Automation, robotics, equipment

Let there be dark: Square Roots on why it’s farming without light

15-May-2024 By Oliver Morrison

US indoor farmer Square Roots is growing plants in the dark using gene edited (CRISPR) technology. The move could make indoor farming significantly more viable and sustainable, especially in low and middle-income countries, by reducing energy needs and...

Meet the seven start-ups tasked with reshaping agri-food in Cambodia

15-May-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Seven disruptive start-ups have been selected to drive agri-food innovation and economic growth in the country, offering innovative solutions to enhance the agrifood value chain, improve commercial exchanges, and introduce high-value crops.

‘This is agtech, not tech-ag’. Is the industry still ignoring the needs of farmers?

13-May-2024 By Oliver Morrison

The term 'disconnect' frequently arises in agtech. How can the industry bridge the gap between technology and on-ground farm realities to retain long-term trust with growers?

Precision ag: the key questions that need answers

08-May-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Researchers in Germany have published an agenda for the smart digitalisation of agriculture.

Precision sprayer Greeneye defies market slump to raise $20 million to scale US operation – but will farmers follow?

30-Apr-2024 By Oliver Morrison

The Israeli company says securing this round of capital in today’s challenging economic climate is further validation of Greeneye’s mission to drive mainstream adoption of precision spraying technology in the US.

Innovation Insider

UK: Raising funds at required scale a barrier to ‘transformative change’

29-Apr-2024 By CM Tay

Despite advances in innovation and technology in UK agriculture, attracting sufficient investment remains a key hindrance in achieving transformative change in the industry.

Overcoming the ‘tyranny of distance’: Can Australia successfully push its weight on a global stage?

26-Apr-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Aussie agtech is hoping its unique experiences of climate change will allow it to spearhead international expansion. The signs are promising.

UV light signalling: the next frontier in plant science?

24-Apr-2024 By Oliver Morrison

New Zealand-based BioLumic uses ultraviolet (UV) light to boost the growth, yield, and quality of various crops, including corn, soybeans, lettuce and cannabis. It is now bringing its tech to ryegrass in an attempt to manage the country’s notorious methane...

Augmented reality in agriculture: how significant will it prove?

22-Apr-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Augmented reality improves productivity and efficiency in agriculture, but adoption remains limited, according to a new report.

Start-up enabling precision crop management with robots and AI raises $3.8m

19-Apr-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Founded in 2022, Cornell University spin out Orchard Robotics has engineered a vehicle-mounted, AI-powered camera system that gathers precision data about fruit on trees.

Innovation set to accelerate as UK’s largest agri-tech body unveiled

18-Apr-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Agtech is set to play ‘a defining role’ as agri-food businesses look to adopt new technology to drive growth, claims a new report commissioned to mark the launch of the new UK Agri-Tech Centre.

The worst job in ag? TerraClear raises US$15m to free farmers from chore of rock picking

16-Apr-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Rock removal company TerraClear has announced its existing investors have poured an additional US$15 million into capturing the untapped US$2.7 rock management market. A 5,000-year-old problem finally has a solution, it says.

science shorts

Agtech Aha! Moments: From testing the world's first unmanned forestry machine to cultured beef rice

15-Apr-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Our round-up of the latest research from institutions and universities across the globe looks at the world’s first unmanned machine designed for autonomous forestry operations, while Korean scientists have successfully developed ‘cultured beef rice’,...

US sustainable farming outlook positive, but operational and financial support still key barriers to adoption

11-Apr-2024 By Oliver Morrison

McKinsey & Company survey reveals that 90% of US farmers are aware of sustainable practices, but widespread adoption remains low with compensation levels remaining a main concern.

French start-up flush with new funds to combat water scarcity in agriculture

09-Apr-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Founded in 2014, Weenat provides the agricultural community with agro-meteorological data to monitor the climatic and agronomic conditions of its plots in real time, from sowing to harvesting.

Start-up behind methane-eating microbes technology raises $28m

09-Apr-2024 By Teodora Lyubomirova

Windfall Bio has secured $28m in venture capital funding from the likes of Amazon, B37 Ventures and more as part of a Series A seed round.

World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit Roundup

The ultimate Trojan Horse? US drone makers up in arms about Chinese industry advancement

08-Apr-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Drones are unquestionably great tools for crop spraying, surveying and mapping, but their consequences are potentially grave if gotten into the wrong hands. US drone companies are warning about alleged, and strongly disputed, security risks stemming from...

