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Ag Industry Brief: Farmers Edge, Ynsect, AgriProtein on Global Cleantech 100, Terravion Partners with FarmSolutions, Pegasus Ag to Invest in Indoor Ag Hub, more

January 27, 2017

Farmers Edge, Ynsect, AgriProtein Named to 2017 Global Cleantech 10

Global precision ag and data management solutions provider Farmers Edge, and two insect farming businesses AgriProtein and Ynsect, have all been named in the 2017 Global Cleantech 100 list. Cultivated by Cleantech Group, the list identifies what the organization calls the most innovative and promising ideas impacting the future of a wide-range of industries. Ynsect and Farmers Edge recently won an AgFunder Innovation Award, through a peer-selected nomination process.

Terravion Partners with FarmSolutions 

Aerial imagery company Terravion has entered into another partnership, this week with FarmSolutions, a data analytics company. FarmSolutions has been using drone imagery predominantly and will now absorb Terravion’s aerial imagery into its algorithms, offering more value to each company’s customers. Last week Terravion partnered with Servi-Techone of the largest independent crop consulting and agronomic services company to provide its clients with aerial imagery.

Pegasus Agriculture Group and Kennett Township to Cooperate on Indoor Ag Hub

At Indoor Ag Con Asia this week, one of the biggest indoor agriculture trade conferences, international hydroponics company Pegasus Agriculture Group reinforced its recent decision to actively enter the US marketplace by announcing its intention to support a major public-private initiative to develop a global indoor agriculture production, research, training, and service hub on the US East Coast. Read more here.

Campbell’s Ventures into the Egg-Less Mayo Space with New ‘Maio’ Products

Move over Hampton Creek, there’s a new mayonnaise alternative hitting store shelves. Bolthouse Farms, a division of Campbell’s, has released a yogurt-based spread called MAIO made with what it describes as “clean” ingredients. The new product will drop in Northern California Safeway stores in February 2017. Read more here.

World Poultry Foundation Receives $21.4m Grant from Gates Foundation

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has given a $21.4 million grant to the World Poultry Foundation to boost production of poultry in Tanzania and Nigeria. The WPF will spearhead a program that aims to ramp up poultry production, targeting low-input dual purpose birds. Read more here.

USDA Backtracks from Media Blackout After Public Backlash

Earlier this week, USDA’s Agriculture Research Service issued an internal memo restricting agency researchers from releasing research information to the public. The following day, Deputy Secretary Michael Young issued an order superseding the memo and clarifying that the memo was not intended to serve as a complete blackout on sharing information with the public. Research published through peer-reviewed journals was not subject to the blackout. Read more here.

FDA Seeking Public Comments on Foods Derived from Gene-Edited Plants

The FDA is developing its regulatory strategy for foods produced using new gene-editing techniques and is tapping the public as a resource. A recent Request for Comments from the agency seeks information and data about the safety of these foods and whether different categories of gene-edited plants pose different risks. The FDA will accept comments until April 19, 2017. Read more here.

Roquette to invest over $303 Million in Pea Protein Manufacturing Facility

Roquette, a starch-based products provider, is investing over $303 million to build a pea protein manufacturing site in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. The new operation will be capable of processing over 120,000 tons of pea protein each year and will help the company reach its goal of becoming the largest pea product manufacturer in the world. Pea protein is an ingredient for several alternative meat startups. Read more here. Fun fact: Canada produces roughly 30% of the total global pea supply.

Other News That’s Fit to Chew

  • You can now take classes about meat alternatives at UC Berkeley, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.
  • This new incubator will partner with emerging food and beverage brands, says Prepared Foods.
  • Congrats to AgFunder alum MotorLeaf, a greenhouse and hydroponic automation startup, for making the 2017 IBM Smart Camp: Build Semi Finals! Read more here. The company is still open for investment here.
  • Kraft Heinz and Oprah are teaming up for a refrigerated meal business, reports Forbes
  • According to Burger King, it’s attempt to refresh the brand is paying off, reports MeatingPlace.
  • Kellogg is cutting 250 jobs, reports FoodDIVE.
  • The first genetically modified apples to be sold in the US will hit store shelves next month, reports engadget.

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