Tag: seeds

Corteva invests in seed treatment facility in South Africa

May 10, 2022

Corteva Agriscience has recently invested in a South Africa-based seed treatment facility to help in developing healthier seeds and reducing yield loss.

Earth Day 2022: Charting the course to a resilient food system with dynamic systems modeling

April 21, 2022

Dynamic systems modeling is a practical quantitative tool for businesses, investors, and policymakers to assess an investment’s likely impact.

Crop scientists must seize upon every new technology to future-proof food systems

April 4, 2022

Crop scientists at facilities like the new Future Seeds gene bank are making use of genomic sequencing, AI, and ML to enhance our pool of agricultural resources, Joe Tohme writes.

Nitrogen fixer Andes scores $15m from Bayer, Wilbur-Ellis to move into carbon capture

September 14, 2021

Andes has developed a seed treatment that enhances crops’ nitrogen-fixing capabilities, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. It’s eyeing carbon next.

This year’s biggest agrifoodtech IPO will probably involve a company you’ve definitely heard of

July 2, 2021

It could file its prospectus – seeking to raise a reported $10 billion at a $60 billion valuation – as soon as next week.

Equinom raises $20m Series C funding from BASF, others for ‘improved’ alt-protein seeds

June 22, 2021

The Israeli startup combines AI-driven technology with exotic and ancient crop types to breed seeds with superior nutritional qualities.

Brief: BASF to launch 30+ sustainable ag R&D projects worth $9bn by 2030

March 5, 2021

The projects will complement BASF’s offerings in seeds, seed treatments, biological and chemical solutions, and digital services.

Startup Spotlight: How Zayndu is cleaning up seeds with non-toxic plasma tech

February 8, 2021

Zayndu offers a non-toxic plasma disinfectant technology that kills pathogens on seeds while boosting germination rates, according to CEO Ralph Weir.

Benson Hill raises $150m in GV & Wheatsheaf-led Series D round

October 29, 2020

The US startup has developed a non-GMO soybean with 50% more protein than conventional varieties with the hope of tapping into the plant-based alternatives market.

Bayer & Temasek launch $30m seed genetics business targeting vertical farms

August 12, 2020

Named Unfold, the new venture has received $30 million in funding from the two companies, along with rights to germplasm from Bayer’s vegetable portfolio.

Noroo wants to power Asia’s smallholders and vertical farmers with its ‘seed to table’ model

August 4, 2020

The Korean chemical giant’s Singapore agribiz hub will “pioneer solutions for the world food supply chain through innovation, not just plain food trading,” its CEO tells AFN.

Syngenta restructures, rebrands, and relaunches after taking $5.6bn Chinese biz on board

June 18, 2020

CEO Erik Fyrwald previously told AFN that Syngenta’s takeover by ChemChina “gives us the freedom for increased investment around seeds and crop protection.”

Seedlinked scores $500k seed round to weed the antiquity out of specialty seeds

June 11, 2020

The Midwest-startup wants to take some of the guesswork out of the seed development and grower selection process through a heavy dose of transparency.

Pea power! Israeli seed breeder Equinom closes $10m Series B

February 19, 2020

Equinom uses computational breeding, not genetic engineering, to breed crops with enhanced properties, such as a higher protein pea.

Startup Spotlight: Seed-X wants to help farmers find the right seed using AI and computer vision

October 1, 2019

Through its Genetic Traits Detection Platform, the company is hoping to make seed selection more accurate and reliable for farmers.

The Crop Trust Raises $300m of $850m Target to Safeguard Global Biodiversity

May 17, 2016

AgFunderNews caught up with Cierra Martin and Hannes Dempewolf of The Crop Trust, an international organization working to safeguard crop diversity forever, to find out more about its work, and its fundraising initiative.

Syngenta Crop Challenge Winners Emphasize Importance of an Interdisciplinary Approach to Agtech

May 2, 2016

Swiss agribusiness Syngenta has announced the winners of its first ever Syngenta Crop Challenge, which challenged entrants to develop a model that predicts the seed varieties farmers should plant next season to maximize yield.

Adaptive Symbiotic Technologies Raises $3.4m Series A on AgFunder

January 21, 2016

The seed treatment company raised the majority of the funding from an Australian agriculture producer.

Syngenta Crop Challenge Aims to Bring Science of Data Analytics to Agriculture with Award

November 2, 2015

Syngenta is teaming up with the Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences (INFORMS) to create a new joint award: The Syngenta Crop Challenge.

Paine & Partners Invests in Suba Seeds from $893m Fund IV

October 29, 2015

The agribusiness private equity fund has made the second investment from the newly-closed Fund IV in a busy year of divestments, IPOs and investment for the firm.