Digital, AI, data, cloud solutions

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.

The adoption problem: new tie-up hopes to incentivise farmers to produce low carbon corn

03-May-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Indigo Ag has announced a sustainable biofuels collaboration to allow farmers to benefit from clean fuel tax credit programmes.

Farm management app xFarm Technologies eyes expansion after integrating new tech

30-Apr-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Switzerland’s xFarm Technologies hopes to establish itself as a European agtech leader after integrating new technology into its digital platform to provide more solutions to help growers become more efficient and sustainable.

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.

Ghana: Scientists turn to digital data to save virus-hit chocolate supply

24-Apr-2024 By Oliver Morrison

A rapidly spreading virus threatens the health of the cacao tree and the dried seeds from which chocolate is made, jeopardising the global supply of the world’s most popular treat, scientists warn. They have developed a new strategy of using mathematical...

Regen ag in the US

How on earth can we better unlock the full potential of climate-smart ag? Reduce the risk for farmers

22-Apr-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Farmers don’t need to be told about the risks of climate change or learn any more about how regenerative practices can create more ecologically and economically robust agricultural systems. It simply remains a risk for them to adopt new practices. Thankfully...

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.

World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit Roundup

GenAI: Do we risk missing out on the real and valuable benefits without open datasets?

10-Apr-2024 By Oliver Morrison

The agtech industry is betting big on generative AI. But high quality, clean, and well organised data is needed to distinguish the hype from true impact, warn experts, who are urging for open data standards to be adopted to spur valuable innovation and...

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....

World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit Roundup

Precision agri-tech could accelerate uptake of biologicals if regulations can keep up: report

25-Mar-2024 By Oliver Morrison

The adoption of biological crop protection is being delayed by a regulatory environment that has failed to keep abreast of innovations that would make these products easier and more effective to use, according to a new report.

World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit Roundup

Start-up scales AI-enabled genetic data analysis software for cattle producers

19-Mar-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Technology accelerates more efficient, profitable and sustainable global beef production, says US-based AgBoost.

Bayer pilots unique generative AI tool for agriculture

18-Mar-2024 By Oliver Morrison

The expert generative AI system has been trained by Bayer agronomists and proprietary data to benefit farmers, agronomic advisors, and other industry users.

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.

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.

Enhanced Rock Weathering: Indian start-up to explore market potential after fundraise

26-Feb-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Varaha is further investigating the potential of Enhanced Rock Weathering – which boosts soil fertility and sequesters atmospheric carbon in the long term – after raising US$8.7 million.

Which financial structures work best for regenerative agriculture?

23-Feb-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Current protests from farmers around the world demanding respite from a host of factors from climate change policies, red tape to crop prices arguably highlight the need for more effective financing structures.

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...

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...

Ensuring sustainable development in ASEAN agriculture: New blueprint unveiled

08-Feb-2024 By Oliver Morrison

A new report outlines the key strategies for the ASEAN agriculture sector to ensure sustainable development.

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...

‘Reducing food waste and the mismatching of supply and demand’: ProducePay raises $38m to fuel global expansion

05-Feb-2024 By Oliver Morrison

The Los Angeles-based agtech start-up – which provides financial solutions to farmers to improve supply chain efficiency – has raised US$38 million in Series D financing.

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.

Rainforest Alliance unveils AI-led remote sensing data to mitigate deforestation risk

23-Jan-2024 By Oliver Morrison

With the EU set to bring in strict rules aimed at limiting global deforestation, Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee and cocoa farmers can now opt-in to specific criteria that align with European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements in...

‘They are huge factories that must be digitised to be properly managed’: SeeTree on how the digital revolution can boost tree health and grower profits

19-Jan-2024 By Oliver Morrison

Tree intelligence platform SeeTree claims it is poised to encompass new crop types and expand into new markets after a successful US$17.5 million fundraising round. AgTechNavigator caught up with CEO Israel Talpaz.

AgTechNavigator

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