John Deere, Precision AI, Verdant Robotics, FarmQA, NEC X, Lucent Biosciences, Protein Industries Canada, Confluence Genetics, Benson Hill, Plenty Unlimited, Ostara, Bethnal Green Ventures, Phoenix Contact, HITS Solutions, Gevo, WSSA, Rabobank, TRACT

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're diving into an action-packed roundup of developments shaping the future of precision agriculture, agritech, plant science, controlled environment agriculture, and more. We'll discuss a major acquisition in precision ag technology, a funding boost for AI-powered agricultural solutions, and the expansion of cutting-edge drone capabilities designed to optimize crop inputs and resource efficiency. In plant science, we'll explore new research confirming the carbon sequestration potential of innovative fertilizers, groundbreaking funding to strengthen the agri-food value chain, and the formation of a new agtech company focused on ultra-high protein soybean genetics. Meanwhile, the controlled environment agriculture sector is seeing exciting updates, including the successful financial restructuring of a vertical farming company specializing in strawberries, the development of an AI-driven optimization platform for CEA operations, and the launch of a precision agriculture prototype for hydroponic farming in challenging climates. Plus, we'll cover additional industry updates, including a biofuel plant sale, a new traceability-focused partnership in the ag sector, and concerns from agricultural research leaders over recent funding cuts. There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s get started.

Anna: 01:25

Precision Ag & Agritech continues to showcase major developments, partnerships, and funding rounds that are transforming the agricultural landscape. John Deere has acquired Sentera, a Minnesota-based provider of remote sensing and drone imagery solutions for agriculture, to expand its digital agriculture capabilities and enhance its farm management tools. Sentera’s technology enables high-resolution imagery and customized weed mapping for precision spraying, and the company will continue to sell its products to OEMs and individual users, ensuring compatibility with other drone platforms. Meanwhile, Cooperative Ventures has invested in Precision AI, an AI-driven agricultural practice operating across the U.S. and Canada, alongside Farm Credit Canada, The 51 Food and AgTech Fund, Green Spark Ventures, Fulcrum Global Capital, BDC Capital, and At One Ventures. Precision AI uses autonomous aerial systems to collect real-time, plant-level data, empowering farmers to make precise input decisions, with the partnership aiming to boost farm profitability, sustainability, and decision-making capabilities for North American farmers. Additionally, Verdant Robotics has expanded its SharpShooter precision application system across the U.S., delivering 99.9% accurate input applications across various crop types through AI and computer vision. Recent updates, based on grower feedback, have improved shot rate by 40% and field speed by 42%, and the SharpShooter is now used across key growing regions, with ROI reported within 6 to 18 months, as Verdant Robotics aims to help growers optimize resource use and increase efficiency. FarmQA, a provider of agronomic intelligence software, has secured a $4 million Series Seed Preferred funding round led by gener8tor 1889 to support product development, AI analytics, data integration, and strategic acquisitions, with its platform managing 37 million acres globally and the funding set to expand its global footprint and advisor network. Lastly, NEC X is accepting applications for its Elev X! Ignite startup acceleration program, offering up to $250,000 in funding and mentorship to early-stage entrepreneurs developing B2B software, SaaS, GenAI, Computer Vision, and Predictive Analytics, with the program supporting entrepreneurs in the problem discovery and validation phases, providing deep tech expertise and global market access, and over 150 startups having been accelerated to date, with the next cohort starting in August 2025.