Agri Trend Tracker: From BioConsortia’s latest US$15mn to Bayer’s data analysis to verify carbon reductions

02-Apr-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Our 360-degree look at the latest developments from across the globe takes in the news that gene-editing start-up BioConsortia has secured US$15 million, while a UK-based spinout is set to accelerate efforts to help palm tree farmers improve yields.

Innovation insider

Japan wants to promote smart agriculture, fast

27-Mar-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Agri-tech spend is lagging in the land of the rising sun. But amid the looming threats of depopulation and ageing, the government is looking to new styles of agriculture that can boost productivity, sustainability and strengthen national food security....

Can growing planes really cure vertical farming’s growing pains?

14-Mar-2024 By Oliver Morrison

While all vertical farms may seem to grow vertically at first glance, the fact is, they don’t. Most companies are growing on flat, stacked planes, which will lead to more failures in the space in the months and years to come, according to Nate Storey,...

Achieving compliance with EUDR: Does a Berlin-based startup have the answer?

13-Mar-2024 By Jane Byrne

LiveEO, a Berlin-based provider of satellite analytics, has launched TradeAware Lite, a free version of its software platform, TradeAware, designed to help companies achieve compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

The World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit: The world’s biggest and best agtech show

06-Mar-2024 By Oliver Morrison

With over 2,500 delegates and 70+ start-ups attending World Agri-Tech from 40 countries, all eager to expand their network and forge new partnerships, this year’s event is shaping up to be a memorable event.

How precision pollination promises to increase crop yields

06-Mar-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Precision pollination has the potential to boost crop yields up to 30%. That’s according to BeeHero, a data-driven technology company aiming to redefine pollination in commercial agriculture.

Seabed mining: an inevitable industry or disaster in the making?

04-Mar-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Proponents argue it can help meet the world's pressing need for critical minerals – especially an agtech industry looking to low carbon and renewable energy sources. Opponents say it is economically and environmentally unviable.

Meet the Iraqi start-ups hoping to futureproof a drought-hit sector

27-Feb-2024 By Oliver Morrison

The Agriculture Innovation Hackathon was hosted in Mosul earlier this month, as an agriculture sector beset by desertification turns to the power of technology to overcome the challenges faced by farmers.

AI tool can detect lameness in cattle before visible signs appear

27-Feb-2024 By Teodora Lyubomirova

The tool, which is currently being tested by UK-based researchers, is the first of its kind to offer that level of detection.

The boar war: how can we best combat wild pig intrusion to ensure crop safety?

22-Feb-2024 By Oliver Morrison

From the US to Italy to Australia, feral pigs are harming agriculture across the world. A lack of solutions that exist to deal with the problem presents white space opportunities, AgTechNavigator finds.

Sustainability Report Card

‘Third-Way' mindset: Valagro Group’s last sustainability report before coming under Syngenta Biologicals

21-Feb-2024 By CM Tay

Valagro Group's recently published Sustainability Report 2023 highlights some successes and a continued commitment to environmental responsibility, social impact and economic value distribution, but more details and data would be welcome to more...

‘Putting vertical farming and profitability into the same sentence for the first time’: Jones Food Company unveils second facility

20-Feb-2024 By Oliver Morrison

The UK-based vertical farmer has opened its second vertical farm, JFC2, near Lydney in Gloucestershire.

US census a ‘wake-up call’ for need for investment in climate-smart agriculture

19-Feb-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Farmers need more opportunities to diversify their revenue streams by adopting climate-smart agriculture, according to US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Agtech Aha! Moments: From AI for olives to no neonicotinoids in US potato farming

14-Feb-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Our round-up of the latest research from institutions and universities across the globe looks at a new app to improve olive oil industry efficiency, while potato experts in the US will investigate how to control pests without using controversial neonicotinoids....

Innovation Insider: India

Market fragmentation hampers India agtech but public-private alignment brings hope

14-Feb-2024 By CM Tay

India's agtech sector is witnessing significant developments driven by government policies, changing investor landscapes and a growing focus on sustainability. However, market fragmentation is dampening its ability to scale up, with challenges surrounding...

Agtech Aha! Moments: From using white noise to grow fungi to pesticide sensors for tomatoes

06-Feb-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Our round-up of the latest research from institutions and universities across the globe looks at how Australian scientists are using sound to repair degraded soils. Elsewhere, Brazilian researchers have unveiled a new biodegradable sensor to detect pesticides...

3 start-ups boosting food quality in Europe

05-Feb-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Food quality technology plays a vital role both in ensuring that food is safe to eat, therefore reducing food waste, and providing insights around its health and composition. Three European start-ups tell FoodNavigator how technology can help them understand...

