Ag robotics and automation startups swarmed the news this week, coinciding with the FIRA 2024 farm robotics show in Sacramento, California. Agtonomy, Carbon Robotics, FarmDroid, and others all announced fundraises, while AgFunder portco Verdant Robotics unveiled a new AI-powered tractor implement and The Reservoir launched a new incubator concept for farm robotics.
Beyond the ‘bots, advanced materials company Orbital Materials got backing from NVIDIA’s venture arm and Chilean foodtech NotCo unveiled a new AI-powered “fragrance formulator.”
Foodtech funding
🇺🇸 The Robot Report
🇬🇧 Cristiano Ronaldo invests in Bioniq, a supplement brand valued at $82m Athlete Tech News
🇬🇧 MicroLub closes £3.5m investment round to commercialise fat replacement tech FoodBev Media
🇦🇺 Breakthrough Vic invests $2.5m in insect protein pioneer, Viridian Food and Drink Business
🇺🇸 MeliBio Secures Strategic Investment to Transform the Honey Industry Vegconomist
🇺🇸 Hydrosome labs secures $3.7 million in seed funding to expand sales and R&D Yahoo Finance
Agtech funding
🇺🇸 Carbon Robotics eyes new regions, products with $70m raise: ‘We’re focused very intently on the field’ AgFunderNews
🇺🇸 Agtonomy hails common sense approach after raising $32.8 million AgTechNavigator
🇮🇳 Dairy-tech startup Stellapps raises $26 million in series C funding Business Standard
🇩🇰 Danish agtech FarmDroid secures €10.5 million for its autonomous, solar-powered agricultural robot FarmDroid
🇧🇷 The Yield Lab Latam invests in Courageous Land The Yield Lab (via LinkedIn)
Climate tech
🇺🇸 Orbital Materials receives investment from NVentures FinSMEs
M&A, IPOs & partnerships
🇨🇭 🇺🇸 Atlas Agro, International Raw Materials announce green nitrogen offtake and marketing deal ICIS
🇧🇩 Fashol and government join forces: combating middlemen and price hikes in Bangladesh’s agricultural markets Fashol (via LinkedIn)
🇺🇸 Blue Evolution and Blu3 Merge to Drive Industry Leadership in Sustainable Seaweed Innovation Newswires
Funds, grants & accelerators
🇩🇪 German ministry grants €2.6m to project upcycling dairy waste into mycelium protein Green Queen
People moves
🇬🇧 Quorn CEO steps down, ex-MD of Heineken UK David Flochel is appointed, says “2025 will be a reset year for the company” Vegconomist
Other news
🇦🇿 COP29 president reveals final text of 9 climate-focused pledges including food waste Agriculture Dive
🇨🇱 NotCo unveils AI-powered fragrance formulator, unlocking unprecedented personalization, customization and creativity Business Wire
🇺🇸 Sharpshooter implement uses Verdant Robotics AI to target weeds The Robot Report
🇺🇸 Fresh Thyme brings Afresh AI-tech to deli, prepared foods departments Grocery Dive
🇺🇸 The Reservoir unveils the first on-farm robotics incubators Wine Industry Advisor
🇺🇸 Plant-based meat, US retail: Refrigerated remains in freefall, frozen starting to plateau AgFunderNews
🇩🇪 Vegconomist
🇺🇸 Chipotle’s latest automation tool to help with hiring, recruitment Restaurant Dive
