The51 Food, Agroz, Pluri, TTA-ISO, John Deere, LDC, Priva, Blue Radix, Bayer, Ecospray, MyEasyFarm, ReGeneration, CH4 Global, Mitsubishi Corporation, Pantaleon, Bright Yeti. - This Week in AgTech

Anna: 00:00

Welcome to another episode of AgTech Digest, your go-to source for the latest in agricultural technology. Today, we’re spotlighting key investments and collaborations shaping the future of food and farming. Highlights include a $51 M fund driving advancements in AI, robotics, and soil health, alongside a $10 M IPO supporting pesticide-free vertical farming across Asia and the Middle East. Equity investments are accelerating cellular agriculture, while partnerships are enhancing automation in horticulture, developing sustainable pest control, and scaling regenerative agriculture efforts globally. With innovative solutions addressing food security, sustainability, and efficiency, the future of agriculture has never looked more promising. Let’s dive in!

Anna: 00:54

The agricultural technology sector is abuzz with major funding and investment developments, signaling a bright future for AI, robotics, and sustainable food systems. The51 Food and AgTech Fund has successfully closed at $51 M , with ATB Financial making the final investment. This fund is dedicated to advancing AI, robotics, and biotechnology to enhance crop yields and soil health. It also aims to foster innovation in Alberta’s agriculture sector by supporting early-stage companies poised to transform farming practices. In Malaysia, Agroz has filed for a $10 M IPO, with Tiger Brokers acting as the sole bookrunner. The company specializes in controlled-environment agriculture (CEA), managing vertical farms to produce fresh, pesticide-free crops. Agroz has ambitious plans to expand its operations to Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Middle East by 2024, driving sustainable food production in these regions. Additionally, Pluri has secured a $6.5 M equity investment, led by Alejandro Weinstein. A key part of this investment will support the acquisition of a seventy one percent stake in Kokomodo Ltd. for $4.5 M. This move is aimed at advancing cellular agriculture, with a focus on sustainable production of cacao, coffee, and meat. The Kokomodo acquisition is expected to be finalized by Q2 2025, marking a significant leap forward for Pluri in the cellular agriculture industry. These investments highlight the dynamic growth in AgTech, with funding fueling innovation across diverse sectors of agriculture.

Anna: 02:35

The Debate of the Week heats up as the FTC takes legal action against John Deere over alleged repair restrictions impacting farmers. The FTC complaint accuses John Deere of monopolizing repair services for its agricultural machinery. According to the complaint, farmers are forced to rely exclusively on authorized dealers, which has led to higher repair costs and reduced competition in the market. In its defense, John Deere denies the allegations and has announced plans to improve access to repair tools. The company has stated its intention to expand options for farmers and independent technicians, including tools for reprogramming electronic controllers, as part of its effort to support user autonomy in equipment maintenance. The FTC’s objective in this lawsuit is to obtain a permanent injunction that would compel John Deere to provide farmers and independent repair providers with access to fully functional repair tools, such as the Service ADVISOR tool. This measure aims to enhance competition and reduce repair costs for the agricultural community. This case has reignited the broader right-to-repair debate, with potentially far-reaching consequences for farmers, equipment manufacturers, and the future of agricultural technology.

