LettUs Grow, HT Verboom, Water Garden Farms, Siemens, CEAd, Sollum Technologies, Optimal, TTA ISO, Artechno, Innovation Agritech Group

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 deep into a dynamic mix of breakthroughs and movements shaping the agtech sector. From pre-seed funding that fuels new digital tools for farm operations to major acquisitions enhancing precision agriculture, we’re seeing clear momentum in the integration of smart technologies. Innovative pollination systems powered by AI and robotics are gaining scale, while nutrient sensing is becoming increasingly precise and real-time. Financial institutions are embracing agtech through innovation programs targeting digital transformation in agricultural lending. UAVs are evolving beyond data collection to play a role in spraying and logistics, with ongoing challenges in regulation and payload addressed through industry dialogue. Meanwhile, groundbreaking research is advancing microbial analysis in vineyards, biocontrols are moving closer to regulatory approval, and trait discovery is being accelerated with AI-driven platforms. Advances in herbicide tolerance, nutrient efficiency, and plant science continue to push crop productivity forward. In the controlled environment agriculture space, partnerships are scaling aeroponics, massive solarpowered indoor farms are under development, and AI-led greenhouse management systems are becoming more integrated and efficient. New robotics and expanded global operations highlight the commitment to meeting future food demands sustainably. From smart farming tools to next-gen fertilizers, today’s stories reveal how agriculture is becoming more precise, more connected, and more resilient, let’s get started.

Anna: 01:44

A surge of momentum is building across the AgTech sector as new funding rounds, acquisitions, and innovation initiatives take center stage this week. Gripp, a mobile-first agricultural operations platform, secured $1.5 million in pre-seed funding led by Ag Ventures Alliance with participation from additional agtech investors. This funding will accelerate product development and market expansion for Gripp’s QR-enabled mobile platform, which digitizes farm workflows and tracks equipment. Meanwhile, DeHaat announced the acquisition of NEERX, a precision agriculture and soil intelligence platform. This deal includes NEERX’s ISRO-validated SHOOL sensor and cloud analytics platform, and sees founders Nikita and Harsh Agrawal joining DeHaat to support integration and deployment. The acquisition will help scale NEERX’s technology across DeHaat’s pan-India operations. In another major development, Beewise raised $50 million in Series D funding to expand its BeeHome system, an AI and solar-powered robotic solution for monitoring and caring for bee colonies. Beewise currently operates 1,240 BeeHomes and has raised nearly $170 million to date, with this latest round supporting its global scaleup efforts. At the same time, The Reservoir made a strategic investment in TerraBlaster, a startup utilizing Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for real-time, high-resolution nutrient mapping. This technology addresses nitrogen inefficiencies and aims to reduce nutrient runoff in agriculture. The investment aligns with The Reservoir’s broader focus on impactful deep tech solutions in agriculture, including its initiatives at Reservoir Farms in Salinas, California. Lastly, American AgCredit and Farm Credit Partners launched the Seed4Growth innovation program in collaboration with Plug and Play. This initiative is designed to drive digital transformation in agricultural lending and financial services by leveraging emerging technologies and startup solutions in both FinTech and AgTech, with the goal of enhancing services for farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses.

Anna: 03:58

The interview with Lukas Koch, CEO of Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems, spotlights the evolving role of UAVs in agriculture, emphasizing their growing adoption for applications such as agricultural spraying, data collection, and emergency logistics. However, Koch identifies several key barriers that still limit large-scale UAV deployment, including constraints around flight duration, payload capacity, and regulatory complexity. Despite these challenges, he notes a rising openness among farmers to explore drone technologies, particularly when trusted peer networks endorse their performance. To truly unlock the potential of UAVs in agriculture, Koch stresses the importance of seamless integration with existing data systems and precision agriculture tools, as these connections are essential to ensure that UAVs deliver actionable insights and measurable returns on investment.

