AgFunder Network Partners

Category: Research & Data

4 reasons why the food & agtech boom is no false dawn

September 11, 2019

As the industry attracts more and more attention from mainstream investors, is this investment category here to stay, asks Danny O’Brien from Idea2Scale.

The world’s banana supply is at risk. Here’s what you need to know

September 11, 2019

A deadly fungus is putting the world’s banana supply at risk. Here’s what you need to know about Fusarium TR4, and what researchers are doing to fight it

Why Indiana is becoming a leader in agbioscience innovation

September 10, 2019

There’s no better place to cultivate an agbioscience ecosystem than America’s heartland in Indiana, especially as the region already presents the perfect convergence of agriculture, biology, and science/tech.

ZeaKal clinches $15 million Series C funding, hires veteran DuPont exec

September 10, 2019

Totaling $15 million, the round includes the $10 million strategic investment from Canopy Rivers announced earlier this year. Existing investors Finistere Ventures and Middleland Capital participated in the round, which was oversubscribed.

PepsiCo says North American potatoes are now 100% sustainably-sourced

September 9, 2019

The global giant has chosen a farmer-to-farmer, business-minded approach for inspiring its proprietary potato growing partners to adopt more sustainable practices.

What happened to those GM spider goats with the silky milk?

September 2, 2019

This is not just kidding around with mind-bending science experiments for its own sake; dozens of potential applications exist for spider silk, like new ligaments or bullet-proof vests.

A mini-guide to cannabis in Asia

August 31, 2019

Asia’s softening its stance towards cannabis, a once-taboo drug. It’s been legalized in three countries here, and counting. But is it a good time to invest?

Farmers are adopting regenerative ag practices, but who’s leading the movement?

August 30, 2019

Comparing 2012 and 2017 Census of Agriculture Data, the Soil Health Institute identified a 50% increase in adoption of regenerative agriculture practices like no-till drilling and cover cropping.

The Amazon is being decimated. How could tech have prevented it?

August 28, 2019

The Amazon Rainforest is being whittled away by one of the most massive blazes in history. Could tech have prevented it?

How much should you feed fish? UMITRON’s ‘Fish Appetite Index’ can tell you

August 26, 2019

How much do fish need to eat? UMITRON tells us how its tech uses machine learning & IoT for aquaculture. We also interview their co-founder & MD.

UPDATE: Why is insect-based protein sprouting wings in Asia?

August 20, 2019

From the bustling streets of Bangkok and into labs in the APAC region, here’s how start-ups here are harnessing the power of the insect kingdom.

Do consumers actually want restaurant tech?

August 20, 2019

A new study exploring consumer attitudes towards restaurant technology revealed that some see it as a quick marketing gig while others expect restaurants to adopt new digital tools.

If we really want to sequester more carbon, agriculture can’t be made the enemy, says microbial input startup Locus

August 19, 2019

Ohio-based Locus has developed microbial inputs that help a variety of crops to sequester as much as 121% more carbon.

Who’s bringing China its bacon now that it’s running low?

August 12, 2019

A worldwide pork deficit is impending and one virus is to blame. But who’s going to fill in the gaps? Meat giant Tyson’s latest earnings reveal it’s not them, with the US-China trade war largely to blame. Could they lose out to alternatives like Impossible Foods?

Does the WRI’s new Sustainable Food Future report need an update already?

July 25, 2019

As a tech journalist aware of the potential for rapid change and transformation in this and any other industry, it seems crazy to me to be using nearly 10-year old data as a guide for decision making today and in the future.

FAIRR: Companies Have a Long Way to go to Meet Alternative Protein Demand

July 24, 2019

Major multinational food companies aren’t being proactive enough in offering more alternative protein options, according to investor network FAIRR, but plenty of challenges still lie ahead in alternative protein’s mission to disrupt meat.

NewLeaf & Joyn Bio are Latest Biologics Startups to Partner on Microbes

July 22, 2019

Biologics hold substantial promise for a more sustainable food system, but with millions of microbes to sort through, startups are turning to partnerships to hunt for the most promising strains in the bacterial haystack.

Corporate Inaction on Deforestation Amounts to $30bn in Losses – and Counting – new report

July 16, 2019

Corporations with commitments to end deforestation across their supply chains are woefully at risk of failure, according to a report identifying Associated British Foods, The Kraft Heinz Company, and Avon among others at risk.

Regenerative Agriculture is Having a Moment and 70 Investments Worth $47.5bn are in it

July 11, 2019

Regenerative agriculture is having a moment. For long-time regen ag practitioners and proponents, this is probably jarring. But having written about regenerative agriculture for five years now, I’ve never seen such engagement or our stories about this ultra-sustainable method of farming perform so well.

Montana Ranchers Can Now Get Paid to Sequester Carbon Using Rotational Grazing Practices

July 11, 2019

The Western Sustainability Exchange is helping farmers adopt rotational grazing plans that improve carbon sequestration by helpingthem sell carbon credits.