Pairwise, AdvanSix, BrightFarms, CropX, John Deere, & CIBO Technologies - This Week in AgTech

Anna: 00:00

Welcome to AgTech Digest, your premier source for the latest breakthroughs in agriculture and sustainability. I’m Anna, and today, we’re thrilled to bring you some exciting updates from the field. We’ll explore Harnois Greenhouses' innovative solutions for berry production, highlighting their range from economical TunnelPro Plus structures to high-tech Luminosa greenhouses. We’ll also delve into the latest funding initiatives in gene editing, sustainable fertilizer production, and data-driven subsoil management that are reshaping the landscape of farming. Additionally, we’ll cover significant advancements in biological pest control, new facilities boosting local production, and the latest patents enhancing precision agriculture technologies. Let’s get started!

Anna: 00:41

Harnois is making waves in the greenhouse industry with their innovative solutions for berry production. Their offerings span from the cost-effective TunnelPro Plus to the more advanced Luminosa greenhouse system. These structures are designed to cater to a variety of needs and budgets within the berry farming sector. What sets Harnois apart is their commitment to providing turnkey solutions. This means growers can rely on a complete package, from the greenhouse structure itself to expert support throughout the process. Their team includes agronomists and equipment specialists who work closely with farmers to tailor systems to their specific requirements. The company's focus on greenhouse berry production underscores a broader trend in agriculture. As the industry moves towards more sustainable and year-round farming practices, greenhouse cultivation is playing an increasingly crucial role. These controlled environments offer extended growing seasons, better crop protection, and the potential for increased yields - all key factors in meeting the growing demand for fresh berries throughout the year.

Anna: 01:43

This week saw significant investments in various sectors of agricultural technology. Pairwise, a geneediting company specializing in plant breeding, closed a $40 million Series C funding round. This investment will support their development of gene-edited crops like seedless berries and pitless cherries, advancing their work in both specialty and commodity crops. In the fertilizer sector, AdvanSix secured a $12 million grant from the USDA through the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program. This funding will boost domestic production of ammonium sulfate, adding 200,000 tons annually to the U.S. market. The expansion aims to reduce reliance on imported fertilizers and enhance U.S. supply chain resilience. Lastly, Varda, a data service provider, joined the €6 million DeepHorizon project funded by Horizon Europe. This initiative aims to combat subsoil degradation across Europe. Varda will use its SoilHive platform to enhance data sharing and discoverability, contributing to a project that involves 16 companies and universities working to unlock subsoil potential through data collection, modeling, and stakeholder engagement.

Anna: 02:51

In the world of agriculture, the transition to biological pest control is gaining momentum, driven by regulatory pressures and environmental challenges. Catalera, a company leading this shift, is at the forefront of developing innovative biological solutions. CEO Matthew Dahabieh recently shared insights into the company’s vision and the obstacles they face. Dahabieh explains that regulatory pressure from governments, including the European Union and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is a key factor driving this shift. As environmental concerns mount, these authorities are pushing for significant reductions in pesticide use, creating an urgent need for alternative solutions. Another major factor is pest resistance. Over 500 pest species have developed resistance to conventional insecticides, further emphasizing the need for new approaches to crop protection. Catalera’s approach is centered on developing tailored biological solutions that address specific regional pest issues. For instance, they are working on solutions to combat the fall armyworm in Brazil. The company’s patented technology focuses on overcoming common barriers to biological product adoption, such as efficacy and cost, which have historically slowed the transition to biologicals. By improving both effectiveness and affordability, Catalera aims to make these solutions more accessible to farmers. Dahabieh also highlights the regulatory hurdles in bringing biological products to market, with approval timelines of 5 to 7 years in Europe and around 3 years in the U.S. He advocates for a “fast track” process to expedite the adoption of biologicals. Looking ahead, Catalera is expanding its reach beyond North America, with Brazil as a key target market. Dahabieh envisions a future where biological products play a much larger role in agriculture. By 2030, the company aims to significantly drive the adoption of these products, reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals and effectively addressing evolving pest challenges.

