AgFunderNews reports on the evolution of the global food and agriculture system. By going beyond the headlines, we analyze the people, companies and technologies aiming to improve human and planetary health. Publishing daily, our team of award-winning journalists delivers deeper insight on the growing foodtech, agtech and climate tech industries. A multimedia publication, AgFunderNews is a division of AgFunder, one of the world’s most active agrifoodtech venture capital firms.
A random reckoning for Roundup
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Remarkable retraction: A "landmark" paper on glyphosate safety has been pulled—25 years after publication. It's riveting timing for Bayer’s Roundup Supreme Court appeal. Yet the trigger was a random reckoning for the scientific relic, reports Jenn Marston. 🤔 Too much "regenerative organic" certification could distract us from building a regenerative food system. 🇧🇷 Provivi and Syngenta are taking on Brazil. 🐜 Ÿnsect's demise is a blow for the whole insect-farming industry. Meanwhile, Bayer may be steeped in Roundup litigation, but its work deploying GenAI tools at scale is a potential model for every agrifood corporate hoping to optimize through AI. Keep on truckin'. Louisa, Jenn and Elaine. Landmark glyphosate paper retracted in random reckoning for a scientific relic The retraction of the glyphosate safety report comes as the Trump admin throws support behind Roundup lawsuit appeal. Jennifer Marston Provivi, Syngenta strike major Brazil deal on pheromone pest control Brazil's multimillion-dollar Fall Armyworm problem represents a massive opportunity for California-based Provivi. Jennifer Marston Judicial liquidation for Ÿnsect as insect farming sector ‘struggles to become competitive’ The French pioneer is looking for an acquirer of its assets. Jennifer Marston Seascape Aquatech bets on robotics to reinvent oyster farming "Our strategy is to use our technology as a profit driver and M&A lever," says Seascape CEO. Elaine Watson AgriFood Signals: BSF bags $20m, Nestlé advances regen ag, SF sues ultraprocessed food firms Plus: foodora's delivery 'bots head to Czechia. Jennifer Marston Bayer’s 117bn data points and decade-old data culture drive AI advantage, says CIO Did a $930m acquisition put Bayer ahead of the rest? Louisa Burwood-Taylor We’re off track’ when it comes to regenerative agriculture certification, says Force of Nature CEO Relationships are far more powerful than certification in building consumer trust in regenerative agriculture. Jennifer Marston Europe can be a global technology leader—if it removes barriers to innovation Europe is on par with the US for agrifoodtech investment. But its regulatory environment slows everything down. Michael Dean Where are we in the AI bubble? The stakes resemble mobilization periods like World War II—moments when capital allocation coincided with national survival. Rob Leclerc Why CPG execs, not startups, now lead the AI adoption surge in food production AI use among CPG executives has jumped 69% from last year; human creativity and pristine datasets still matter for food innovation. Jennifer Marston
🌾 Why the 'regenerative organic' certification exists—and why the food system needs it A lack of consistent standards leaves room for loose interpretations—and outright greenwashing. Jennifer Marston As for the overall funding landscape, says Verween, “I’m a little bit afraid that we haven't hit rock bottom yet.” Elaine Watson 📈 Signs of maturity for biostimulants as market hits $4.47bn: DunhamTrimmer Despite inflation, supply-chain turbulence, and regulatory shifts, biostimulants have shown remarkable resilience. Jennifer Marston Lessons learned from 5 years of food tech investing Food Dive San Francisco will sue ultraprocessed food companies NY Times Our 2025 food and farming holiday book gift guide Civil Eats Trump to halt some food aid support for Democratic-led states over data fight Reuters The food industry must face up to nature-related risk Financial Times DeepRoots and Propagate partner to scale agroforestry in the UK - Featuring Propagate! DeepRoots 2025 Developing Markets AgriFoodTech Investment Report 2025 Global AgriFoodTech Investment Report 2024 Asia Pacific AgriFoodTech Investment Report 2024 Africa AgriFoodTech Investment Report 10 years in agrifoodtech: our exclusive 83-page e-zine! 2024 India AgriFoodTech Investment Report Climate Capital: Financing Adaptation Pathways for Smallholder Farmers Global Director of Quality Assurance GreenLight Biosciences (Rochester, New York, US) Atinary (Epalinges, Switzerland) Hoxton Farms (London, UK) SQL database developer analyst Solinftec (remote) General manager, SADC region Aerobotics (Cape Town/Western Cape, South Africa/hybrid) Social media and design intern Phagos (Suresnes, France) GreenLight Biosciences (Rochester, New York, US) ♥️ our newsletter? Forward to a friend or subscribe here |
AgFunderNews
AgFunderNews reports on the evolution of the global food and agriculture system. By going beyond the headlines, we analyze the people, companies and technologies aiming to improve human and planetary health. Publishing daily, our team of award-winning journalists delivers deeper insight on the growing foodtech, agtech and climate tech industries. A multimedia publication, AgFunderNews is a division of AgFunder, one of the world’s most active agrifoodtech venture capital firms.
Express interest in investing in Fund V. AgFunder is a top 100 VC, according to TIME and Statista. Is your business ready for AI analytics? Find out more here. This week… What happens when a market built on foreign tech is told it must go domestic, almost overnight? Elaine Watson explores what’s next for the US ag drone sector. Elsewhere, as world leaders assemble in Davos at a time many are backsliding on ESG, Jenn Marston asks: What is planetary health, and why does it matter for the global...
Express interest in investing in Fund V. AgFunder is a top 100 VC, according to TIME and Statista. Is your business ready for AI analytics? Find out more here. This big news this week… A flurry of carbon removal megadeals from Microsoft, which teamed up with Indigo for soil carbon removal, Varaha for biochar, and Rubicon Carbon for forestry. Elsewhere… a cash injection for biopesticide startup SenseUP, which is tackling the twin challenges of cost and stability in RNAi-based crop protection....
Express interest in investing in Fund V. AgFunder is a top 100 VC, according to TIME and Statista. Is your business ready for AI analytics? Find out more here. The big news this week: New US Dietary Guidelines recommend a near-doubling of the current protein RDA and debut a redesigned food pyramid emphasizing animal-based sources. It's prompted a flurry of debate over how this squares with advice to limit saturated fat. "Highly processed" foods, meanwhile, are off the menu. What this means in...