AgFunderNews reports on the evolution of the global food and agriculture system. By going beyond the headlines, we analyse the people, companies and technologies aiming to improve human and planetary health. Publishing daily news, 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 Inc, one of the world’s most active agrifoodtech venture capital firms.
More cash for ag robotics, high-tech shrimp production in NJ, a new livestock methane deal, and MAHA's impact on the blues...
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Another vote of confidence for farm ‘bots this week, with Orchard Robotics raising $22m hot on the heels of recent rounds for 4AG Robotics, TRIC Robotics, and Saga Robotics. Meanwhile, Atarraya is expanding high-tech shrimp production in New Jersey as tariffs on exporters in India, Indonesia, Ecuador, and Vietnam spark fresh interest in domestic alternatives. Elsewhere, Sea Forest signed a deal with Orffa to distribute methane-busting feed supplements; NoPalm Ingredients unveiled plans for a demo-scale yeast-oil facility in the Netherlands; meal-service CookUnity launched a food-as-medicine initiative with EmblemHealth; and FarmLab acquired in-field soil scanner maker Ziltek. Finally, with MAHA focusing minds on clean labels, Amsterdam-based FUL Foods reported a surge of interest in its spirulina-derived blue colors. Have a great weekend! Louisa, Elaine, and Jenn Top 100 VC: AgFunder was recognized by TIME as one of America’s top 100 VC firms in 2025 More on our top-tier firm and upcoming opportunities here: AgFunder Fund V Meet us at upcoming events: London - We're hosting an exclusive breakfast for family offices, institutional investors, and corporates at the end of the month. Apply to attend here. Is your business ready for AI analytics? Find out more here The ‘AI farming company’ Orchard Robotics bags $22m to expand precision ag platform “Solving farming is a data problem, and data is the bedrock of every farming decision. But the lack of precise, actionable data is the bottleneck," says founder Charlie Wu. Jennifer Marston Exclusive: FarmLab broadens its soil-measurement toolkit beyond agriculture with Ziltek acquisition Australia's FarmLab will broaden its practice areas to include oil, gas, and land remediation in addition to agriculture. Jennifer Marston Atarraya’s flat-packed high-tech shrimp farms roll out in New Jersey as tariffs upend trade Atarraya has introduced IKEA-style flat-packed shrimp farming boxes that cut costs by 70% per ton and are far easier to ship. Elaine Watson NoPalm Ingredients and NIZO plan demo-scale yeast oil factory in the Netherlands “This is the crucial step that paves the way for our first commercial factory, which we aim to build together with a side stream partner at their site,” says COO Jeroen Blansjaar. Elaine Watson The venture studio seeks to commercialize “breakthrough food technologies trapped in R&D labs, starting with those of European universities." Elaine Watson Sea Forest and Orffa strike distribution deal for methane-busting feed supplements Sea Forest has "developed deep relationships with retailers and brands such as Mars and others looking to address methane emissions from their supply chain," says CEO Sam Elsom. Elaine Watson FUL Foods sees surge in demand for stable natural blue colors as MAHA accelerates clean label trend While several firms supply spirulina-based blue colors, FUL Foods claims it can deliver more stable blues at a low pH and high temperatures, unlocking new application opportunities. Elaine Watson Chef-powered meal service CookUnity launches food is medicine initiative with EmblemHealth The initiative will provide medically tailored meals to EmblemHealth patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. Jennifer Marston Plus: Apeel Sciences sues wellness influencer. Jennifer Marston Breeding potatoes is a crapshoot; Solynta stacks the deck with hybrid seed tech Solynta has pioneered tech allowing potatoes to self-pollinate and produce non-GMO true seeds in a controlled way, turning a game of chance into something far more predictable. Elaine Watson Join the 4th edition of ftalks Food Summit LATAM (Oct 6–9, Mexico City), led by KM ZERO! Under the theme ‘Tech for Food,' corporates, global food leaders, investors, startups, and institutions connect to spark business opportunities, collaborations, and investments shaping a sustainable, resilient agri-food system. Learn more here! "We’re entering the golden age of robotics in industry in general and in agrifood in particular," says Eric Archambeau. Elaine Watson Exclusive: Horizon Organic quietly ditches ‘carbon positive’ goal; pursues new insetting strategy Horizon Family Brands will announce its new sustainability goals centered on carbon insetting by the end of this year. Catherine Boudreau The firm cited the “expected continuing investment” needed to sustain the business during “these challenging times and difficult marketing conditions.” Jennifer Marston Wheat that makes its own fertilizer UC Davis Financial Times Net zero needs AI — five actions to realize its promise Nature Nestle plunged into turmoil as CEO fired over undisclosed relationship Reuters EUDR risks crumbling into nothingness FoodNavigator Two thousand of America’s top scientists warn Congress: Don’t gut research funding Forbes Kraft Heinz went all-in on scale. Now it’s banking on a breakup to save its business CNN Taco Bell is having second thoughts about relying on AI at the drive-through TechCrunch What’s new in the world of next-gen auto weeders - Featuring Verdant Robotics! Growing Produce 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 Sales development representative Hwy Haul (remote/hybrid, US) Head of growth (maternity cover) Modern Synthesis (London, UK) Klim (Berlin, Germany, remote) Future Fields (Edmonton, Canada) Klim (Berlin, Germany) Agriculture and farm data verification analyst, fixed term contract Klim (Berlin, Germany) Bee health sales rep, Mexico GreenLight Biosciences (Mexico) Manager of global distribution and trade compliance Apeel (Valencia, Spain) TrueFruit model builder (contract) Aerobotics (Cape Town, South Africa) ♥️ 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 analyse the people, companies and technologies aiming to improve human and planetary health. Publishing daily news, 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 Inc, one of the world’s most active agrifoodtech venture capital firms.
Five years ago, Horizon Organic committed to becoming 'carbon positive' by 2025. It has since quietly sunset that goal and shared its new strategy with Catherine Boudreau. Meanwhile, Perennial secured a green light from Verra for its digital soil mapping tool, Artio gave us the lowdown on carbon insurance, and Arva CEO Jay McEntire explained how to quantify the impact of regen ag. Elsewhere, John Deere acquired GUSS Automation, FAIRR issued a stark warning on water insecurity, CPG...
It’s been another action-packed week in agrifoodtech with a merger between indoor ag heavyweights 80 Acres Farm and Soli Organic and sizable funding rounds from mycoprotein co The Better Meat Co and AI-powered CPG manufacturing platform Keychain. On the policy front, Jenn Marston caught up with The Rockefeller Foundation on food is medicine programs, leaked versions of the MAHA report frustrated food policy experts, new details emerged on the US/EU trade deal, and US soybean farmers warned...
This week, BinSentry raised a cool $50 million for its feed management tech, Hyphen bagged $25 million for its automated makelines, Saga Robotics netted $11.2 million to expand its fleet of ‘bots blasting powdery mildew with UV-C light, and Seadling launched a second facility for producing seaweed-based functional ingredients. Elsewhere, is RuBisCO, the most abundant protein on the planet, finally ready for prime time? We grilled Leaft and Plantible: two key players attempting to turn the...