Agriculture and Food Technology Weekly: Aerofarms Secures Equity, TerraBlaster Gains $4 Million, Rihanna Supports African Female Climate Entrepreneurs
In the ever-evolving landscape of food, agriculture, and technology, there's no shortage of exciting developments. Here's a roundup of some of the latest happenings:
Expanding Leadership and Regulatory Scrutiny
Switch Bioworks has expanded its leadership team, signalling a period of growth and innovation in the biotech sector. Meanwhile, the FDA is currently reviewing a citizen petition filed by Dr. David Kessler to revoke the GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status of several processed refined carbohydrates and related food ingredients. The petition, if successful, could mark a significant shift in food safety regulation, particularly for ultra-processed foods.
Sustainable Food Solutions
Several companies are making strides in the realm of sustainable food. Beyond Meat has brought in a chief transformation officer and cut jobs, while Just Egg, a plant-based egg alternative, has launched into the UK. Better Nature has raised funds to fight chicken with tempeh, and Juicy Marbles & Friends has launched whole-cut plant-based salmon.
Agricultural Advancements
The agricultural sector is also seeing its fair share of progress. AeroFarms has raised equity to fund pre-construction activities for a second farm, and BioConsortia has secured funding to scale a nitrogen-fixing seed treatment product. Cropin has chosen the UK to combine AI and regenerative agriculture in a potato project, and Advancing Eco Agriculture has launched the first AI chatbot for regenerative agronomy.
Investments and Collaborations
Investments and collaborations are driving innovation across the board. Nomura has backed Terviva to boost SAF feedstocks and reforest degraded land. Suplyd has raised funds to build next-gen restaurant infrastructure, and Cambridge Innovation Capital has committed £100M to University of Cambridge spinouts. Rihanna has also backed a fund to boost women-led climate startups across Africa.
Regulatory Action
US senators have asked the FDA to ban dairy-like terms on plant-based product labels, and the USDA has confirmed Lindberg as its top trade official. The funding to precision agriculture has jumped 71%, outpacing ag biotech for the first time since 2017.
Legal Battles and Repairs
Bayer is working to significantly contain glyphosate litigation by the end of 2026, and John Deere has launched a digital self-repair tool for tractors. Flox has raised nearly $1M to redefine human-wildlife coexistence, while DoorDash acquisition has driven losses for Deliveroo, according to UK Tech News.
Climate Adaptation and Resilience
Foundations have launched a $50 million adaptation and resilience fund for communities facing climate risks. Albert Heijn has become the "first" global supermarket to disclose methane emissions.
These developments underscore the dynamic nature of the food, agriculture, and technology sectors, with a clear focus on sustainability, innovation, and regulatory oversight. Stay tuned for more updates as these stories continue to unfold.
In the realm of sustainable food, Beyond Meat has appointed a chief transformation officer and made job cuts, while Just Egg has launched in the UK. (sports: none)
Meanwhile, in the world of sports, Rihanna has backed a fund to boost women-led climate startups across Africa. (sports: Rihanna backed a fund)
