Crude pongamia oil can be converted into biodiesel, renewable diesel, or sustainable aviation fuel, says Terviva founder and CEO Naveen Sikka.
Eventually, says Andrew Ive at Big Idea Ventures, “It all shakes out and the less smart money decides to go chase the next opportunity. So we had foodtech, we had crypto, and now we have AI…”
For more than 30 years, Australia’s rural R&D corporations have partnered with traditional research providers to drive innovation that solves industry challenges. Now, they’re also looking to the startup ecosystem for faster, bolder solutions that reach producers sooner.
Agronomic platform CropX will integrate EnGeniousAg’s nitrogen-sensing technology into its farm management offering.
“What’s really exciting about gene editing is precision and speed,” says Corteva chief technology and digital officer Dr. Sam Eathington.
Peter Rosholm plans to retain the US staff and invest a “substantial” sum to expand capacity, AgFunderNews has learned.
SOLASTA Bio says its biopeptide products perform “as effective or better than standard insecticides.”
Expect fewer agtech-specific funds, more corporate involvement and lots of generative AI.
Reaching sustainability targets could be a big driver for M&A deals in the dairy sector, according to RaboResearch.
HabiTerre will use the funds to scale up its environmental systems models that can analyze farming’s impact on the environment.
Precision ag startup BemAgro will expand its focus into forest management via a new partnership with Suzano Ventures.
“We’re talking about building smaller, smarter facilities with a lot less capital,” says cofounder and CEO Michele Stansfield.
Mercy Corps Ventures has partnered with Stable Foods to launch a new pilot that will test IoT-based irrigation systems for smallholder farms.
The successful close comes after months of upheaval for the venture capital industry globally that’s seen many startups and VC firms struggle amid the downturn.
Eric and Wendy Schmidt’s nonprofit just announced $47.3 million in funding for five US-based teams converting biomass into useful products.
Plus… Nestlé enters ‘blended meat’ space, Ahimsa acquires Good Catch alt-seafood production facility from Gathered Foods, and study probes ‘unexplored’ subsoil.
“We have the financial model, investors, and playbook to scale rapidly,” says the Sweden-based company.
Across its portfolio, SLM has also sequestered 100,000 tons of CO2e in soil and vegetation between 2016 and 2023.
Agrifoodtech investor PeakBridge has closed its Growth Fund II at $187m in partnership with Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity, bringing its total AUM (assets under management) to more than $250m.
Funding into Australian agrifoodtech startups fell 33% last year according to AgFunder data… But it could have been worse: global agrifoodtech funding fell 49% over the same period.
