AgFunder Network Partners

Category: Opinion

Future Food: Catching up with GFI’s Bruce Friedrich to talk alt protein winners, losers, innovation whitespace

December 12, 2019

In this episode of the podcast, I catch-up with GFI's Bruce Friedrich and revisit some questions I asked him back in 2016.

Exploiting Intellectual Property rights in the UK’s food and drink sector

December 11, 2019

This article is intended to demystify IP in the food and drink industry and shed light on the full extent of the opportunities available to companies to protect and benefit from their IP, with a particular focus on the role patent protection can play.

How IGS reduces vertical farming costs

December 11, 2019

It can be hard to explain exactly how Intelligent Growth Solution's tech works, so we caught up with Niall Skinner, lead mechanical engineer at IGS to get an in-depth explanation.

As agtech moves from “more with less” to higher quality, Benson Hill Seeds has right idea for 2020

December 9, 2019

Do more with less. It's probably fair to say that's been the key mantra for the agtech industry over the past decade. As we approach 2020, expect more attention on improving the quality of the food we produce. Benson Hill is one example.

Is Los Angeles a natural hub for agricultural innovation?

December 3, 2019

LA's historical but also growing bond with agriculture, technology, and food uniquely positions it to be a leader in the industry’s transformations, writes Liron Brish.

Connecterra moves on from FitBit for cows to predictive intelligence, regenerative ag

November 28, 2019

Consumers and retailers are putting increasing demands on the world’s dairy farmers- not just to provide more supply but to do it with improved environmental credentials, better traceability, lower use of antibiotics and medicine, and more humane treatment of animals.

Australia joins agri-foodtech VC party with Tenacious Ventures’ $16m raise

November 21, 2019

AFN caught up with Nolet ahead of her speech at Southstart to find out more about the raise, and what to expect from a fledgling Tenacious.

Meet the Farmer: Lynn Rohrscheib is staying true to her farming roots

November 19, 2019

Editor's Note: AFN's Lauren Stine collaborated with Successful Farming's Laurie Bedord to interview Lynn Rohrscheib about her farm and use of technology.

Bayer CropScience COO: acquisition is exception to rule in startup interactions

November 14, 2019

We caught up with Brett Begemann in London recently to talk glyphosate, Bayer's venture activities, digital ag, gene editing and smallholder farmers.

Oyster farming: a true triple bottom line win

November 14, 2019

Recent academic work has found that oyster farming can remove nitrogen, phosphate and sediment from the water column making it more than just a profitable business with growing global demand, writes Chip Terry.

Dean Foods goes bust thanks to a fatal error: shying away from alt-milk

November 13, 2019

America’s biggest milk producer has just filed for bankruptcy — a newsflash that’s been a bit like hearing thunder after seeing lightning: stunning, but predictable.

AFN has coffee with… Jasmin Hume, founder of alternative protein startup Shiru

November 7, 2019

Hume met with AFN to discuss how Shiru is leveraging technologies used in therapeutics to make alternative proteins for the food sector.

Future Food: Who’s responsible for obesity? And when Futurist Jack Bobo is pro-tradition

November 7, 2019

"I'm very optimistic and excited about what the world will look like in 2050 but I think it is helpful though to think about where we've come from in order to think about where we're going."

8 key industry trends in AgTech today

November 6, 2019

Sistema_VC recently hosted a conference on agtech and here Dmitry Filatov shares the key industry trends that emerged on the day including tailored food, AI-assistants for farmers, data-driven supply decisions, and more.

Paine Schwartz is eyeing plant-based revolution with new $1.5bn PE fund

November 6, 2019

Institutional investors are increasingly looking to invest in important sectors that matter and food and agriculture is one of them, according to Kevin Schwartz.

Q&A: EDB executive director Lee Eng Keat on Singapore’s role in agri-foodtech innovation

November 5, 2019

We caught up with Lee ahead of the Rethink Agrifood Innovation Week in Singapore later this month to find about how Singapore is positioning itself as an agri-foodtech hub in Asia and globally.

The second generation of vertical farming is approaching. Here’s why it’s important.

November 4, 2019

As vertical farming moves into its next phase where operating expenses are dropping, Boaz Toledano writes that it will be able to compete with the industry organic industry.

We just invested in the fastest-growing agtech company and farmer network in the world

October 30, 2019

People often ask us if agtech will have a Facebook or Google and we’ve told them to look to marketplaces in emerging markets. It’s also important to us at AgFunder that startups have a clear mission and there’s no more noble mission than uplifting the fortunes of the world’s largest workforce.

EXCLUSIVE: Former USDA Sec’y & UNICEF director Ann Veneman joins board of Full Harvest

October 29, 2019

Ann Venemean tells AFN her thoughts on where agri-foodtech can improve, plant-based protein, and one of the biggest takeaways from her career to date.

Startup Spotlight: How Treasure8 is using tech & ingredients to fight food waste

October 28, 2019

The San Francisco-based food waste startup is tackling the global issue from different angles through what it describes as its early-investment platform.