Agtech Action | Week of 12.18.21 - 12.24.21
Agtech Action is a weekly newsletter highlighting current events in the world of agtech, and some light-hearted commentary
McD’s limiting french fry sales in Japan, food inflation to cool in 2022, and turning wasted crustacean shells into fiber and other applications. Candy cane shortages, Taco Bell to sell chicken wings for a limited time and Biden admin to raise mileage standards.
The theme of the agtech week is hope. Keeping it light and positive this week. Enjoy a special Saturday edition of the weekly agtech news.
Food and the World:
Frost on Yuma lettuce crops delay harvests, more frost expected
Monsanto agrees to $12M in penalties for pesticide violations
Manchin Blocks Biden's Build Back Better Climate and Social Agenda, What Happens Now?
Inflation hurts November retail produce volume
USDA: Food inflation to cool in 2022
NGA: We want vaccine mandate grocery exemption (National Grocers Association)
As Omicron Surges, Restaurants Are Scrambling
Farmers are Preparing for Supply Chain Issues In 2022
FDA update: Outbreak investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Dole packaged salad
EPA Incident Report Highlights Dicamba Issues From 2021
2021 Year in Review — Inflation
Federal food assistance reaches record highs (0:05 mark)
Poverty in rural America (0:40 mark); 310 counties with persistent levels of poverty in 2019
McD’s limiting French fry sales in Japan due to shortages (1:10 mark)
Agtech in the News:
NCGA to Mosaic: End Fertilizer Tariffs
ADM Acquires Flavor Infusion International
How The Green Revolution Saved the World $83 Trillion
California’s Dairy Farmers are Well on Their Way to Climate Neutrality
EPA Issues Report Indicating More Restrictions May Be Warranted on Dicamba Use
Plant Diversity Builds Healthy Soils, Carbon, and Crop Resilience
Recycled water can boost agriculture – if we get over the yuck factor
3 macro-meat dynamics to watch in 2022
Africa startups have raised more than 2.5 times the amount they had raised in 2020
9 Ways Agri-FoodTech Exceeded Expectations in 2021
Meat Institute announces ambitious climate target
Fun:
Think Santa Is Busy? Ham Sniffers Are Pushing Their Noses to the Limit
The Great American Chestnut Tree Revival
Taco Bell is adding crispy chicken wings for a limited time (0:40 mark)
Candy cane shortage due to peppermint production down 25% (1:10 mark)
Helpful Resources:
PitchBook Analyst Note: 2022 US Venture Capital Outlook
Cover crops as cash crops: Farmers angle to profit off the practice
PitchBook Analyst Note: Archetypal Investing into Climate Tech
Five Ways Soil Testing Can Help with Fertility Costs
GRAPHIC: Just 17 plants slaughtered 65 percent of U.S. hogs last year
PitchBook Analyst Note: 2022 Emerging Technology Outlook
Interesting Reads:
The US Patent and Trademark Office should act now to catalyze innovation
Time for Agriculture to Think Bigger on Data
OPINION: We will look back on this age of cruelty to animals in horror
Why 2021 was a breakout year for Latin America's VC ecosystem
Manchin Blocks Biden's Build Back Better Climate and Social Agenda, What Happens Now?
Biden administration to raise mileage standards (0:05 mark)
Ag worker survey shows workers on US farms are loyal to their employers, like their boss (1:05 mark)
2021 Year in Review — Supply chain troubles
Here’s What It Will Take to Empower Farmers To Make Data-Driven Farm And Stewardship Decisions
An ice cream man died of cancer. A funeral procession of ice cream trucks honored ‘the king.’
Life expectancy falls in 2021 (0:05 mark)
Finance:
Taaleri launches €80M bioindustry vehicle
Laguna Bay makes A$32M offer for ASX-listed Angel Seafood
Infarm becomes the latest vertical farmer to target Middle East
Real-time soil-testing agtech startup Stenon raises $20M Series A funding round
Sofinnova leads $13M Series A for Ag Biotech Company Meiogenix
Theme of the Agtech Week: Hope
In the spirit of the holidays, and keeping things light, the theme of the agtech week is hope. As in we hope that 2022 rings in welcomed changes, like reports of food inflation to cool, or even more record VC investment in Agtech, and rethinking how we efficiently utilize ag inputs (like ag water, pesticides or fertilizers to name a few). And signs point to that hope being realized with the advancement of innovations in water, biologicals, fertilizers, big data among other technology verticals with capital flowing in for scale.
We can choose to focus on the negative news like inflation, supply chain woes or input shortages; but let’s choose to see these stories in a more positive, hopeful light. It’s a cycle; every down has its up. I’m hopeful that this period is merely transitory towards a more sustainable, robust and resilient food and ag system.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
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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