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Amatera Raises 6 Million Euros to Develop Climate-Resilient Crops

The French startup Amatera has raised 6 million euros to accelerate the development of more climate-resilient crops. Its platform combines plant cell biology, robotics, and AI to quickly identify high-performing plant traits. The company initially targets crops like coffee and grapes, whose particularly long selection cycles pose a major challenge in the face of climate change.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Amatera raises €6M to speed up the development of climate re..." - 6 March 2026

Evogene Leverages AI to Design New Agricultural and Pharmaceutical Molecules

Israeli biotech company Evogene has refocused its strategy around its ChemPass AI™ platform, dedicated to the design of small molecules for agriculture and pharmacy. Developed in collaboration with Google Cloud, the technology reportedly achieves 90% accuracy in molecular design. This repositioning comes amid a restructuring context: revenues fell to $3.9 million in 2025 (down from $5.6 million in 2024) and the company recorded a net loss of $7.8 million, while significantly reducing its operations and expenses.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Evogene sharpens agricultural focus in 2025 results, highlig..." - 6 March 2026

baCta Raises €7 Million to Produce Astaxanthin via Fermentation

The French startup baCta, specializing in the bioproduction of industrial ingredients, announces a funding round of €7 million to accelerate the development of a fermentation process dedicated to producing astaxanthin, a sought-after antioxidant in the cosmetics and nutraceutical sectors.

Elaine Watson, Source: Agfundernews, published under the title "Can fermentation undercut synthetics? baCta chases astaxanth..." - 4 March 2026

Bindbridge Secures $3.8 Million to Revolutionize Crop Protection

Bindbridge, a biotechnology startup based in Cambridge, has secured $3.8 million in funding to develop innovative crop protection solutions. Utilizing an AI-driven discovery platform, the company aims to design molecular glues that target protein degradation in weeds and pests, addressing the challenges of herbicide resistance and the growing demands for food safety. This approach could transform the agrochemical sector, traditionally constrained by costly and lengthy research methods.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Bindbridge raises $3.8M to deliver next-gen crop protection ..." - 3 March 2026

EU Political Agreement on New Genomic Techniques in Agriculture

The European Commission has announced an agreement on a regulatory framework for plants developed using new genomic techniques, aimed at promoting innovation while adhering to safety standards. This framework introduces two categories of NGT plants, facilitating access to more resilient and sustainable varieties for farmers, while reducing administrative burdens. The implementation of these rules is scheduled for 2028, accompanied by a program to monitor economic and environmental impacts.

SEPEHR ACHARD, Source: Igronews, published under the title "EU Commission Welcomes Political Agreement on New Genomic Te..." - 23 February 2026

A New Compact Gene Editor to Enhance Plant Breeding

A study published in Nature Plants by researchers from the University of California, Davis, and the Innovative Genomics Institute (UC Berkeley) highlights a gene editor that is more compact than CRISPR/Cas9, capable of making effective genetic modifications in tobacco. Based on an enzyme derived from 'jumping genes', this tool could accelerate plant breeding by enabling precise modifications without the insertion of foreign DNA.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "A pint-sized gene editor could expand precision breeding in ..." - 23 February 2026

Resurrect Bio Raises $8.1 Million to Advance Crop Genetic Resistance

Resurrect Bio, a London-based biotechnology company, has announced the initial closing of its $8.1 million Series A funding round, led by Corteva. This financing will accelerate the development of its disease resistance trait discovery platform, integrating AI and genomic editing to restore plants' natural defensive capabilities. This innovation could transform crop protection by providing sustainable and effective solutions for farmers.

SEPEHR ACHARD, Source: Igronews, published under the title "Resurrect Bio Secures $8.1M Series A to Advance Gene-Edited ..." - 19 February 2026

Syngenta Receives French Approval for Hybrid Wheat X-Terra®

Syngenta has received approval for its hybrid wheat X-Terra® in France, marking a significant advancement after over 15 years of research. The varieties SY Sphynx and SY Xanthis will be available for the 2026 planting season, aiming to enhance yield stability and resilience against climate change. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to optimize crops, integrating digital tools for effective management of diseases and growing conditions.

SEPEHR ACHARD, Source: Igronews, published under the title "Syngenta Secures French Approval for X-Terra® Hybrid Wheat" - 17 February 2026

Miscanthus: Genetic Traits Identified to Enhance Soil Carbon Storage

Researchers from Aberystwyth University have identified specific traits of Miscanthus that could enhance carbon storage in soil, thereby contributing to the fight against climate change. This study, published in Frontiers in Plant Science, highlights the importance of low-lignin rhizomes and roots for optimizing carbon sequestration while maintaining high yields.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Plant trait discovery could boost soil carbon storage" - 17 February 2026

Biotech Regulation: Innovation at the Expense of Precaution?

The European Commission recently presented a proposal for a regulation aimed at strengthening the biotechnology and bioproduction sectors. This text, part of a series of legislative initiatives, seeks to simplify authorization procedures and reduce regulatory constraints. However, this approach raises concerns about public health and environmental protection by redefining priorities in favor of industrial interests and startups.

