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.
Moa Tech raises $30m for next-gen weed management, bidders circle Believer Meats plant, self-GRAS rule delayed, editing the 'dark genome,' nitrogen fixing biologicals
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This week: UK-based Moa Technology raises $30m to advance its discovery platform for novel modes of action in weed management, and gene-editing startup Phytoform works with top seed companies to improve corn genetics. Elsewhere, a proposed rule to eliminate the self-GRAS pathway for food ingredients—which had been expected in the spring—will now be published in December. But the latest outline raises more questions than answers. Plus:
And finally… Switch Bioworks begins multi-state field trials testing nitrogen-fixing microbes designed to colonize plant roots before switching on ammonia production several weeks into the growing season. Have a great week! Louisa, Jenn, and Elaine Moa Technology raises $30m to advance novel modes of action in weed management The firm has discovered 80+ novel modes of action areas for controlling weeds. Jennifer Marston UPSIDE’s $50m bid may not be final word on Believer Meats plant as auction deadline shifts US receiver: “Numerous discussions have occurred with interested parties and multiple parties have visited the facility.” Elaine Watson Believer Meats trustee sets August 5 deadline for cultivated meat IP auction “The IP and know-how are attractive as they shorten the path from laboratory biology to a manufacturable platform," says Yoel Freilich. Elaine Watson Rockefeller Foundation commits $4m to rebuild the rural economy through better farmland With the new investment, Alder Point will acquire and bring more under-managed land into responsible stewardship. Jennifer Marston All G makes US debut with low-iron lactoferrin via precision fermentation Startups making lactoferrin via precision fermentation are exploring ways to differentiate themselves as more players pile into the space. Elaine Watson Self-GRAS proposal now expected in December; new description has ‘significant changes,’ says expert A final rule is unlikely before late 2028 or 2029, "particularly given the legal challenges that are virtually certain to follow," says attorney. Elaine Watson Phytoform partners with major seed breeders to bring AI-powered plant design to corn crops The companies will target “whole-plant corn architecture” to improve harvestable yield and productivity. Jennifer Marston Switch Bioworks tests ‘switchable’ nitrogen-fixing microbes in corn for fertilizer Replacing 25% of nitrogen fertilizer and maintaining yields would be a major win, with biology’s likely upper limit around 50%, says the firm. Elaine Watson 🎥 Can editing the ‘dark genome’ make crops more heat tolerant? Plantik Biosciences targets untapped genetic regions in plants to improve their response to heat stress and increase resilience. Elaine Watson AgriFood Signals: Trump tariffs on Canada, McCormick + Unilever merger, Coca-Cola’s Fairlife hacked Plus: Plantopia bags $9m to grow dairy proteins in oats. Jennifer Marston Turn agricultural data into actionable sustainability results Measurable impact starts with visibility. Doktar combines precision agriculture, AI and digital monitoring to help organizations improve resource use, strengthen resilience and verify outcomes across farms and regions. Connect with our team to build a more transparent and data-driven sustainability strategy. Ichor's novel mode of action comes as the fungicide pipeline thins, resistance increases, and regulators are tighten the rules. Jennifer Marston Leaps By Bayer backs Sabanto to bring ‘practical autonomy to more farms’ Retrofitting existing tractors lowers the cost of adopting autonomy for cash- and labor-strapped farmers, says Sabanto. Jennifer Marston Rize lands $31m to help rice farmers cut methane emissions, water usage Rice paddies represent some 10–12% of global methane emissions, largely due to conventional cultivation techniques. Jennifer Marston
Unpacking how AI reshapes nutrition innovation from discovery to commercialization - Featuring Brightseed! Nutrition Insight Sabanto, Verdant Robotics integrate autonomous tractor operation - Featuring Verdant Robotics! Evertiq
America's farmers may see deeper losses in 2027 Ag Daily Lighthouse Reports Trump administration proposes grant overhaul that could upend farm funding Civil Eats Researchers use the Tanager satellite to detect ammonia from space Carbon Mapper 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 Field tech - south Brittany/Morbihan phagos (remote/Le Mans, France) HR lead Faeth Therapeutics (remote/USA) Financial controller, biomanufacturing Future Fields (Alberta, Canada) Cromatic (San Francisco, California, US) Eratani (Jakarta, Indonesia) Varaha (Gurgaon, Haryana, India) Business development director, west coast, US Aerobotics (California, 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, Elaine caught up with David Protein founder Peter Rahal after his $250m Series B and took a deep dive into ag robotics at Reservoir Farms to learn how startups are starting to build more flexible 'bots, more quickly. Elsewhere, Jenn quizzed PepsiCo on how to support the next generation of farmers. Plus: David Protein: Medici...
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, UPSIDE Foods terminated its $50 million bid for Believer Meats' US cultivated meat facility but says it “remains interested” in the site. Elsewhere, TerraBlaster—a startup using tech first deployed on the Mars rover to determine levels of key nutrients in the soil—raised a $12.5 million seed round as it gears up for...
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: Single-cell protein has attracted growing interest as an efficient way to produce protein, but many startups have struggled to scale. dsm-firmenich is betting that an optimized yeast strain, low-cost feedstocks, and superior yield and productivity can close the gap. Elsewhere, gene editing is rapidly expanding beyond row...