Ginkgo Bioworks and Vitales will accelerate development and launch of two new biocontrol products that target soybean diseases in Brazil.
Farmers still struggle with additional costs associated with planting and terminating cover crops, and in some cases reduced crop yields.
The deal will create an agricultural giant and likely face regulatory scrutiny in certain countries including Argentina and Canada.
Resurrect Bio uses gene editing to fix the innate immune system of crops and make them more resistant to disease.
Once focused on cotton, Texas Crop Science is now partnering with world-renowned plant genetics company GDM for high-yielding soybean varieties for farmers.
Puna Bio will launch its seed treatment that leverages the power of extremophiles — bacteria that can make plants more resilient to extreme conditions.
Less than one year after going public, crop genetics company Benson Hill discusses the role its closed-loop farming system has over all of its ESG metrics.
The US-based company provides ag biotech startups with many of the complex processes and equipment required to grow genetically engineered plants at scale.
The deal will allow the company to deliver its “improved” ingredients to plant-based protein producers more quickly, according to CEO Matt Crisp.
The US startup embeds “living sensors” in seeds that can signal plant distress, helping to mitigate crop loss and over-reliance on pesticides.
It’s using soybeans to produce casein, the protein found in cows’ milk which gives cheese its characteristic “melt, stretch, and mouthfeel.”
“We have absolutely no aversion to doing that, we just haven’t had the bandwidth,” he said.
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.
A European family office led the round, which requested anonymity, with investment advisors Fonte Capital and EthicalFin both helping to bring in the latest tranche.
One of the drags on successful agtech innovation is the under-representation of the producers’ voice, writes the Illinois Soybean Association.
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