AgTech Investor Profile

Eatable Adventures on how technology can solve the ageing farmer timebomb

01-Feb-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Agtech innovation is playing a critical role in addressing food security and environmental challenges. But it is also key to cracking the problem of an ageing farmer population threatening global agriculture, says Eatable Adventures founder and CEO José...

Red Sea tensions and drought in Panama illustrate urgent need for supply chain solutions

31-Jan-2024 By Oliver Morrison

The crises in both the Panama Canal and the Red Sea have highlighted the vulnerabilities of global agricultural trade, especially in the US, to environmental and geopolitical factors. Research concludes that sustainable and flexible supply chain solutions...

Saving the banana: rapid detection ‘crucial’, scientists warn

29-Jan-2024 By Oliver Morrison

The world’s favourite yellow fruit risks a slow march to eradication unless growers invest more in early detection methods such as aerial mapping, AgTechNavigator hears.

‘This unlocks the biofuel puzzle’: Biotech company HutanBio hails algae fuel’s ‘massive potential’ after investment win

24-Jan-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Biotech company HutanBio has just received £2.25 million to speed its plans to supply algae-based fuel to the global shipping and aviation sectors. We spoke to its chief executive Paul Beastall to learn how a new species of microalgae was found to enable...

Global regulatory push set to ‘breathe wind into agtech’s sails’: start-up

17-Jan-2024 By Oliver Morrison

AgTechNavigator caught up with Croatia’s Agrivi for its thoughts on the mega trends underpinning the need for innovation throughout the food and agriculture sector.

Agri-food businesses embrace digital transformation, yet struggle with data

16-Jan-2024 By Oliver Morrison

The AgTech Trends 2023 survey unveiled by the Yield quashes the idea that farmers are instinctively wary of adopting digital solutions. Many simply still grapple with deriving actionable insights from their data.

Merging of healthcare and agtech ‘a powerful and positive’ trend: Cropin CEO

02-Jan-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Krishna Kumar, co-founder and CEO of intelligence provider Cropin, shares his agri-food predictions for 2024, among them a growing convergence between healthcare and agtech sectors.

Virtual fencing tech has ‘benefits for the environment, biodiversity and farmer welfare’: Nofence

21-Dec-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Fenceless farming offers a wide range of benefits for the environment, biodiversity and farmer welfare, says Norwegian company Nofence, which offers virtual fencing for grazing cattle.

AI, digital tools for agri-food climate resistance slowed by bias, quality and standardisation issues, say experts

18-Dec-2023 By CM Tay

While artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools have made progress in shielding agri-food systems against climate change, issues with bias and a lack of standards and data quality persist.

Calls for accelerated energy transition to unlock full potential of CEA and vertical farming in Middle East

15-Dec-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Energy costs are lower in the Middle East compared to other parts of the world. But CEA and vertical farmers in the region are still looking to renewable energy sources and other new technologies to deal with the challenge of high energy consumption.

Lisi Global uses shocking technology for pest, weed removal

22-Nov-2023 By Ryan Daily

US-based Lisi Global is showing how electricity can be used as a replacement for traditional pesticides with its patented Direct|Turf technology, company co-founder and CEO Jason Crisp told AgTechNavigator.

Insufficient support for EU agtech knowledge, innovation amid digital transformation: OECD

15-Nov-2023 By CM Tay

A recent report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) highlights the disproportionately low percentage of resources — just 6.1% between 2019 and 2021 — dedicated to agricultural knowledge and innovation in the EU, compared...

Zuari FarmHub and CropX Technologies join hands to boost precision farming in India

14-Nov-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

India-based Zuari FarmHub recently announced its partnership with global agritech firm CropX Technologies, which aims to 'revolutionise' farming practices and advance precision agriculture in the country.

16th ASC unveils urgent need for innovation to drive agri-food sustainability in India

07-Nov-2023 By CM Tay

India’s burgeoning agtech innovations could hold the key to transforming the country’s agri-food systems into sustainable enterprises, according to Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

‘The brain’ of agtech: Siemens, Artisan Green highlight Singapore’s major vertical farming potential

25-Oct-2023 By Pearly Neo

Global technology heavyweight Siemens believes that Singapore is well-placed to emerge as a major ‘brain’ in vertical farming, on the back of its recent collaboration with local modern indoor hydroponics farm Artisan Green.

Crop ‘revolution’: Could CRISPR-Cas9 system be game-changer for crop enhancement, food security?

20-Oct-2023 By CM Tay

A ground-breaking system built on a combination of CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) and Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9) could significantly improve crop enhancement and food security through its genome-editing (GE)...