TECHCOOP, Solis Agrosciences, REKA Group, Horticoop, Netafim, Pure Harvest, PlanTFarm, SweetWater Technologies, Tidal Grow, Lumo, Yamaha Motor, Staphyt, Héliantis, Syngenta, Novartis - This Week in AgTech

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 the latest funding rounds driving global expansion in digital agritech, boosting commercial growth for specialized agricultural research, and advancing regenerative soil improvement solutions. We’ll explore how climate change is reshaping seed breeding and technology, with a focus on resilient, adaptable crop varieties. Plus, we’ll introduce an innovative precision irrigation system that enhances water efficiency, and highlight new high-tech farming facilities and regenerative products aimed at improving soil health and crop resilience. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started!

Anna: 00:48

There were exciting developments in agricultural technology this week, as several funding rounds propel advancements in digital agritech, specialized research, and regenerative soil solutions. To begin with, Vietnam-based TECHCOOP secured a $70 million Series A round, blending both equity and debt financing. This significant investment, co-led by TNB Aura and AVV with fresh support from BlueOrchard, FMO, AppWorks, and Capria Ventures, will enable TECHCOOP to scale its digital agritech platform, enhance agricultural value chain integration, and bolster risk control measures for global expansion. Moving forward, the company aims to expand internationally, boost financial inclusion, and enhance agricultural resilience— key elements for sustainability and food security. Additionally, Solis Agrosciences received Series A funding from Cultivation Capital, further strengthening its commercial services and R&D capabilities. The company plays a critical role in supporting both startups and major agribusinesses by providing capital-efficient access to specialized agricultural research and scientific expertise. Specifically, Solis focuses on genomics and gene editing, offers scientific consulting for AgTech startups, and provides infrastructure and research access. With this new investment, Solis plans to scale its services and facilitate the commercialization of new AgTech innovations. Meanwhile, Horticoop invested in REKA Group BV, emphasizing regenerative agriculture. REKA specializes in creating soil improvers that enhance soil structure, microbiology, and nutrient and water uptake, promoting sustainable farming practices. Through this collaboration, Horticoop and REKA will work together to scale regenerative solutions for global agriculture, with a particular focus on climate-resilient farming and long-term soil health.

Anna: 02:44

Climate change is transforming the seed breeding landscape, driving innovation and adaptation across the agricultural industry. In this week’s editorial, Jean-Marie (Jim) Rozec of Voltz Maraîchage sheds light on how evolving environmental challenges are reshaping seed development, technology, and market demand. This shift is crucial because climate change is forcing the agriculture industry to rethink seed development strategies, focusing on resilience, sustainability, and adaptability—affecting farmers, breeders, and consumers alike. Significant changes are underway, including moving seed trials from controlled environments to realworld farm conditions to ensure performance in unpredictable climates. Government incentives are also playing a pivotal role, with policymakers encouraging the development of climate-resilient varieties through funding and regulatory support. Meanwhile, technology is revolutionizing breeding processes, with innovations such as molecular markers, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, and AI-driven breeding enhancing the speed and efficiency of developing new seed varieties. Seed breeders are adapting by developing disease- and stress-resistant varieties, improving flavor, nutritional content, and yield stability, breeding for bolting resistance in herbs like dill and coriander for warmer regions, and expanding organic seed certifications to support sustainable agriculture. The impact extends to indoor and vertical farming as well, with a notable shift toward fast-cycle, high-density crops in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). However, variety selection remains complex, influenced by factors such as growing conditions (open-field vs. controlled environments), consumer preferences (taste, texture, nutrition), and regulatory restrictions surrounding GMOs and novel breeding techniques. As the demand for sustainable farming practices increases, seed companies are focusing on developing varieties that require fewer resources, adapt to broader climate windows, and improve pest and disease resistance through advanced breeding methods. Among the leaders in this evolving space, Graines Voltz is at the forefront, particularly with its innovations in bolting-resistant herb varieties and its efforts to expand organic seed certification to meet the growing market demand.

Anna: 05:04

In this week’s interview, we’re diving into a game-changing innovation in precision irrigation: the launch of the Hybrid Dripline by Netafim. This advanced irrigation solution is designed to enhance clog resistance for better water distribution, simplify installation, reduce labor costs, and seamlessly integrate with precision agriculture tools. The Hybrid Dripline builds on Netafim’s UniRam dripper technology but improves clog resistance with a large, deep, and wide cross-section that prevents sediment buildup, ensuring consistent water flow even in low-quality water environments. The benefits for farmers include lower labor costs and faster installation, as no manual hole punching or migration rings are required; better water efficiency, as it reduces blockages and ensures optimal irrigation; higher crop yields, with consistent hydration leading to improved plant health; and data-driven farming, as it fully integrates with Netafim’s GrowSphere system for real-time monitoring and insights. The Hybrid Dripline supports sustainable agriculture by using recyclable polyethylene materials, reducing material waste, and lowering operational costs and labor requirements. This technology is being deployed not only in traditional agriculture but also in heavy wall dripline applications, including mining operations. Netafim’s new Hybrid Dripline is poised to revolutionize irrigation with smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable solutions.

