Agtech Action | Week of 11.27.21 - 12.03.21
Agtech Action is a weekly newsletter highlighting current events in the world of agtech, and some light-hearted commentary
The first commercial flight flown on sustainable aviation fuel from corn and sugar-based food scraps, another partnership in between a startup and a key ag strategic and hunger has worsened in Latin America according to the UN. The US and China unveil an emissions deal, the latest global CEA census is out, and farmers share perspectives with policymakers. Antibiotics in livestock could release more soil carbon and the other strategic reserve that is being tapped to deal with demand (maple syrup).
The theme of the agtech week—strategic alignment—encapsulates the activities between startups and strategics, the public and private sector, who recognize that tackling issues in food and ag is easier with help. I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday and enjoy this week’s agtech news.
Food and the World:
Court to weigh farm entreaty on fertilizer tariffs
Container-grown Vertical Roots’ holiday packaging, charitable giving a sign of the times
USDA files action against Central Market of FL II Inc. in Florida for alleged PACA violations
COVID-19 Disruptions Causing Historic Economic Changes
Research shows this new strategy helps preschoolers eat more produce
Climate change will impact food crops by end of the decade, NASA says
USDA NIFA invests over $34 million to support healthy eating for low-income Americans
Corn to Take a Leading Role as Farmers Chase High Commodity Prices
Farmers Share Perspectives with Policymakers
USDA announces large fresh apple and pear purchase
USDA Announces Technical Assistance Partnerships Focused on Underserved Producers
Micro-Farm Crop Insurance Policy Will Debut in 2022
FTC launches inquiry into supply chain disruptions
Food crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean (0:05 mark); 60M people facing hunger
Costly Atlantic hurricane season (4 cost over $1B, 0:40 mark)
Antibiotic used in livestock production could cause soil to release more carbon
As tax dollars dry up, ag schools turn to agribusiness dollars and industry projects
FDA proposes changes to agricultural water requirements in the produce safety rule
USDA announces big potato purchase
USDA Allows More Leeway on Cover Crops
Highest U.S. Farm Income in Eight Years, but Headwinds in 2022
How India’s Farmers, Organized and Well-Funded, Faced Down Modi
Hunger increased by 30 percent in Latin America since 2019: UN
Iran Forcefully Clamps Down on Protests Against Growing Water Shortages
How Indigenous communities in Paraguay are fighting big soy
U.S. and China unveil emissions deal in bid to save UN climate talks
McDonald’s Struggles to Fix Its Massive Methane Problem
USDA doles out $633M in power, biofuel funds
71% of Americans making under $40k experiencing hardships due to inflation (0:40 mark)
Land O’Lakes Played Key Role in Securing $65B for Federal Broadband Funding
Agtech in the News:
BASF Announces Plans to launch Global Carbon Farming Program in 2022
First commercial sustainable aviation fuel flight (0:05 mark)
Israeli company opens $18M facility in St. Louis to produce plant-based meat substitutes
CNH Industrial Completes the Acquisition of Raven Industries
The Weight Game: How Body-Size Bias Can Hold Back Health Science
Farmers Edge Named to Deloitte Enterprise Fast 15 for 2021
The Multiple Realities of the Ag-Food Tech Industry
Later-Stage Agtech Startup Lessons #3 - Farmers Business Network
Pig Farmers Commit to Sustainability: Here’s the Proof
Investor Group Warns Livestock Industry Needs to do More on Methane
Key Agritech Trends to Expect In 2022
African Swine Fever: Cases Explode in Vietnam, New Case in Germany
An AI Finds Superbug-Killing Potential in Human Proteins
ADM Completes Acquisition of Sojaprotein, Strengthening Plant Based-Protein Capabilities
How Shorter Crops Could Give Farming a Longer Life
Total funding raised by Africa startups in 2021 (great graphic)
First Dicamba-Resistant Waterhemp Reported in Illinois
Investments in Biologicals Continue to Grow and Bring Value to Farmers Across the Nation
Green ammonia electrolysis breakthrough could finally kill Haber-Bosch
Cargill acquires edible oil refinery in Nellore
A powerful and underappreciated ally in the climate crisis? Fungi
Why Carbon Credits Are the Next Opportunity for Farmers
Recycled water can boost sustainable agriculture — if we get over the ‘yuck’ factor