Anna: 04:46

In the world of agricultural facilities, we have two noteworthy expansions to report. First, BrightFarms has opened a new greenhouse hub in Yorkville, Illinois, located in the Chicago metro area. This facility is just the beginning of their ambitious growth strategy, as it's the first of three new regional hubs planned for 2024. The company aims to significantly increase its capacity to produce pesticide-free leafy greens, targeting an annual output of 150 million pounds to serve the Eastern and Central United States. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Voltalia has launched an innovative agrivoltaic demonstrator in Poisy, France. This 250-kilowatt project is designed to explore the potential synergies between solar energy production and cattle farming. Voltalia's goal is to optimize land use by combining solar panel installations with agricultural activities. They're aiming for 50% of their solar capacity to be on co-used land by 2027, showcasing a creative approach to sustainable energy and farming practices.

Anna: 05:46

In the realm of patents and certifications, we have some notable developments this week. Biotalys has secured patents for their EVOCA biofungicide from both the European Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office, marking a significant step forward for their protein-based fungicide solution, which will lead into their first commercial product, EVOCA NG. Moving to organic certifications, ProGro BIO's Rhizol soil inoculant has received OMRI certification. validating its use in organic farming practices and supporting a regenerative focus by reducing reliance on chemical inputs while promoting soil health through its blend of microbial isolates. Lastly, in the field of precision agriculture, LandScan has been granted a patent for their Digital Twin technology. Early users like Olam and Mars report improved crop management and sustainability, as this innovation allows for detailed virtual representations of farmland, enabling more precise and efficient farming practices. These advancements in patents and certifications demonstrate the ongoing progress in agricultural technology, providing farmers with new tools and solutions for sustainable and efficient farming practices.

Anna: 06:55

In other industry news, CropX has acquired EnGeniousAg, a move that strengthens their capabilities in nitrogen sensing technology and follows their acquisition of Green Brain in December of 2023. This expansion is expected to enhance CropX's agronomic platform, providing farmers with more precise tools for optimizing nitrogen use. John Deere's See & Spray technology has made significant strides in herbicide conservation. The AI-powered system has reportedly saved 8 million gallons of herbicide across 1 million acres in 2024. This represents a 59% reduction in herbicide usage, showcasing the potential of precision agriculture in promoting sustainability. In the realm of organic cotton certification, GOTS and AI firm Marple have achieved a 97% accuracy rate in detecting cotton fields using satellite monitoring. This high-precision approach, which will extend to other regions and crops, could revolutionize the certification process for organic cotton production. Lastly, CIBO Technologies has expanded its EQIP solution to cover 19 states, aiming to help more farmers access government and corporate funding for conservation practices, aligning with the USDA's increased budget for the EQIP program in 2024. CIBO also aims to further expand the program and introduce more funding options in 2025.

Anna: 08:14

Looking ahead, there are several important events coming up in the agricultural technology sector. The Chemical Industry Regulations Conference will take place from September 24th to 26th. The Women in Agribusiness summit is also scheduled for those same dates in Denver. For those interested in vertical farming, the Vertical Farming World Congress will be held in Frankfurt on September 25th and 26th. The World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in London follows at the end of September. In early October, we have the CEA Summit East in Virginia and Agra Middle East in Dubai. Finally, VertiFarm 2024 is set for October 8th to 10th in Dortmund, Germany. These events offer great opportunities to stay updated on industry regulations, innovation, and emerging technologies in agriculture.

Anna: 08:58

That brings us to the end of this week's Agtech Digest. We've covered a wide range of topics, from greenhouse solutions for berries to significant investments in gene editing and fertilizer production. We've also explored the shift towards biological products in agriculture, new facility expansions, and important patents and certifications in the industry. As always, the agricultural technology sector continues to evolve rapidly, bringing innovative solutions to the challenges faced by farmers and producers worldwide. Thank you for listening, and be sure to join us next time for more updates on the cutting edge of agtech. This is Anna, signing off. Until next time, keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in agriculture, and stay inspired. See you in the next edition!