The American controlled-environment salad producer Local Bounti has raised $15 million through a convertible note from an existing investor. This operation, the second in less than a year, comes as the company seeks to strengthen its financial position, despite sales growth and cost-cutting efforts, amid pressure from NYSE market capitalization requirements.
MADISON HONG, Source: Igronews, published under the title "Local Bounti Secures $15M Convertible Note From Strategic In..." - 18 March 2026
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In 2025, the French fruit and vegetable sector reported a trade deficit of €8.5 billion – €3.6 billion for fruits, €895 million for vegetables, and €4.0 billion for processed products – with a self-sufficiency rate limited to 42.9% for fruits and 67.7% for vegetables. In response to this decline compared to European competitors, the Ministry of Agriculture has launched a plan to regain 5 points by 2030 and 10 points by 2035, focusing on competitiveness, processing, and exports.
Publié par Pleinchamp, Source: Pleinchamp, published under the title "Souveraineté 2035 (3/6) : en fruits et légumes, « un seul ma..." - 17 March 2026
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Tropic, a global leader in genetically modified tropical crops, has recently announced the closing of a $105 million funding round to support the commercial expansion of its banana and rice varieties. This funding, co-led by the Forbion Bioeconomy fund and Corteva, addresses a growing global demand for sustainable and resilient food solutions. With non-browning and long shelf-life banana varieties already on the market, Tropic plans to accelerate its production and expand its crop portfolio to tackle food security challenges.
Source: Agropages, published under the title "Tropic raises $105 million Series C to scale commercial roll..." - 13 March 2026
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The leafy greens market, valued at over $80 billion, sees private label brands gaining ground, accounting for up to 30% of salad sales in the United States. In a sector characterized by high concentration in processing and distribution — with the top five retailers controlling up to 80% of food sales — price pressure is intensifying. For independent producers and controlled environment agriculture (CEA) players, market access increasingly relies on contracts securing volumes and outlets.
SEPEHR ACHARD, Source: Igronews, published under the title "Why Private Label Is Reshaping the Leafy Greens Market" - 10 March 2026
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American startup NuCicer partners with U.S. agricultural company Stricks Ag to deploy 10,000 acres of high-protein chickpeas starting in the 2026 season. This marks the first large-scale commercial application of its predictive breeding technology, aiming to accelerate the introduction of more nutritious plant-based ingredients into the food industry.
Source: Agropages, published under the title "NuCicer and Stricks Ag announce large-scale commercial chick..." - 9 March 2026
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FRANCE. The area dedicated to durum wheat has decreased from 505,000 hectares in 2010 to 196,000 hectares in 2026, jeopardizing the sector. A sovereignty plan of 43 million euros aims to support research and promote contracts, which the sector wants to increase from 30% to 50% to secure producers' incomes. Despite this decline, France remains self-sufficient in durum wheat but still imports nearly 60% of its pasta.
Publié par Pleinchamp, Source: Pleinchamp, published under the title "Blé dur : « Dérisquer la production par la contractualisatio..." - 9 March 2026
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The agrifoodtech sector has lost one of its architects, Rob Trice, co-founder of Better Food Ventures and The Mixing Bowl. A pioneering investor and tireless connector, he helped shape the emerging agrifoodtech ecosystem—a term he played a key role in popularizing. Supporting over 25 founders, he championed clear-sighted innovation rooted in agricultural realities. A respected voice, often critical, always committed.
Louisa Burwood-Taylor, Source: Agfundernews, published under the title "Remembering Rob Trice, a founding voice in agrifoodtech" - 7 March 2026
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Sweet potato consumption in France tripled between 2015 and 2018, reaching 75,000 tons by 2024, while national production remains limited to about 10,000 tons. Since 2019, the Interprofessional Technical Center for Fruits and Vegetables (CTIFL) has been testing its cultivation in Brittany, demonstrating feasibility with yields of 2 to 3.5 kg/m². However, competition from imports and market uncertainty still hinder the establishment of producers.
Publié par Pleinchamp, Source: Pleinchamp, published under the title "Cultiver de la patate douce en Bretagne ? Chiche ou pas chic..." - 6 March 2026
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The National Center for Agricultural Promotion of Vietnam, the Vietnamese agribusiness group Loc Troi, and the Japanese company Newgreen have signed a memorandum of understanding to deploy Japanese technologies in rice farming in the Mekong Delta. The project includes the use of the Aigamo robot, equipped with AI and GPS, to improve rice quality while reducing methane emissions. The initiative also aims to expand sustainable rice cultivation areas.
Source: Agropages, published under the title "Viet Nam to apply Japanese technology in rice production" - 6 March 2026
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The coffee borer (Leucoptera coffeella), a major pest in Brazilian plantations, is showing increasing signs of resistance to neurotoxic insecticides. According to a study, between 34.3% and 62.9% of populations are at risk of control failure depending on the molecules used, with particularly high resistance levels noted for abamectin and chlorpyrifos. These findings highlight the need to enhance monitoring and integrate alternative strategies in coffee pest management.
Source: Agropages, published under the title "Control failure risk, resistance and enzymatic activity of n..." - 6 March 2026
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