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US: Liberation Bioindustries Seeks $25 Million to Complete Its Facility

Despite having already secured $125 million, Liberation Bioindustries, which specializes in large-scale precision fermentation, is struggling to finalize funding for its 600,000-liter fermentation facility in Indiana. Following unsuccessful discussions for a sale or partnership, the company is now looking for an additional $25 million. The construction has fallen behind schedule, and commissioning now hinges on securing new financing.

Reservoir Farms Expands Agricultural Robotics Trials to Washington State

Reservoir Farms will open a new experimental site in Yakima Valley, Washington, in spring 2027. Dedicated to robotics and artificial intelligence applied to specialty crops, it will host startups focusing on fruit trees and blueberries. The goal is to test their technologies in real-world conditions alongside producers and research organizations.

Aigen Launches Solar-Powered Autonomous Weeding Robot with Four Arms

American startup Aigen introduces the Element Gen 2 X4, a robot capable of mechanically uprooting weeds both in-row and inter-row, utilizing four AI-controlled arms. Powered by solar energy, it also collects data on crops. Aigen claims to have built over 100 robots with a cumulative 15,000 hours of field autonomy. The new fleets will be available for the 2027 season.

Zema Global and SatYield Partner to Enhance Crop Forecasts Using Satellites

Canadian company Zema Global and Israeli startup SatYield have teamed up to provide agricultural market players with yield and production estimates based on satellite observation. Their analyses, particularly focused on soybeans and corn, aim to detect crop changes and their implications for supply more swiftly, integrating this data into decision-making tools for traders and analysts.

Lucent Bio Leverages Starch to Replace Microplastics in Fertilizers

Canadian company Lucent BioSciences secures up to $1.98 million in federal funding to develop a biodegradable starch-based coating for controlled-release fertilizers. The goal is to replace polymer coatings that may leave microplastics in soils while improving nitrogen efficiency and reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions associated with fertilization.

US Invests $180 Million in Seed Sovereignty Initiative for Genetic Resources

The United States is mobilizing $180 million to better understand and utilize its plant genetic resources. Announced on October 6 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Seed Sovereignty Initiative plans to sequence collections of major crops from a national bank housing over 600,000 samples of 16,000 species over two years. The goal is to accelerate variety selection and reduce foreign dependencies in a sector deemed strategic.

Sensors to Detect Early Signs of Plant Stress

At the University of Georgia in the United States, Professor Liang Dong is developing sensors designed to detect the early signs of plant stress, particularly in response to drought and diseases. At the intersection of engineering, agronomy, and artificial intelligence, this research aims to closely monitor crop reactions and provide farmers with useful information to adapt their interventions.

Lilac Agriculture Raises $2.3 Million to Enhance Legume Rhizobium Inoculants

American biotech company Lilac Agriculture has raised $2.3 million to develop a new generation of rhizobium-based inoculants for legumes. Originating from research at North Dakota State University, its platform selects and adapts strains to improve both their nitrogen-fixing capacity and their ability to colonize nodules against naturally occurring soil bacteria. Its first product, PL11, aimed at peas and lentils, is already being marketed on a small scale in the United States, while the company prepares to enter the Canadian market.

BASF and Bunge Prepare to Launch Canola for Hotter, Drier Climates

BASF and Bunge announce a partnership for the treatment of InVigor Gold™ canola seeds, an innovative hybrid of Brassica juncea. This project represents a significant advancement towards the commercialization of this seed, scheduled for 2027, and aims to provide farmers with an option suited for challenging growing environments. By collaborating with Bunge, BASF seeks to establish reliable market access for canola producers, thereby enhancing farmers' confidence in this new variety.

dClimate and AWS: TESSERA, a Major Advancement for Earth Intelligence

The collaboration between dClimate and Amazon Web Services (AWS) aims to make TESSERA, a geospatial artificial intelligence model, accessible to all. This project will transform satellite data into actionable insights for researchers, farmers, and climate stakeholders, thereby facilitating the monitoring of environmental changes and climate risk management. By making this data open, dClimate and AWS seek to democratize access to crucial information for the sustainability and resilience of agricultural and environmental systems.

Spearhead Bio Raises $1.62 Million to Revolutionize Agricultural Genomic Engineering

American startup Spearhead Bio, spun out from the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, has raised $1.62 million to accelerate the development of TAHITI, its genomic editing technology that complements CRISPR for inserting or replacing large DNA sequences in crops.

Genetically Modified Trees to Save Florida's Citrus Industry

In response to the threat of greening disease, Florida farmers are adopting CRISPR-modified trees. The company Soilcea hopes its rootstock, CarriCea T1, will restore citrus production, which has been severely impacted since the disease's arrival in 2005. Initial results are promising, but true evaluation will occur over the long term with fruit harvests.

US Precedent Revives Patent Debate in Europe Over New Genetic Techniques

As Europe has just adopted its new framework on new genetic techniques (NGTs), Inf’OGM has unearthed a report published in 2023 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding competition in the seed sector. The document already highlighted the tensions between intellectual property, innovation, competition, and access to seeds.

CHS Invests $700 Million in Soybean Processing Plant in Wisconsin

CHS, the largest agricultural cooperative in the United States, plans to build a soybean processing plant in Evansville, Wisconsin, with a capacity of 80 million bushels per year. This $700 million project aims to enhance oilseed processing capabilities and create market opportunities for local producers. Construction is expected to begin soon, leading to permanent jobs and increased demand for locally grown soybeans.

Agroview: Aerial Imagery Enhances Agricultural Insurance

A spin-off from the University of Florida, the American startup Agriculture Intelligence is developing Agroview, a plant-scale crop analysis platform derived from university research and supported by the USDA's SBIR program. By combining aerial images, drones, and satellites, the tool claims an error rate of less than 5% for orchard inventory and has a presence in 30.5% of the U.S. market for tree crop insurance.

Google Funds Water-Efficient Irrigation in Texas Rice Fields

Specializing in agricultural sustainability programs, American company AgriCapture partners with Google and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to reduce water consumption in Texas rice fields. Google will finance the installation of more water-efficient irrigation systems and provide incentives to producers, with a stated goal of saving 5.4 billion gallons of water over 6,000 acres.

Carbon Robotics Launches Carbon Autonomy Ready Program with Great Plains Manufacturing

Carbon Robotics, a global leader in physical AI for agriculture, has announced the launch of its Carbon Autonomy Ready program, with Great Plains Manufacturing as the first member. This program aims to integrate various agricultural equipment to automate real-time adjustments, thereby enhancing efficiency and reducing costs for farmers.

Plantd Transforms Construction Waste into Biochar for Agriculture

Plantd, an American startup specializing in bio-based construction materials made from grasses, is now valorizing a portion of its waste into biochar intended for soil amendment, following a closed-loop production model. Rich in silica, this biochar is presented as capable of improving certain soil properties and helping to reduce fertilization needs.

Homestead Capital Achieves First Closing of $150 Million for U.S. Agriculture Fund

Xylem Strengthens Its Pump Offer for Agriculture and Industry with Cornell and Roper Pump Acquisition

American water technology specialist Xylem is set to acquire Cornell Pump and Roper Pump for $1.46 billion. This move expands its range of pumps aimed at irrigation, agricultural fluid transfer, and industrial applications, amid a backdrop of consolidation in the hydraulic equipment sector.