Agtech Action | Week of 02.08.20 - 02.14.20
Space food for Space Force, Dairy farms reduce enviro impact & Manure Challenge in the news!
Happy Friday! Find that thick, warm winter blanket, warm up a cup of hot chocolate and read up on the world of agtech. Where do I begin with this week’s news: space food for intergalactic travel, food loss and waste findings and a record-breaking fundraise for Brazilian agtech startup. And I would be remiss if I did not talk about the Manure Challenge building momentum in the press! Enjoy!
Food and the World:
Algae caviar, anyone? What we will eat on the journey to Mars
Key facts on food loss and waste (Takeaway: Food waste is underestimated)
Coronavirus putting more pressure on pork supplies, prices
Pesticide giant drops chlorpyrifos, following years of controversy, lawsuits and bans
Half of North Dakota’s corn is still in the field. USDA calls it ‘on-farm storage’
Survey shows consumers think plant-based proteins include meat (Misleading marketing)
Give global trade agreements time to work, says FCA Chief
Lawmakers open groundwater fight against bottled water companies
These Canadian farmers have a plan to tackle climate change
Agriculture in the News:
Illegal trade in pesticides in Brazil
A deeper Mississippi will improve the economics of soybean exports
Smart drones to be tested in battle against East Africa locust swarms
Food recall future: Will your supermarket warn you about hazardous food?
Shortage of truck drivers means opportunities for farmers
Research shows that dairy farms are reducing their environmental footprint (yes they are and no one is noticing!)
Steep cuts to crop insurance in 2021 budget
Vegan company Miyoko’s Creamery sues CA over labeling restrictions (they are upset that they cannot call their plant-based product ‘butter’)
Corteva Agriscience announces Onmira active as global trademark for its picoxystrobin fungicides
Fun:
News and Notes from the 2020 Cattle Industry Convention
How Google got its employees to eat their vegetables
Interesting Reads:
Raising your animals for fiber (Interesting interview with Chris McLaughlin, a fiber farmer in CA)
Who am I if not a farmer anymore? (Interesting piece on perspective and mental health)
Occasional tillage may have a place in long-term no-till
Grand Champion Hereford breaks record with $300,000 bid
Dates like Jesus ate? Scientists revive ancient trees from 2,000-year old seeds
Finance:
Solinftec breaks Latin American agtech funding record with $40M Series B
Freight Farms raises $15M Series B led by Ospraie Ag Science
New Forests buy Tasmanian forestry in A$62.5M deal
McWilliam’s Wines up for sale and could attract private equity interest
NSW court rules in favor of Rural Funds Management against short-seller Bonitas
PSP-Warakirri joint venture buys 22k ha WA property for A$97M
Insight Investment to wind up Global Farmland Fund and exit asset class – exclusive
The Manure Innovation Challenge is building momentum! Check out the press about the challenge here and here!
The final pitch event will happen at the Animal Agtech Innovation Summit in San Francisco on March 16th.
During the morning programming (7:45-8:45 am) of the Animal Agtech Innovation Summit, each of the 8 participating startups will pitch their technologies to an esteemed panel of judges and to an audience of conference attendees. Those judges will score and ultimately award the winner of the Manure Innovation Challenge a $50k non-dilutive cash prize!
The winner of the Manure Innovation Challenge will be announced in the afternoon that day during the Animal Agtech Innovation Summit.
If you are in SF, join us for a reception celebrating the challenge, startups, sponsors and partners!
If you would like to get involved or support the Yield Lab Institute initiatives, please email me at brandon@theyieldlab.com.
Brandon