthen UPL’s pest management portfolio with innovative solutions. Meanwhile, Planet Labs and Abelio have expanded their precision agriculture partnership, providing three times more satellite data for nitrogen management and disease detection. The integration of this data with the PlanetScope platform and automation via the Planet Insights Platform will improve precision farming efficiency and reduce costs for farmers. Finally, xFarm Technologies and UNIA are partnering to advance the Agriculture 4.0 transition by equipping UNIA agricultural machinery with Software as a Service tools. These tools provide connectivity and agronomic insights, enabling farmers to adopt sustainable farming practices. The initiative is eligible for funding under Polish Agriculture 4.0 subsidies, supporting the integration of modernized technology solutions in agriculture.

Anna: 07:31

In new product launches, Agrology has introduced a groundbreaking real-time nitrous oxide (N₂O) sensor designed for in-field use. This innovative device provides real-time measurements of N₂O levels, moving beyond traditional emission estimates to support precise nitrogen management across diverse crop types and farming systems. The sensor is engineered to be cost-effective, ensuring broad adoption among farming operations. Currently available in limited release, it is undergoing validation with industry experts. Topcon Agriculture has launched the TMR Flex Pro, a modular feed management system designed for dairy and beef farms of all sizes. This system offers real-time data on critical feed metrics and integrates seamlessly with Digi-Star scales and load cells. It includes advanced features such as ingredient tracking, refusal recording, and access to the cloud-based TAP FEED platform. With a user-friendly interface, the TMR Flex Pro minimizes the learning curve, enhancing ease of use for new operators.

Anna: 08:35

Several noteworthy developments have emerged in agricultural research and industry this week. A collaborative study between the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Purdue University, and Pivot Bio has revealed promising results in using gene-edited microbes as alternatives to synthetic fertilizers in crop systems. Syngenta has announced a significant investment of CHF 40 million to modernize their R&D facilities in Münchwilen, Switzerland, with completion expected by 2027. Meanwhile, Lavie Bio has expanded their Yalos portfolio following successful trials that demonstrated a 5% yield increase in soybean crops using their bio-inoculant seed treatment. In horticultural research, UBC is testing TLF 2.0 LED systems with seed varieties from Syngenta and Rijk Zwaan to optimize pepper cultivation. On the business front, Bioceres reported a 20% revenue decline in Quarter 1 2024, though their gross margins showed a slight improvement to 40.2%. Moving on, Bayer Crop Science experienced a 3.6% drop in Quarter 3 sales, primarily due to reduced demand for glyphosate-based herbicides, partially offset by growth in fungicides and insecticides. The agricultural biotechnology sector continues to advance, with CRISPR patent applications showing a 58% increase in 2022, particularly in gene-edited crops. The upcoming World Agri-Tech Summit in Dubai will showcase climate-resilient solutions from companies like Grow For Me and KISSANAI. In crop development news, Cibus has made progress with their canola traits, introducing a fourth mode of action against Sclerotinia to enhance disease resistance and productivity.

Anna: 10:21

Looking ahead to upcoming industry events, mark your calendars for the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit happening from November 19th to 21st, 2024. This will be followed by XPANSE in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on November 22nd, 2024. World Agri-Tech is hosting two major conferences - one in early December in Dubai and another in San Francisco in early 2025. For those interested in controlled environment agriculture, Indoor Ag Con will take place in Las Vegas from March 11th to 12th, 2025. These events will bring together industry leaders, innovators, and investors to showcase the latest developments in agricultural technology and foster important discussions about the future of farming.

Anna: 11:06

That wraps up today's episode of Agtech Digest. We explored the latest developments in agricultural technology. From energy-efficient farming systems to cutting-edge insecticides and precision agriculture tools, it’s clear that the agtech sector is making strides in sustainability and innovation. With significant funding rounds and impactful partnerships, the future of agriculture is shaping up to be smarter and more sustainable than ever before. Thanks for joining me, I'm Anna, signing off. Stay inspired and keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible!