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.
Liberation Bio has "no acceptable offers," ransomware on the rise, layoffs at Carbon Robotics, 'dependable 'biologicals, pulsed light for zapping weeds, mystery bidder for Believer Meats, physical AI for forestry
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: If lack of fit-for-purpose manufacturing capacity was a critical bottleneck for next-gen precision fermented ingredients, why is Liberation Bio struggling to raise the funds to get its Indiana facility over the finish line? Elsewhere, robotics hit the headlines as Kodama raised $7m to scale physical AI for forestry, Reservoir Farms announced a new site in Washington, and Earth Rover gave us the lowdown on zapping weeds with pulsed light. There was less positive news at Carbon Robotics, however, which blamed “broader economic conditions” for an undisclosed number of layoffs. Plus:
And finally, agrifood is on track to have a record number of ransomware incidences this year, but businesses large and small can still take steps to ensure greater security. Have a great week! Louisa, Jenn, and Elaine And a big thanks to this week's headline sponsor: ‘No acceptable offers’ for Liberation Bioindustries as firm seeks to plug $25m funding gap Why is the firm struggling to raise funds? Elaine Watson Recent agrifood cyberattacks are ‘a wakeup call’ for the industry as ransomware incidences increase No agrifood business is immune, but all of them can take precautionary steps now to secure their operations, says Food and Ag-ISAC. Jennifer Marston Layoffs at Carbon Robotics as firm “realigns costs due to broader economic conditions” One former employee claimed the firm had “rapidly scaled headcount only to issue a sudden massive layoff months later, with some employees let go just weeks after starting.” Elaine Watson Unnamed bidder submits LOI to acquire Believer Meats’ US site The receiver has also received a draft asset purchase agreement from key creditor Gray Construction. Elaine Watson IMIO's freeze-dried biologicals can deliver yield improvements, fertilizer savings, and tillage savings, says CEO Charles Smith. Elaine Watson Kodama nets $7m to scale physical AI for ‘intelligent forestry’ Loggers face growing demand for timber, forest management, and wildfire-resilience but struggle to find and retain reliable operators. Elaine Watson Reservoir Farms expands to Pacific Northwest to accelerate physical AI “This year Reservoir Farms is profitable. We'll do $5m+ ARR in 2026," says founder Danny Bernstein. Elaine Watson We’re building the future of agriculture Nowhere else in the world is better positioned to lead the next era of food and agricultural innovation than Iowa. Here, unparalleled production meets world-class research, entrepreneurial drive and a deep-rooted spirit of collaboration. See why global leaders like Vylor choose Iowa. 🎥 Earth Rover bets on pulsed light to tackle weeds without chemicals Earth Rover's CLAWS robot targets individual weeds with pulsed light to destroy the meristem without harming surrounding plants or soil. Elaine Watson Brevel teams up with The Wave Group to scale illuminated fermentation in India Construction at the 300,000-L site will begin later this year, with full-scale production set to commence in 18 months. Elaine Watson Lumi AI finds new home at Newforma as agentic analytics gathers pace - AgFunder portfolio co! AI that touches project decisions must meet three tests, says Newforma. Answers must be explainable, verifiable, and accurate. Elaine Watson 🎥 SenseUP aims to take RNAi pesticides from niche to mainstream Traditional pesticides are blunt instruments. RNAi is far more precise, if you can overcome cost and stability challenges, says SenseUP. Elaine Watson It will take more than data to improve traceability in the cotton supply chain New research supported by Cotton Diaries explores the idea of "relational traceability" and making farmers a key source of intel. Jennifer Marston Plus: hackers at John Deere. Jennifer Marston Real-world AI impact in agriculture The future belongs to operators who scale intelligence. See how Citri&Co partnered with ORTH to turn decades of agronomic expertise into real-time, enterprise-wide action, setting a new benchmark for global fruit production. US spray drone market “very much in flux” as firms attempt to navigate evolving landscape, says ASDC The challenge has been compounded by a recent FCC proposal that could ban sales of existing foreign-made drones as well as new models. Elaine Watson It’s time to take action on cybersecurity in agrifood This week, hackers forced up temperature in freezers and fridges at several hundred French supermarkets, causing food spoilage and fires. Jennifer Marston UK Agri-Tech Centre to slash workforce by 60% in strategic pivot The move is “not a cost-cutting exercise" but reflects a shift to a new operating model, says its chief engagement officer. Elaine Watson
Aigen launches four-arm robot that pulls weeds without herbicide - Featuring Aigen! Global Agriculture
Farmed salmon now being raised on chicken Financial Times Imagine every AI agent on earth buying the same cheap paper towels The Atlantic Bayer study finds EU and UK crop output lagging global rivals iGrow News Maybe there was an egg cartel after all Politico Ahold Delhaize’s digital disaster is a customer retention nightmare Grocery Dive Journal of Food Science There is no quick fix for high beef prices Bloomberg The bio-reckoning is here in agriculture CropLife 2026 Global AgriFoodTech Investment Report 2025 Developing Markets AgriFoodTech Investment Report 2025 Global AgriFoodTech Investment Report 10 years in agrifoodtech: an 83-page e-zine Climate Capital: Financing Adaptation Pathways for Smallholder Farmers 3Bee (Milan, Italy) Manager, growth and business development Varaha (Gurgaon, India) Marketing and social media associate Atinary Technologies (Vaud, Switzerland) Senior agronomic development analyst Solinftec (Sinop, Brazil) SAYeTECH (Ejisu, Ghana) Embedded software development analyst Solinftec (Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil) ♥️ 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: With AI and digital tools more prevalent than ever in ag, it's critical to take action on cybersecurity threats already here, says Jenn. Elsewhere, 10 months after the FCC’s bombshell decision to ban sales of new models of foreign made drones in the US, the US ag spray drone market is “very much in flux," experts tell...
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 went wrong at Kenyan ag marketplace Twiga? Poor execution, high operating costs, or a flawed business model? Elsewhere, with the rise of GLP-1s, will food companies begin to compete on a “nutrition per calorie” basis? Plus: Regen organic: Can it make crops ‘measurably more nutritious?' Ag robotics: Picker's Dr...
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. AI is all over agtech now, but farmers need field-level context and better interoperability to make these tools useful. Jenn spoke with Farmers Business Network about its plans to build agriculture's "first AI context engine" with Google to deliver this. Plus: Foodtech 2.0: FOOD FOUNDERS' next two startups Cultivated meat: Believer...