Landus and Indigo Join Forces to Elevate Farmers’ Profitable Role in Digital Ag Landscape
Fun:
Gift Ideas for Farmers, from Farmers
McDs brings back the holiday pie (1:10 mark)
Why a toaster from 1949 is still smarter than any sold today
Tel Aviv is the costliest city in the globe (1:10 mark)
The Deep and Twisted Roots of the American Yam
How a Texas Farmer Killed Agriculture’s Debt Dragon
Helpful Resources:
PitchBook Analyst Note: Taking off AI's Training Wheels
PitchBook Analyst Note: Index of Venture-Backed IPOs
Top 5 Mistakes Farmers Make When Raising Capital For Their Operation
The Three C's of Succession Planning
Emerging Tech Research: Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
7 Considerations Before you Sign on to a Carbon Market Agreement
Nutrient Efficiency is on Deck in Agriculture
Emerging Tech Research: Supply Chain Tech
US venture capital valuation trends in seven charts
Get the Free ‘Scaling Connected Ag’ Whitepaper from America’s Conservation Ag Movement
The Global Food Security Index
Interesting Reads:
It’s Time to Redesign Our Food System to Be Circular: New Report
Distributors cope with rising freight costs
Simple questions about devastating disease require transparent answers
China plans overhaul of seed rules to pave way for GMO approvals
Field Peas and The Future of Farming
How Winter Wheat Can Boost Returns from Soybean and Corn
U.S. Department of Labor to change method for setting wage rates for the H-2A program
What’s next for grocery and the shopping experience
Importance of sustainability in packaging rated high
Diagram shows the importance of Food and Ag to the economy (0:05 mark)
The other strategic reserve: Canada dips into its maple syrup reserves (1:15 mark)
After Years of Pushing for Prairie Strips, This Ecologist Won a MacArthur ‘Genius’ Grant
How farmers and their financial partners can realize the full value of conservation investments
Here’s Why Ukraine’s Farmers Are so Frightened
Small children are climbing 60-foot trees to harvest your açaí
Finance:
Paine Schwartz Fund V takes 50% stake in Hendrix Genetics
Investor group warns livestock industry needs to do more on methane
Spoiler Alert raises $11M to help CPGs sell surplus inventory & cut food waste
Brief: DSM acquires one of Europe’s top pea protein producers in $74M deal
Kenyan agri-tech startup Shamba Pride raises $1.1m funding round
Food and ag’s journey to net-zero needs detail
Chicken Farmers of Ontario invests in digitization
Israeli agtech companies take on worst-case climate crisis forecasts
Mirae Leads $500m Funding Round for Impossible Foods
Farmers Business Network Closes $300m Series G, Gains $4B Valuation
Nuritas Raises $45M to Scale Plant and Food-Sourced Peptide Platform
JBS enters Cultivated Protein with Acquisition Of Biotech Foods and $100M Investment
Cranberry research tries to make production more sustainable amid climate change
Blue Horizon continues hiring spree with VC veteran appointment
Investment Notes: Jupiter Ionics
What does Local Bounti’s SPAC tell us about indoor ag?
How Much More Will The 2022 Crop Cost?
Food inflation will not subside in 2022 – Rabobank
Theme of the Agtech Week: Strategic Alignment
I’ve noticed a few things this week in agtech: many more partnerships. From ADM’s acquisition of Sojaprotein to meet plant-based protein demand, to Indigo and Landus working to address farmer profitability through digital ag, and airlines banding together to push sustainable aviation fuel; it is clear that these organizations, groups, and others, recognize the importance of strategic alignment with partners, and in some cases, competitors. Strategic alignment can take many forms, from acquisition, partnerships, to MOUs, cooperative agreements or simply aligning resources. The key here is that 2, or more, organizations (or nations in the US/China emissions example) are orienting time, resources and direction towards a common cause. And agrifoodtech startups could take a lesson from this: strategic alignment with another organization, even competitor, may save time, money and resources rather than trying to build it on your own.
An exciting time to be in food and agriculture and I am eager to see what results from these strategic alignments. Have a great weekend!
BD
Brandon Day is the Chief Operating Officer of the Yield Lab Institute, the global agtech think-tank, non-profit arm of The Yield Lab global network of venture capital funds and accelerator programs.
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