News and Analysis on Global Agri-Tech Innovation, Investment and Regulation
The Federal Communications Commission has barred new foreign-made drones from operating on US communications infrastructure, citing national security risks – a move set to reshape the agricultural drone landscape
In Finland’s Arctic wilderness, where 300,000 reindeer roam beyond cellular reach, herders face a race against time every winter. With up to 10% of animals disappearing, Finnish map-technology company Mapitare is using real-time monitoring to turn blind...
Influential former NFU president Baroness Batters calls for a “new deal” for British farming, highlighting that despite enthusiasm for technology it too often fails to align to business needs or find practical application on farms
Rebranded from Rantizo, American Autonomy is launching a US-built software platform that promises farmers full control of their drone data – and a practical path off proprietary Chinese ecosystems – just as a new federal audit deadline threatens market...
French start-up Agreenculture has raised €6 million to industrialise its certified, retrofit autonomy kit for tractors and implements. By emphasising quick payback and a simple integration path for OEMs, the company says it can turn autonomy from a...
A six-inch box buried in the soil might hold the key to powering agriculture’s digital future. So believes UK-based Bactery, which is pioneering bacteria-powered “soil batteries” that generate clean, continuous energy from the natural activity of...
Born from Imperial College and Royal College of Art’s innovation labs, Muju Earth is tackling one of agriculture’s toughest challenges of soil degradation with Aeropod, a biodegradable capsule designed to restore soil health and cut costs. Its mission:...
John Deere is capitalizing on demand for automation amid persistent labour challenges and tailor-made innovation for specific markets, like Brazil
Reservoir Farms expands its presence with a facility in the heart of California’s wine country
John Deere and Bushel Plus are working together to address a major issue impacting farmers — harvest loss
Agritechnica 2025, held last month in Hanover, Germany, attracted nearly 480,000 visitors to 23 halls across 100 acres, showcasing cutting-edge tractors, robotics, AI, and precision farming solutions. Here are the standout trends
Despite growing orders, British agri-robotics firm Wootzano is facing imminent closure after a Scottish court froze its bank accounts following a winding-up petition filed by Innovate UK Loans Limited
The flight to quality continues in agtech, as interest in robotics picks up fueled by general interest in AI and automation
While most agtech firms chase high-tech innovation, Tractor Junction is tackling the basics – helping millions of Indian farmers access tractors, financing, and fair prices through a fast-growing digital and physical marketplace
The collaboration, unveiled at Agritechnica 2025, aims to transform vegetable farming with AI-driven spot spraying that slashes herbicide use by up to 95%
After a tumultuous 12 months, French ag robotics pioneer Naïo Technologies is charting a gradual reintroduction to the market as it adapts to the ongoing crisis in wine production
CNH’s latest earnings miss reflects broader headwinds facing the global OEM sector, but participants are hopeful 2025 represents the bottom of the market
McCain Foods has issued a stark warning to government and industry leaders: farmers must be supported if the agtech sector is to thrive
The HortiScience Innovation Center (HIC) launches a pioneering venture studio to accelerate start-up creation around energy, automation, and circular cultivation
Inari, Agtonomy, and Sofina Foods made personnel appointments in October, while The Marine Ingredients Organisation appointed its president and VP for the 2026-2027 term
Autonomous platform triples operational distance, expands market coverage, and launches new data services for vineyards and strawberries
Only resilience, innovation, and open markets will keep Europe competitive, says the one-time Brussels insider
Agtonomy is expanding into new markets and geographies with the support of a Series B round and a disciplined capital approach
Bonsai Robotics is quickly capitalizing on its Farm-ng acquisition, releasing a new vehicle and bringing Bonsai Intelligence to the fleet of Amiga vehicles
The Reservoir continues its venture capital (VC) discipline with a new fund targeted at early-stage agtech start-ups
A new academic paper argues that VC’s fast-growth model clashes with agriculture’s biological realities – calling for patient capital and farmer-led funding instead
The path to market beyond pilot stage can be slow for agtech innovations. What lessons can be found in the defence sector?
Dutch agri-tech firm PATS is using fresh seed funding to accelerate development, expand internationally, and make automated pest control more accessible to growers facing rising sustainability pressures
John Deere makes a series of executive changes amid market headwinds, as Beijing-based Origin Agritech switches up its board of director
The soil carbon measurement specialist will deliver deep soil carbon sampling as part of one of the world’s most comprehensive nutrient and carbon mapping schemes
The US drone company’s downfall stemmed from a restrictive policy and regulatory environment coupled with not enough money to take risks, says its former VP of business development and regulatory affairs, Matt Beckwith
Developer of spraying systems for biologicals Aksata Technologies plans to launch its drone and precision agriculture technology in California to help specialty crop growers in the state manage pest and input costs more efficiently
French agtech pioneer accelerates rollout of robotized organic farming infrastructure across Europe
UV-powered robots help Scottish berry growers protect crops and boost yields amid climate challenges, the company reveals
A new study led by the University of Surrey in the UK has found that while vertical farms dramatically increase lettuce yields and use far less water, the carbon footprint still exceeds traditional lettuce farming – raising important questions about how...
A new methane busting initiative has been launched this week to help farmers in Latin America and Africa monitor pasture availability and determine optimal grazing time
Virtual fencing company Nofence has launched a new collar-to-collar communication system that improves connectivity for its virtual fencing collars, especially in remote areas with poor mobile signal
Reservoir Farms welcomed additional partners and its first tenants, as the ag robotics innovation accelerator lays the groundwork for future locations
Driverless machinery on farms offers a host of eco-friendly benefits compared to traditional heavy agricultural equipment, says a farmer who uses the same innovation as Jeremy Clarkson
John Deere made its commitment to agriculture automation clear this week by acquiring agtech sprayer company GUSS Automation and showcasing its autonomy building blocks at the 2025 Farm Progress Show
Kelly Hills is enabling agriculture automation with ground and aerial capabilities from its partners, as the company enters the software game with the launch of SpraySense
Start-up profile
Virtual fencing start-up Halter became one of New Zealand’s rare unicorns when it raised $100m in June this year from a sweep of Silicon Valley tech investors at a $1bn valuation. Its president Andrew Fraser explains its allure
PowerPollen’s autonomous robots are the next step in the company’s tech evolution, which takes preserved pollen and applies the substance to produce seeds
John Deere and the Reservoir are empowering start-ups to create the next generation of agtech, with developer tools and a field to test their solutions
John Deere revenues declined in its third quarter (Q3) of 2025, but the company remained committed to agtech innovation, including AI and its satellite connectivity service, despite tariff headwinds
The Norwegian company behind the Thorvald autonomous robot – which zaps powdery mildew with high-intensity UV-C light – has raised £8.4m to scale operations both in the UK and US
California-based aerial automation company Pyka signed a 60-plane order with Latin American aviation leader Synerjet
Specialist lenders are looking to provide financial products and tailored lending solutions as agricultural firms and farmers feel the impact of a drop in agricultural sales
TRIC Robotics’ automated agriculture robots called Luna address pest and disease problems without chemical inputs, while also addressing labour challenges for US strawberry growers
The Japanese multinational’s strategic partnerships and acquisitions accelerate the speed to market of cutting-edge automation and robots, says Daria Batukhtina, senior strategic business development at Kubota Innovation Center Europe