Anna: 04:51

Exciting developments are unfolding in plant science, with major strides in microbiome mapping, biocontrol, genetic research, and nutrient efficiency. STARFISH Bioscience has created the first bacterial genome atlas for vineyard soils in Bordeaux, compiling over 10,000 bacterial genomes and 40 million genes. This database enables AI-powered analysis to evaluate microbial functions and identify soil disruptions, supporting European Union soil regeneration policies and advancing the biostimulant market. The company plans to expand this work across other European terroirs. Meanwhile, Biotalys is advancing the regulatory path for its EVOCA biocontrol product in both the United States and European Union. Dutch authorities have recommended EU approval for EVOCA’s active ingredient, which is built on the AGROBODY platform and targets fungal pathogens such as Botrytis and powdery mildew. Regulatory decisions are expected by Q3 2025 in the United States and the second half of 2026 in the European Union. In another strategic move, Phytoform and Corteva have partnered to investigate AI-powered disease resistance traits in corn by integrating Phytoform’s CRE.AI.TIVE system with Corteva’s Genlytix platform. This joint research is centered on understanding variations in DNA control regions that influence disease tolerance, with the goal of accelerating trait discovery and improving crop development timelines. Additionally, Cibus, Inc. has received non-regulated status from USDA-APHIS for its HT2 herbicide tolerance trait in canola, developed through the RTDS (Rapid Trait Development System) technology. This advancement is aimed at improving weed control and combating herbicide resistance while enhancing productivity and sustainability in U.S. and global markets. Finally, Ostara has launched CG P2X, a phosphorus fertilizer designed to double phosphorus use efficiency through a root-activated, seed-safe formula that minimizes soil tie-up and nutrient loss. Distributed exclusively by Taurus Agricultural Marketing Inc. in Western Canada, the product rollout includes agronomic training and technical support for growers and retailers.

Anna: 07:08

Controlled Environment Agriculture is heating up with strategic partnerships and cutting-edge technology driving the sector forward. LettUs Grow teamed up with Dutch firm HT Verboom to scale Advanced Aeroponics using rolling bench infrastructure in commercial greenhouses, accelerating deployment under the UK-Netherlands Agri-Horti Mission to GreenTech 2025. Water Garden Farms partnered with Siemens and CEAd to launch a 500,000 square foot solar-powered indoor farm in West Virginia, projecting 35 million packaged salad units annually through AI-driven digital twin modeling and decentralized farming. Sollum Technologies and Optimal joined forces to advance AI-based greenhouse automation, offering realtime adjustments in lighting, irrigation, and climate control to boost yield, quality, and energy efficiency while reducing labor and is compatible with existing greenhouse systems, offering seamless integration and operational enhancement. TTA ISO unveiled HarvAI, an AI-powered tomato harvesting robot capable of processing 450 vines per hour, with a commercial launch planned for early 2026, showcased alongside Artechno’s propagation unit that accelerates growth and crop uniformity. It highlights ongoing innovation to address labor, food safety, and crop consistency challenges in the sector.. Meanwhile, Innovation Agritech Group is expanding globally, particularly in the Middle East, growing its teams in commercial delivery, research, and engineering to meet rising demand for sustainable ag solutions.

Anna: 08:48

Other news in agriculture technology highlights key partnerships, acquisitions, funding, and strategic growth shaping the industry’s future. MACSO and Unigen partnered to deliver edge AI technology for livestock farms, combining MACSO’s sensory AI with Unigen’s Poundcake AI inference server to enable early illness detection in swine herds and reduce cloud dependency, aiming to improve animal health and sustainability. The Quebec government committed three million dollars to support agriculture and agrotourism initiatives, focusing on greenhouse development and direct market support to enhance food autonomy and promote local supply chains. Funding is targeted toward businesses in proximity agriculture and horticulture, especially those expanding greenhouse operations or on-farm sales infrastructure. Rovero Systems acquired Polybow, reinforcing its position in the polytunnel and fruit covering market with a seamless transition of ownership. Canadian and Saskatchewan governments jointly provided 1.4 million dollars for 38 agricultural projects under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership to boost innovation and sustainability in Saskatchewan’s agri-food sector. Innovation Agritech Group is expanding its international reach, particularly in the Middle East, increasing recruitment in commercial delivery, research, and engineering to support growing agri-tech collaborations. Meanwhile, WayBeyond deployed its FarmRoad platform in Costa Group’s Variety Improvement Program, advancing blueberry breeding research with data-driven insights across multiple global trial sites

Anna: 10:26

Looking ahead to upcoming industry events, mark your calendars for the Commercial UAV Expo from September 2nd to 4th, 2025, in Las Vegas, USA. Taiwan Smart Agriweek will take place from September 3rd to 5th in Taiwan. The Global Vertical Farming Show 2025 is set for September 10th and 11th in Dubai, UAE. SPACE will run from September 16th to 18th in France. In October, AgraME is scheduled for October 6th and 7th in Dubai, followed by the Vertical Farming World Congress from October 7th to 9th, 2025, in Amsterdam.

Anna: 11:03

That wraps up today's episode of AgTech Digest. We explored the latest developments in agricultural technology. From scalable aeroponics systems and AI-powered greenhouse automation to solar-driven indoor farms and advanced robotic harvesting, it’s clear that the AgTech sector is making strides in sustainability and innovation. With strategic collaborations and tech-driven approaches transforming controlled environment agriculture, the future of farming 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!