Source: Info Ogm, published under the title "Règlement biotech : la précaution sacrifiée au nom de l’inno..." - 17 February 2026

CryoBio Develops a Natural Molecule-Based Frost Protection Product

The French start-up CryoBio has raised $1.3 million to develop a frost protection solution inspired by natural antifreeze molecules. The goal is to move to field trials to reduce agricultural losses caused by late frosts.

SEPEHR ACHARD, Source: Igronews, published under the title "CryoBio Raises $1.3M Pre-Seed Round to Develop Frost Protect..." - 16 February 2026

Mercy Corps Ventures and Salicrop: A Pilot Project for Climate-Resilient Tomatoes in Mexico

Mercy Corps Ventures has selected Salicrop for a pilot project aimed at testing a non-GMO seed treatment technology designed to enhance tomato resilience against heat and salinity. This initiative, part of a water security program, targets farmers in Baja California facing extreme climatic conditions. Crop trials are scheduled for the 2026 season, with rigorous monitoring of agronomic performance and sustainability indicators.

SEPEHR ACHARD, Source: Igronews, published under the title "Mercy Corps Ventures Launches Pilot with Salicrop to Support..." - 16 February 2026

Schoneveld Breeding and De Groot en Slot Partner to Accelerate Variety Innovation

Schoneveld Breeding, a Dutch specialist in ornamental plants, joins De Groot en Slot, a recognized variety selection company particularly in vegetable crops. This collaboration aims to enhance innovation and the development of sustainable solutions in the horticultural sector, while maintaining the operational independence of Schoneveld Breeding and speeding up the development of new varieties.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Schoneveld Breeding becomes part of De Groot en Slot - Famil..." - 13 February 2026

Agricultural Biotechnologies: Veganic Continues Strong Growth in 2025

The Spanish company Veganic, specializing in biosolutions and biocontrol for agriculture, recorded a 143% growth in 2025 compared to 2024, marking a significant milestone in its development. This progress reflects the dynamics of its business model and its international positioning in biotechnologies applied to a more efficient and sustainable agriculture.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Veganic strengthens its position as a leader in biosolutions..." - 13 February 2026

Australia Approves Cultivation of Genetically Modified Purple Tomato

The Australian Office of Gene Technology Regulator has issued a license for the genetically modified tomato that produces natural purple pigments. This tomato, which can be grown across Australia, has been deemed safe for health and the environment. However, its commercialization as food requires additional approval, and it will be subject to mandatory labeling as a GM product.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Australia approves commercial release of GM purple tomato" - 12 February 2026

Chiquita Unveils Yelloway Pan-Genome to Accelerate Creation of Resistant Bananas

American group Chiquita Brands International, a leading global producer and distributor of bananas, announces a major breakthrough in varietal innovation with the completion of the Yelloway pan-genome. Developed in collaboration with Dutch plant biotechnology company KeyGene, this pan-genome provides a comprehensive mapping of the genetic diversity of bananas. This resource aims to accelerate the selection of varieties resistant to major diseases such as tropical fusarium and black sigatoka, while improving their adaptation to climate change.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Chiquita advances banana innovation with completion of Yello..." - 11 February 2026

KWS and vly: A Bio Pea for Optimized Plant-Based Dairy Alternatives

The German seed company KWS partners with Berlin-based startup vly to develop a specifically selected organic pea aimed at enhancing the taste, texture, and nutritional value of plant-based dairy alternatives. Derived from advanced selection methods, this pea is part of the formulation for the new 'vly Bio High Protein', a product rich in protein and free from added sugars. Meanwhile, vly launches the 'vly Bio Barista', designed for hot beverages, confirming its commitment to meet the growing demand for both effective and healthy plant-based solutions.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "KWS and vly jointly develop taste optimized organic pea for ..." - 11 February 2026

Cibus and Interoc Focus on Herbicide-Tolerant Rice in Latin America

American agricultural biotech Cibus, known for its non-transgenic genome editing technologies, partners with Interoc, a Latin American agro-industrial group active in the seed and crop protection markets. Together, they aim to launch herbicide-tolerant rice varieties, with initial rollouts planned in Ecuador and Colombia by 2027.

MADISON HONG, Source: Igronews, published under the title "Cibus And Interoc Sign LOI To Advance Herbicide-Tolerant Ric..." - 8 February 2026

With Unium Bioscience, HELM AG Accelerates Its Agricultural Biosolutions Strategy

The German group HELM AG has announced the acquisition of Unium Bioscience, a British company specializing in biological technologies for agriculture. This move aims to enhance HELM's capabilities in the development and commercialization of agricultural biosolutions, leveraging Unium's scientific expertise and field trials conducted, particularly in the UK.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "HELM AG acquisition boosts Unium Bioscience’s biological off..." - 6 February 2026

Towards Self-Reproducing Crops: Genetics Explores New Seed Models

Venkatesan Sundaresan, distinguished professor of plant biology at the University of California, Davis, and researcher at the Innovative Genomics Institute, has secured funding from the Gates Foundation to develop self-cloning crops. This five-year research project relies on international collaboration between American and Indian institutions, aiming to explore new genetic models to enhance seed autonomy for Indian farmers.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) researchers to expand se..." - 2 February 2026