News and Analysis on Global Agri-Tech Innovation, Investment and Regulation
Farmers could soon apply microbes to crops to ‘reprogram’ them to be resistant against pests, diseases and environmental stress such as drought and heat, as a new research project gets under way
Corteva remains bullish on its growth plans for the rest of 2025, focusing on opportunities in Latin America and success in its biologicals business
Bayer’s crop science division delivered stronger-than-expected earnings despite regulatory and market tests. Is this evidence that its focus on innovation to differentiate itself from generic competitors is beginning to pay off?
One of Europe’s largest asset managers entirely focused on environmental sustainability has entered the sustainable agriculture sector with acquisition of Spanish biological crop solutions platform Agronova
UK-based NetZeroNitrogen hopes to launch a bioinoculant for rice farming next year after a $6.6 million seed round
Regulatory submissions are under way in major markets for Bayer’s first new herbicide mechanism of action in over three decades, with the first launch expected in Brazil in 2028
The International Fertiliser Association (IFA) has announced the 13 finalists for the first-ever IFA Cultivate Challenge
Research coming out of Mexico’s Tecnologico de Monterrey is demonstrating the potential of nanoparticles as an alternative to synthetic fertilizers and genetically modified crops
Flagship Pioneering – the US company behind RNA-based vaccine maker Moderna and ag trailblazers Indigo and Inari – has unveiled Terrana Biosciences after four years in stealth. Its RNA platform has a host of potential applications in agriculture, Terrana...
Aquaculture and pet remain target feed markets
As crop protection company Adama introduces a new mode of action for cereal fungicides, we asked the company about the challenge of developing synthetic chemical solutions amid the growing demand for sustainable crop protection solutions with reduced...
Moa Technology is set to test 70,000 micro-bacterial extracts from a library of natural products never-before screened for herbicides.
Zespri, the world’s largest kiwifruit marketer, has announced the launch of the second year of its ZAG Innovation Fund, a US$2 million initiative to accelerating sustainable innovation in the kiwifruit industry.
Bacteriophages — viruses that infect bacteria — could be a promising alternative to synthetic pesticides for plant disease management, say researchers in Poland and Spain.
Agroecology - a means of integrating more sustainability and nature into agricultural practices – does not need to be at the expense of yields, provided the right data and expertise is followed.
New plant-breeding techniques offer huge opportunities to scale controlled environment agriculture (CEA) and make new products profitable, but greater industry, academic and policymaker buy-in is needed for success.
The Californian start-up, which uses genetically engineered seeds to create ‘talking’ plants that can warn farmers of the first signs of fungal disease, has successfully completed the FDA’s New Protein Consultation process for the fluorescent protein...
The company has announced it has successfully scaled up fermentation of its methane-eating microbes to 17,000 liters, achieving commercial-scale production.
The coffee giant has unearthed a new solution for disposing of spent coffee grounds in the UK.
Integrating organic and inorganic fertilisers can improve eco-efficiency and sustainability in rice cultivation, which could hold significant implications for rice growers in mid-latitudes.
Agtech companies are celebrating recognition in TIME magazine’s best inventions for 2024. Does it mark a turning point in wider perceptions of the industry?
French insect company Innovafeed is celebrating after the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded it an $11 million grant as part of its Fertiliser Production Expansion Programme (FPEP).
A new report flags the growing demand for data, circular innovation and market access for precision bred commodities in the UK.
The Danish company has secured €3.5 million in seed funding to develop a sustainable and decentralised method for producing ammonia.
Induced resistance, where plants’ immune systems are activated in a controlled way that prepares them to fight pests and disease, could help build a sustainable and resilient agricultural system, according to researchers.
Research led by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) has revealed that aesthetic grading, which focuses on the appearance of apples, leads to significant food losses without economically benefiting farmers.
Farmers are not resistant change, says Phil Bicknell, CEO at the newly merged UK-Agri-Tech Centre. But the “three Cs” of communication, collaboration and cash are needed to help them adopt newer sustainable practices.
Progressive regulatory frameworks, together with more collaboration with data, are needed to scale effective innovation, says BASF’s Neil Key.
The innovation being eyed by Gates Foundation's agtech arm has potential to be deployed in richer nations, says Trey Key, its director of business development. But he warns that ag requires more time for technology integration compared to other sectors.
AgTechNavigator's FREE AgTech Innovation and Investment – APAC editorial webinar takes place on November 6. Register your attendance today so you don’t miss out. The event will start on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at 5:00 PM SGT (Singapore).
Biological players have criticised the overlong regulatory timelines for alternative crop protection products in the region.
Cautious farmers are more concerned with ROI and less willing to experiment with new products and technologies, according to a new global report from McKinsey.
Terviva, the company aiming to plant 200 million pongamia trees over 10 years for food, feed and fuel, has received investment from Chevron Renewable Energy Group, as mining giant Rio Tinto also looks to pongamia as a feedstock for renewable diesel...
Valid concerns about their use have led to some negative perceptions. But it’s time to be more agnostic regarding the use of both synthetic and natural ingredients in crop protection, believes Moa Technology.
Innovation Insider: Country profile
Will Denmark’s unprecedented carbon tax be replicated in other countries? Or is it simply another example of its unique willingness to challenge the status quo?
From regen ag to AI and biologicals… what’s hot and what’s not in agtech? This and much more was discussed at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in London.
A new standard-setting playbook edited by Leaps By Bayer, the impact investment arm of Bayer, aims to spur innovation and investment across the sector.
Innovation Insider Country profile
After the crisis in funding in 2023, India’s agtech landscape is adjusting. But can investment be directed to the right places? Harry Holmes investigates.
SOLASTA Bio, based in Glasgow in the UK and with a base in North Carolina in the US, has completed a $14 million Series A funding round to accelerate the development of its peptide-based bioinsecticides.
Agtech company Terra Vera has launched a new division to address the critical issue of declining bee populations.
The potential to flip the genetic 'off switch' and ensure legumes convert nitrogen into nutrients regardless of the soil conditions could improve the yield of legume crops and also the amount of nitrogen left in the soil for subsequent crops, explains...
Scientists have developed an innovative framework that aligns advanced satellite data with rice growth stages to bolster paddy mapping accuracy in China, raising hopes it will enhance precision ag strategies and contribute to global food security efforts.
PheroSyn, a spin-out from Rothamsted Research in the UK, has secured new funding to advance its pheromones-based pest management solutions.
The tricot (triadic comparison of technologies) approach is proving key to testing new crop varieties, particularly in the context of smallholder agriculture and climate adaptation, say scientists.
Agtech investor profile
The venture capital arm of agricultural sciences giant FMC Corporation looks for ‘game-changing’ innovations that go beyond FMC's core business of crop protection. Associate Matt Foley tells us more about the firm’s operations, strategies and impact.
Micropep Technologies, which creates natural crop protection and stimulation products using micropeptides, has announced a $29 million Series B funding round and unveiled a proprietary discovery platform called Krisalix.
The recent hot and dry weather in Eastern Europe has raised significant concerns about the development of corn crops in the region.
Plant scientists in the UK are demanding clarity from the new government to unlock the potential economic and environmental benefits of new precision breeding techniques such as gene editing.
PepsiCo Europe has announced a long-term collaboration with crop nutrition company Yara aimed at providing farmers in Europe with crop nutrition programmes to help decarbonise the food value chain.