As smartphones have proliferated and technological advancements have enabled more transparency around agricultural products and pricing, farmers are gaining more trust in online tools as a means to do business and improve their finances.
Azaneo is developing a quick-pulse, low-power electrical weeding technology it hopes will reduce dependence on chemical herbicides.
Meanwhile, Perfect Day finds a buyer for its consumer-facing brands and the USDA will invest in underserved forest landowners.
CH4 Global, a startup dedicated to slashing methane emissions from ruminant livestock using red seaweed-based supplements, has announced the first close ($29m) of a $45m series B round.
Elsewhere, food robots and restaurant tech saw new funding rounds but also hefty fines for some.
Indonesia’s Beleaf raised funds for its agrbusiness marketplace, Zomato hit profitability for the first time, and White Castle went in on AI.
Hiringa Energy and Australian agricultural co. Sundown Pastoral Co have been awarded A$35.8m ($23.6m ) from the New South Wales government to build a green hydrogen and ammonia production facility that will slash carbon emissions from fuel and fertilizer.
ZoomAgri will use the new capital to expand availability of its AI-based system for improving varietal and quality detection.
Israeli startups and investors unveil a flurry of new deals, plus more bad news for Getir.
Australian startup Nourish Ingredients uses precision fermentation to make fats with an ‘authentic animal taste, aroma and natural cooking reactions’ for the next generation of meat alternatives.
The FarmLab agronomy platform can help farmers better map, sample and analyze soil for agronomy and carbon projects.
Food robotics had a busy week with several new fundraises; vertical farming company CubicAcres launched a partnership with IGS.
Biotech startup Allonnia raises $30 million, Nestlé says it’s “moving away” from carbon offsets.
Pano AI says the Series A extension highlights the urgent need for more innovations around climate mitigation and adaptation.
Agribusiness platform Unnati Agri lands new funding, hospitality startup C3 buys beleaguered virtual restaurant platform Nextbite.
Stay up to date with the latest people moves for the agrifood industry.
Fazla lands $6 million to stop food waste, Quorn invests in alt deli meat startup Prime Roots.
This week, Neat Burger raised $18m to take its plant-based restaurant chain into new markets, while synthetic biology startup Debut raised $34 million to expand its cell-free biomanufacturing platform.
Climate startup FLINTpro lands $9 million and Meatable says it can produce cultivated pork in just eight days.
From insects to indoor greens, Australian startups demonstrate the potential for novel farming systems at home and abroad.
Smoke & mirrors, not worth the extra cost: 50 US farmers speak out on carbon markets