Anna: 06:30

In the world of AgTech, new products and facilities are constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation. This week, Pure Harvest Smart Farms and PlanTFarm have launched a high-tech Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) facility in Al Ain, UAE, focused on fresh produce and animal feed production. This project aims to reduce import dependence by 95% for livestock feed, provide fresh, locally grown animal feed at lower costs, grow high-quality Korean strawberries in the UAE’s arid climate, and ensure year-round leafy greens production through climate-controlled systems. The AI-driven climate control, precision irrigation, and data analytics used in this facility will enhance food security and sustainability in the Middle East, while optimizing water use in an arid climate. The farm will expand its product range to leafy greens and explore further applications of precision agriculture in desert environments. In other exciting AgTech news, SweetWater Technologies has introduced DRONEZONE RECHARGED, a plant growth regulator (PGR) designed to extend stress resistance in crops from 2 weeks to 30 days. This product increases plant resistance to environmental stress such as drought and temperature fluctuations and extends plant defense to 60 days when used in a two-pass drone application program. DRONEZONE RECHARGED is optimized for drone-based application, allowing precise and ultra-low volume delivery, helping farmers reduce crop losses, improve efficiency, and fortify yields against environmental fluctuations. Moving to regenerative agriculture, Tidal Grow AgriScience has launched four new regenerative farming products in Canada: Tidal Grow GENBOOST, a seed treatment activating plant defense mechanisms; Tidal Grow Chroma, a biostimulant enhancing plant health, stress tolerance, and yield; Tidal Grow Oceanic, a liquid seafood hydrolysate biofertilizer boosting soil fertility; and Tidal Grow SeaPhos, a phosphorus-rich biofertilizer made from upcycled seafood byproducts. These products support regenerative farming and soil health, align with Fertilizer Canada’s 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles, and promote a circular economy by upcycling seafood byproducts into fertilizers. Finally, Lumo has integrated pressure monitoring into its smart irrigation system, allowing growers to track real-time pressure levels to detect issues faster, prevent costly irrigation failures with proactive maintenance, and optimize water distribution across vineyard blocks. This feature, combined with block-level flow data from smart valves, improves system diagnostics, efficiency, water conservation, and irrigation scheduling. The integration of this new technology into Lumo’s Ops Center irrigation management software provides block-level insights into pressure and flow data, helping growers pinpoint inefficiencies before they impact yield.

Anna: 09:23

In the ever-evolving AgTech sector, mergers and acquisitions are shaping the future of farming with innovative technologies and solutions. Yamaha Motor Co has established Yamaha Agriculture, Inc, a new company focused on autonomous farming equipment and AI-driven digital solutions for specialty crop growers. This new venture addresses labor shortages through robotic automation, enhances resource efficiency with AI-driven farm management tools, and optimizes farm decision-making using advanced data analytics. Yamaha Agriculture will offer robotics solutions for automated spraying and weeding, AI-powered crop management, and precision farming insights. The company aims to scale globally, providing efficient, sustainable solutions as the industry shifts toward automation and robotics in specialty crop production. In another significant move, Staphyt, a leader in agricultural research, has merged with Héliantis Group, a specialist in varietal experimentation and seed production. This merger expands Staphyt’s research network and testing capabilities, adding new research stations in Rhône-Alpes, Occitanie, and Atlantique Vendée. The impact of this merger includes more advanced seed trials focused on disease resistance, stress tolerance, and optimal densities, along with an expanded European network of 25 seed stations across 12 countries. The goal is to improve climate-adapted seed development through testing across multiple agronomic conditions. Meanwhile, Syngenta has acquired Novartis’ natural compound repository and genetic strain collection, strengthening its biologicals research and development. This acquisition expands Syngenta’s capabilities in bioengineering and fermentation, boosting the development of biological crop protection and soil health solutions. The deal included the transfer of Novartis’ Natural Products & Biomolecular Chemistry team and the leasing of Novartis’ fermentation pilot plant and labs in Basel, Switzerland. Syngenta plans to integrate this new research into its biologicals innovation pipeline, collaborating with key partners such as Provivi, Ginkgo Bioworks, Intrinsyx Bio, Lavie Bio, Lithos Crop Protect, and TraitSeq.

Anna: 11:32

In other notable AgTech news, Planet Labs has signed a multi-year enterprise license agreement with Bayer, strengthening their collaboration on satellite imagery and analytics. Farmers Edge is providing Managed Technology Services to support Conduit’s digital financing platform, which connects customers with financing and profitability optimization solutions. UPL Corp has received emergency approval from the EPA and CDPR to use KASUMIN 2L bactericide in California almond orchards to combat bacterial blast. NRGene Canada has developed a clubroot-resistant trait for canola, using genomic trait mapping and markerassisted breeding to improve disease resistance. Lundberg Family Farms has introduced Black Pearl Rice, a nutrient-rich, high-yield variety developed over 12 years to thrive in California’s Sacramento Valley.

Anna: 12:22

Looking ahead, mark your calendars for World Agri-Tech San Francisco 2025. Then, Indoor Ag Con hits Las Vegas from March 11th to 12th, followed by VIV Asia in Bangkok from March 12th to 14th. The 2nd International Electronic Conference on Entomology runs from May 19th to 21st, and finally, don’t miss Reuters Events: Transform Food & Agriculture Europe 2025.

Anna: 12:47

That wraps up today’s episode of AgTech Digest! We covered a lot of ground—from major funding rounds driving global expansion in digital agritech, commercial growth for specialized research, and regenerative soil solutions to exciting new products like Netafim’s Hybrid Dripline for precision irrigation. We also explored how climate change is reshaping seed breeding, highlighted high-tech farming facilities in the UAE, and discussed mergers and acquisitions pushing forward AI, robotics, and biological innovations in agriculture. Plus, we touched on other key industry moves, including satellite analytics partnerships, new disease-resistant crop traits, and advanced nutrient-rich rice varieties. With so much momentum in funding, technology, and sustainability, the future of agriculture is looking brighter and more resilient than ever. Thanks for joining me, I’m Anna, signing off. Stay inspired and keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible!