Lauren Manning, Author at AgFunderNews

Lauren Manning

Lauren is a contributing writer for AFN, a lawyer, an adjunct law professor and raises cattle, sheep, and goats in Northwest Arkansas. You can contact her at [email protected].

Austria’s Evologic raises $3m for bio-based fungal inputs

May 21, 2021

The Viennese startup is verifying the quality of its biological products by working with large-scale distributors to earn farmers’ trust.

Brief: The USDA wants your input on food supply chain resiliency

May 17, 2021

The USDA is now seeking public comments on how to improve and revamp food supply chains including production, processing, and distribution.

Brief: AquaBounty’s first commercial harvest of its GE salmon will happen this month

May 13, 2021

AquaBounty has encountered a number of challenges in its mission to commercialize its GE salmon including a labeling disclosure controversy.

Groundwork BioAg raises $11m to expand mycorrhizal inputs business

May 13, 2021

Grondwork BioAg has developed a line of biobased inputs sold on five continents based on mychorrizae, which it describes as queen of biologicals.

Valmont acquires crop analytics startup Prospera for $300m

May 13, 2021

With Prospera on board, Valmont now claims to be the world’s largest, vertically integrated artificial intelligence company in agriculture.

Personalized nutrition startup Zoe raises $20m Series B for at-home testing kits

May 11, 2021

Zoe offers at-home gut health, blood sugar, and blood fat tests to help consumers gain better insight into their health and wellness.

CEA Food Safety Coalition leafy greens certification label mockup

CEA Food Safety Coalition launches certification standard for indoor-grown leafy greens

May 10, 2021

The CEA Food Safety Coalition has launched a new certification for indoor leafy greens growers that takes into account the industry’s specific attributes.

Hwy Haul raises $10m Series A for produce logistics marketplace

May 6, 2021

Hwy Haul wants to modernize the antiquated produce supply chain through its digital platform while reducing spoilage and boosting profits in the process.

CubicFarm Systems nets $1.5m for on-site indoor farming setup to feed livestock

May 3, 2021

The Canadian company is testing its HydroGreen indoor forage-growing technology with a major beef and dairy operation in Wyoming.

EXCLUSIVE: Vence raises $12m to enable rotational grazing with virtual electric fences

April 28, 2021

Vence aims to use the Series A funds to support more rotational grazing with its GPS-enabled collars that can keep livestock within virtual boundaries.

Startup Spotlight: PowerPollen’s ‘on-demand’ pollination tech could make bees’ lives easier

April 26, 2021

PowerPollen has come up with a way to apply collected pollen to female plants any time of day or night, maximizing yield and reducing risk.

Cargill, Sysco invest $5m for sustainable grazing in the US Southern Great Plains

April 23, 2021

Alongside the US National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, the partners will fund grants for sustainable grazing practices in the Southern Great Plains.

On Earth Day 2021, Climate Neutral says it has signed 230 brands to its net-zero certification

April 22, 2021

Carbon Neutral aims to help brands with carbon accounting and offsetting by providing a third-party certification and consumer-facing label.

Brief: UAE’s Madar Farms partners with UK vertical farming startup IGS

April 22, 2021

Madar Farms is one of several indoor ag operations that the UAE – which imports 80% of its food – has invested in to boost domestic production.

Brief: E-grocer Ocado invests $14m in autonomous vehicle startup Oxbotica

April 21, 2021

With e-grocery adoption skyrocketing due to Covid-19, grocery delivery companies like UK-based Ocado are finding new reasons to seek out innovation.

OneSoil raises $5m to expand services in Europe, North America

April 21, 2021

OneSoil uses machine learning and satellite imagery to offer agricultural analytics and field insights for farmers at no cost.

EXCLUSIVE: Brazil’s Agrolend raises $1.6m seed funding for farmer fintech solution

April 21, 2021

Agrolend is aiming to offer better financing options for Brazilian farmers who have faced challenges like depreciation of the country’s currency.

Brief: Danone recertifies B Corp status, posts ‘even higher’ impact scores

April 20, 2021

Danone subsidiary Nutricia North America, a specialized nutrition brand, also recently achieved Certified B Corp status.

Bushel bags $47m Series C funding as it scales up & eyes new fintech offering

April 20, 2021

The North Dakotan startup is on a mission to digitalize the grain supply chain and now plans to add fintech offerings to its app-based trading platform.