Agtech Action | Week of 02.01.20 - 02.07.20
Perspective on coronavirus, Interesting food documentary and a new frontier for the Yield Lab Institute!
Welcome back to another exciting weekly edition of Agtech Action! Your one and only source of all news—fun, exciting and thought provoking—in the agtech world! From interesting perspectives on coronavirus, to labor practices at Chipotle, I cannot stress enough the wide range of stories this week in agtech. But I am excited to officially announce another initiative, a new frontier for the Yield Lab Institute! Check it out!
Food and the World:
China will actively expand meat imports to stabilize domestic supply
Not everyone is happy about the EPA’s review of glyphosate
China reports H5N1 bird flu outbreak in Hunan Province
China says curbs on feed, livestock transport must be kept to minimum amid coronavirus
Trump backs high speed internet access, especially in rural America
A Texas community chokes on fecal dust from cattle feedlots (nobody wants poop air)
US poultry growers to benefit from China’s protein shortage, industry expert says
Amid growing interest in hemp, USDA stands firm on rules
Locust swarms threaten more countries in eastern Africa: FAO
Racist undertones in Coronavirus and pinning it on how Chinese people eat
Agriculture in the News:
Bayer expands commitment to transparency in 2020
New report warns Chipotle’s labor practices could lead to food safety disasters
‘Touch year,’ says Perdue as USDA boosts trade-war payments to $14.5B
Farmers reluctant to sell corn into strong basis market
Paradise lost looms for German farmers as swine fever nears
Ranchers oppose new Voluntary Grazing Permit Retirement Act
Why restaurant workers say the tip credit is a civil rights issue
What does Walmart’s entry in the beef business mean for the cattle industry?
Fun:
Cattlemen’s youth host benefit for Ronald McDonald House
‘Before the Plate’ documentary gets expanded US distribution
Interesting Reads:
What farmers are reading this week
Can opening more grocery stores reduce food waste?
Help wanted to grow better tasting tomatoes
What 20 CA farmers are thinking about on Iowa caucus day?
What Walmart’s entrance into beef supply chain could mean
Celebrating National Pesticide safety education month
$25k awarded to teachers to promote ag literacy efforts
Cowboy’s last reunion with his beloved cow horse
Farm Babe: Boxler Dairy recycles manure to help power homes
Finance:
NZ regulatory changes present opportunity for non-bank lenders
Nuveen’s open-end farmland fund takes in $464M
BNP Paribas and Allianz among investors in Mirova’s land degradation fund
Incofin adjusts agRIF Fund return target amid $76M fundraise
Water scarcity presents risk for investors, but opportunity too
Investors call for greater transparency in Murray-Darling water trading
AppHarvest’s $11M round receives ‘high-profile investor’ boost (it’s Blake Griffin of NBA fame)
Farmers Edge Partners with American Crop Insurance to disrupt traditional crop insurance model
As I mentioned earlier, I have some BIG NEWS to share!!
I am pleased to announce that the Yield Lab Institute is partnering with the FAO to perform agtech ecosystem assessments on the continent of Africa, specifically in Kenya, Malawi and Rwanda!
The FAO has a global initiative to review Africa with respect to its digital preparedness to support agtech innovation, startups, founders and entrepreneurs. The Yield Lab Institute has performed ecosystem assessments like these in South America, particularly Argentina (see white paper here). We are excited to hopefully bring more attention, resources and funding to agtech startups and founders in Africa, as Africa will play a key role in sustainably feeding a growing population.
If you would like to get involved or support the Yield Lab Institute initiatives, please email me at brandon@theyieldlab.com. Until next week!
Brandon