Anna: 04:11

Plant Science is making major strides in sustainable agriculture, carbon reduction, and food system innovation, with a wave of updates from industry leaders. Lucent Biosciences has completed a greenhouse gas emission study confirming that its Soileos fertilizer can sequester an average of 2.3 tonnes of carbon per acre, with results reaching up to 10 tonnes in select conditions. The fertilizer, made from upcycled agricultural byproducts and free from microplastics and synthetic chelators, enhances soil microbiome health and supports climate-smart agriculture and decarbonization efforts in the food supply chain. Lucent Biosciences is also scaling production and plans to establish a new seed coating facility. Meanwhile, Protein Industries Canada has received $15 million in government funding to support genomics and AI in agriculture, aiming to strengthen the entire agri-food value chain from plant breeding to food manufacturing and build a more sustainable, resilient, and efficient domestic food system. The funding is available on a rolling basis, with applications currently open, as announced under the administration of Minister of Industry, Mélanie Joly. Additionally, Confluence Genetics has acquired Benson Hill’s business assets through a bankruptcy court-approved sale, creating a new agtech-focused entity. The company will focus on expanding its ultra-high protein soybean genetics and specialty food-grade soy portfolio, leveraging over 350 patents and a proprietary AI-driven platform for future R&D and commercialization. CEO Kim Hurst will lead efforts to scale proprietary ultra-high protein soybean varieties and enter new geographies, while Mike DeCamp will serve as Executive Chairman of the Board.

Anna: 06:00

CEA innovation is driving significant advancements in funding, sustainability, and precision agriculture, with a series of impactful updates across the sector. Plenty Unlimited Inc. has successfully exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy, focusing on expanding its vertical farming operations for strawberries. The company will expand its Richmond, Virginia facility and explore opportunities to commercialize its strawberry technology through farm sales and partnerships. Creditors reached agreements enabling the resumption of farm construction and development, while Plenty’s reorganization was supported by interim and exit financing from One Madison, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and other investors. Meanwhile, Bethnal Green Ventures has led a pre-seed funding round for Ostara, a company developing real-time optimization software for controlled environment agriculture. Ostara’s platform integrates with key farm systems to reduce labor, water, and energy use, addressing inefficiencies in CEA operations, and its modular, affordable, and user-friendly design supports small to medium-sized growers, offering a scalable tool for sustainable farming. Ostara’s founders, Dan and Adam, aim for a global vision of smart agriculture. Additionally, Phoenix Contact and HITS Solutions have launched a precision agriculture prototype for hydroponic farming in Egypt, integrating IoT, automation, and metagenomics to reduce water use and improve crop health. This prototype, commemorating Phoenix Contact’s 100th anniversary, demonstrates the viability of smart farming technologies in arid and resource-limited regions and delivers significant efficiency gains, reducing water usage by 86.67% and minimizing land use to 9.5 m².

Anna: 07:51

Other news in the agricultural and biofuel sectors highlights key updates on sustainability, innovation, and policy challenges. Gevo, Inc. has sold its subsidiary Agri-Energy, LLC to A.E. Innovation for $7 million. A.E. Innovation plans to restart ethanol production and establish an innovation hub at the Luverne facility, while the transaction is expected to save Gevo $3 million annually in idling costs. Meanwhile, Rabobank and TRACT have announced a strategic partnership combining finance and supply chain data to enhance transparency and sustainability across agricultural supply chains. TRACT’s SaaS platform centralizes and streamlines data for effective sustainability management. Additionally, the Weed Science Society of America leaders visited Capitol Hill to highlight concerns over recent federal funding cuts, with a member survey revealing substantial disruptions to agricultural research and workforce stability. Key issues raised include halted research projects, job losses, and reduced collaboration.

Anna: 09:00

Looking ahead to upcoming industry events, mark your calendars for Reuters Events: Transform Food & Agriculture Europe 2025, GreenTech Amsterdam taking place from June 10th to 12th, 2025 at RAI Amsterdam, Commercial UAV Expo happening from September 2nd to 4th in Las Vegas, USA, Taiwan Smart Agriweek scheduled for September 3rd to 5th in Taiwan, Global Vertical Farming Show 2025 on September 10th and 11th, 2025 in Dubai, UAE, SPACE running from September 16th to 18th in France, AgraME set for October 6th and 7th in Dubai, and Vertical Farming World Congress happening from October 7th to 9th, 2025 in Amsterdam.

Anna: 09:46

That wraps up today's episode of Agtech Digest. We explored the latest developments in agricultural technology. From climate-smart fertilizers and advanced plant breeding solutions to high-efficiency vertical farming systems and AI-powered precision tools, it’s clear that the agtech sector is pushing the boundaries of innovation and sustainability. With groundbreaking research, major funding rounds, and strategic investments shaping the future of food production, the outlook for agriculture is brighter, 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!