Agrifood: Our selection of original articlesOur selection

Can French Beetroot Be Saved? Yes, But We Must Stop Being 'Schizophrenic'

According to Alexis Patry, director of the ARTB, the French beetroot sector can still thrive. However, this is only possible if it confronts its challenges head-on and resolves the contradictions that weaken it.

Olivier Antoine: A Peaceful Ukraine Could Reshape the European Corn Market

How far could Ukraine reshape the European corn landscape? At the Agridées back-to-school conference, Olivier Antoine, director of ORAE Geopolitics, presented a forward-looking study conducted for AGPM. The analysis covers volumes, costs, processing, and seeds, offering several scenarios to assess the risks for French agricultural sectors.

Wheat: The False Comfort of Global Stocks

Global wheat stocks appear to be comfortable. However, this is an illusion: the majority is held in China and India, while reserves in major exporting countries are at their lowest. Declining harvests, a paralyzed Black Sea, and soaring fertilizer prices are just a few factors that could converge in 2027, putting North African and Middle Eastern importing countries under significant pressure.

How Did Wheat Become an Instrument of Power? Jérémy Denieulle Explains

With strikes on Black Sea ports, the Strait of Hormuz blocked since February, and a Super El Niño forecast for autumn, wheat has become more than ever an instrument of power and influence. While prices rose during the summer, they remain far from the peaks of 2022. Jérémy Denieulle, director of studies at the think tank Agriculture Stratégies, explains this paradox and identifies signals that could reignite the surge.

Michelin and Danone Accelerate Biotechnology Industrialization in Clermont-Ferrand

In Clermont-Ferrand, Michelin and Danone have joined forces around the Biotech Open Platform, a facility aimed at speeding up the industrial scaling of biotechnology. Located on a former industrial site, it focuses on the fermentation of microorganisms – bacteria, yeasts, and microalgae – to produce bio-based ingredients and materials intended primarily for the agri-food and health sectors.

CIBIA: A New Facility in Wageningen for Food Innovation

Wageningen University & Research has inaugurated CIBIA, a research facility dedicated to accelerating food innovations. This center supports various stakeholders in developing sustainable and healthy solutions for the food system by integrating advanced technologies and a collaborative approach.

Edonia Secures Funding for Innovative Microalgae-Based Protein Ingredient

Edonia, a startup based in the Île-de-France region, has caught the attention of two new investment funds to support the development of its innovative microalgae-based protein ingredient, aimed at the collective catering sector and food industry manufacturers. Guided by Alpha Capital Partners, this funding round aims to strengthen its position in a rapidly growing market focused on plant-based proteins and sustainable solutions.

Verley Moves Towards 200,000-Liter Tanks for Precision Fermentation

French startup Verley is gearing up to commercialize beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) proteins at scale, targeting innovative applications in the agri-food sector. With a €32 million funding round, it focuses on optimizing purification processes and expanding into North American and European markets while meeting regulatory requirements.

Will GLP-1 Medications Shift Priorities in Crop Selection?

A study highlights the need to improve the nutritional density of crops, which has been affected by decades of yield-focused selection. GLP-1 medications could provide an opportunity for food companies to reassess their priorities, encouraging more nutrient-rich production. However, this will require an integrated approach that combines agricultural practices, public policies, and technological innovations to measure and enhance the nutritional density of foods.

Growing Vegetables in Microgravity: Success of the Tiangong Space Station

The Chinese Tiangong space station has achieved a major milestone by cultivating vegetables in microgravity, allowing astronauts to harvest and consume fresh produce. This innovative project overcomes the challenges of the space environment through advanced technologies, while laying the groundwork for sustainable agriculture for future space missions.

Climate Challenges Threaten Banana Production

Banana cultivation, essential for many tropical countries, faces increasing climate challenges. With temperature variations, extreme weather events, and diseases exacerbated by climate change, producers must adapt. Agritech innovations, such as advanced genetics and sustainable farming practices, could provide solutions to preserve this iconic crop and ensure food security.

In Denmark, the heat from a data center will be used to grow greenhouse vegetables year-round

Nordic data center specialist atNorth and Danish group Selected Group will utilize the excess heat from the DEN02 campus in Ølgod to power a large greenhouse complex. The goal is to develop local vegetable production year-round while reducing carbon emissions associated with greenhouse heating and winter imports.

Heatwaves: Alsace bets on legumes and builds its plant protein sector

Mitti Labs Raises $9.5 Million for Sustainable Rice Farming in Asia

Singapore-based deeptech startup Mitti Labs has secured $9.5 million from a consortium led by Saudi fund Aramco Ventures to accelerate the deployment of its GeoAI platform dedicated to Asian rice paddies. By combining artificial intelligence, satellite data, and remote sensing, the company aims to simultaneously reduce water consumption and methane emissions through more sustainable irrigation practices.