Anna: 03:51

Strategic Partnerships are driving transformative change in AgTech, addressing challenges in automation, sustainability, and innovation across the globe. The TTA-ISO merger is tackling global demand for horticulture automation and food production. This collaboration focuses on transplanting, sorting, robotics, and automation to overcome labor shortages, improve sustainability, and meet quality standards. Supported by Rabobank and existing shareholders, the partnership plans to expand into the Americas, Middle East, and Oceania, anticipating eight to ten percent annual growth in the horticulture sector. In a significant move, John Deere and LDC are collaborating to advance regenerative agriculture using digital tools. The John Deere Operations Center provides real-time insights and supports farmers in accessing sustainability incentives, such as the US forty five Z tax credit. Their pilot program will begin in the US and later expand globally to include all row crops, with the goal of enhancing both environmental and financial sustainability for farmers. The partnership between Priva and Blue Radix aims to revolutionize greenhouse operations with the AI-powered Crop Controller. This tool improves yields, optimizes resource efficiency, and automates climate and irrigation management. With adoption already in 100 greenhouses across seventeen countries, the partnership is committed to offering flexible and tailored solutions to greenhouse operators. Bayer has joined forces with Ecospray to introduce Velsinum, a garlic-based biological nematicide for vegetable and potato crops. Distributed across the EU, Velsinum offers a natural alternative to synthetic chemicals and aligns with Bayer's strategy to promote biological innovations and sustainable agriculture. In Europe, MyEasyFarm and ReGeneration have partnered to transition 450,000 hectares across 4,000 farms in France and Belgium to regenerative agriculture by 2025. Their MyEasyCarbon platform supports these transitions by tracking carbon impact, driving carbon sequestration, restoring ecosystems, and delivering measurable sustainability benefits. CH4 Global and Mitsubishi Corporation are addressing methane emissions with Methane Tamer, a feed supplement containing Asparagopsis seaweed that reduces methane emissions by up to ninety percent. While sales are expanding in Australia, plans are underway to introduce the product in Japan and scale seaweed production in Southeast Asia to address regional emissions. Lastly, Pantaleon and Bright Yeti are collaborating to enhance sugarcane germination, growth, and yields using electrophysiology technology. This non-chemical innovation, previously successful in corn and soybeans in the US, is being adapted for sustainable sugarcane production in Central America. These partnerships showcase the power of collaboration in driving innovation, improving efficiency, and promoting sustainability in agriculture worldwide.

Anna: 06:54

Exciting updates are shaping the future of AgTech, with global expansions, new technologies, and innovations gaining traction. Deere & Company has launched its 2025 Startup Collaborator Program, selecting six startups to drive innovation in agriculture and construction: Array Labs, Landscan, LIDWAVE, Presien, ReSim, and Witricity. The goal is to foster new technologies that provide significant value to customers while addressing key industry challenges. Phytech has expanded its operations into Latin America, now active in Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Uruguay, Guatemala, and Mexico. The company provides plant and field sensors, hydraulic monitoring systems, and mobile platforms to optimize resource management. Phytech is already monitoring 45 M trees across 18,000 farms worldwide, improving sustainability and productivity, particularly in tropical conditions. Neogen Corporation has launched the Igenity BCHF Test, a genomic tool designed to assess the risk of Bovine Congestive Heart Failure (BCHF) in cattle. The test provides a risk score (1-10) to reduce the expected incidence rates of BCHF, ultimately improving herd health and economic outcomes, addressing a growing concern in the cattle industry. Rantizo has added the XAG P150 Spray Drone, a high-capacity drone with an eighteen point five-gallon tank and speeds of over 30 mph. Designed for agricultural spraying, the drone offers high efficiency in gallons-per-acre and has been extensively tested to improve productivity and operational excellence in agricultural applications. Meanwhile, the FAO and EBRD have released a report on the state of AgTech in Turkey, highlighting challenges such as climate change, economic fluctuations, limited adoption of advanced technologies, and an aging workforce. The report recommends tailored solutions, financial incentives, and increased collaboration to address these issues. Priority areas for development include smart irrigation, IoT-based soil monitoring, and precision farming tools to support local startups and boost AgTech adoption across the country. These updates showcase the dynamic and evolving landscape of AgTech, with startups, innovations, and international expansions pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in sustainable agriculture.

Anna: 09:20

Looking ahead, mark your calendars for the 2nd International Conference on CEA in Plymouth, UK on February 25th, 2025. Following that, the World Agri-Tech San Francisco 2025 will be a major event, with the Indoor Ag Con in Las Vegas, USA from March 11th to 12th shortly after. Finally, don’t miss VIV Asia in Bangkok, Thailand from March 12th to 14th, 2025.

Anna: 09:45

That wraps up today’s episode of AgTech Digest. We covered a range of exciting updates shaping the future of agriculture, from key investments in AI, CEA, and sustainable food to groundbreaking strategic partnerships in automation and sustainability. We also highlighted major industry events and shifts, from repair rights battles to new AgTech expansions. With innovative solutions and industry collaborations leading the charge, it’s clear the future of agriculture is becoming smarter, more efficient, and environmentally conscious. Thanks for joining me, I'm Anna, signing off. Stay inspired and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible!