Agtech Action | Week of 02.13.21 - 02.19.21
Agtech Action is a weekly newsletter highlighting current events in the world of agtech, and some light-hearted humor
Friday! It’s agtech Friday and warmer weather is on the horizon! This cold snap has swept through the U.S., affecting everyone in its path including farmers and ranchers. But enough about the cold, let’s get to more encouraging agtech news, like that US fresh vegetable imports are up, USDA says COVID cannot be transmitted through food and packaging, and vertical farming is taking off. And we are less than 2 weeks away from the Soy Challenge finale at the Commodity Classic (register here) and we will be featuring the 7 finalists as a build up to that finale on March 3rd (read on for more details). Enjoy!
Food and the World:
Risk of global food shortages due to COVID has increased, says UN envoy
USDA and FDA confident no transmission of COVID through food, packaging
Farmers work through major winter storm sweeping U.S.
US fresh vegetable imports up big
Weather may delay Safrinha crop planting in Central Brazil
I&P realizes 11 new seed funding in Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Mali
Research identifies potential sustainability benefits for beef
More than 90% of NYC restaurants could not pay full rent in December: Survey
New study reveals economic impact of corn refining industry
Introducing the vegan KitKat (1:05 mark)
Australian politicians disagree over ag’s role in reducing emissions
Bananas as we know them are doomed (interesting short film by VICE)
Mexico produce picks up after slow start
Training AI to track greenhouses in Antarctica and Mars
Agribusiness is on the rise but local investors risk getting left behind
SE berries feel the cold weather, import competition
Steel cage salmon farm designer ramping up with capital infusion
Research says New Zealand dairy is world’s most emissions efficient
An illicit trade in Brazil is sending tiny songbirds to their deaths
The pandemic pushed this farmer into deep poverty, then something amazing happened
Half of Yemeni children under 5 face acute malnutrition: UN
Mars, Nestle, and Hershey to face child slavery lawsuit in US
Nestle joins forces with Swiss tech experts on carbon footprint project
Remember the unsolicited seeds story? We have an update on the findings from USDA
Corn market faces pressure, analyst says (Brazil harvest could spark sell)
Agtech in the News:
Harness market volatility with fencing strategy, analyst says
North Face inks regenerative cotton partnership
Kraft Heinz and Conagra may raise prices, due to inflation and rise in demand of wheat, sugar, etc. (0:40 mark)
Texas livestock industry reels from storm, outages
Plant-based meat has thrived in Asia for centuries – and it’s still going strong
Meet grocery store forecasters
US pandemic could change fisheries
Harvest Returns in new partnership to expand U.S. indoor farm funding
Natural gas shortage forces feedyards to reformulate feed, packing plants pause production
USDA ready to assist farmers & ranchers affected by winter storms
Incarcerated no more, Michael Thompson finds joy in meals
Pandemic has made school lunch free for all public school students. Advocates want this permanent
Interview with the Yield Lab Institute co-founder Thad Simons
How vertical farming is taking off
Pizza was the pandemic hero of 2020
3 agtech startups to watch in 2021
UK Nigeria Tech Hub launches iNOVO, a startup accelerator program for innovative Nigerians
A policy keeps many restaurant workers in poverty. Will Biden end it?
Helpful Resources:
6 of the warmest work boots for women farmers in 2021
Farmers, avoid these tax preparing mistakes this year
8th annual Grain Bin Safety Contest to prevent entrapments
Fun:
Tractor Supply supports FFA with Grants for Growing fundraiser
Peterson Farm Bros & their cows dance in the Git Up Challenge
Interesting Reads:
Myth-busting 8 common beliefs about cover crops
The US military is getting 3D printing ‘factories’ inside shipping containers
New documentary details hunt for Asian giant hornet
Making Black HERstory: Women in Agriculture
Breeding better seeds: Healthy food for more people
What came first, the chicken or the … myth?
Time to double down on your farm operation, says FBN chief economist
Is giving our drinking water legal personhood the best way to protect it?
Get ready to step up sustainability efforts this year
Planting season: Sacrifices of a farming family
The bogus burger blame (claim that livestock and meat is source of all harmful GHG emissions)
Cattle seaweed supplement, pregnancy test get Australian government funding
To reduce greenhouse gases, dairy has solutions for all sizes
Finance:
Argentine ag blockchain platform ucrop.it raises seed funding (shoutout to the Yield Lab LATAM team!)
CAP calls for climate-focused regulation of Farm Credit System
RRG SPAC eyes water efficiency investments after $316M IPO
EIP and RES move in on diverging state-by-state mitigation opportunities
Roc Partners raising first food and agribusiness fund – exclusive
Entomo closes on C$3.7M to advance cricket protein
Insect farmer Protix closes on $18.6M, gains new investor
Nature’s Fynd opens its fungus food for pre-orders after raising $150M in equity and debt
From ag waste to green energy source: researchers build better biomass pellet
Total Produce to combine with Dole Food Company
Post Holdings launches $400M SPAC targeting consumer sector
Rabobank to cut 5,000 staff and downsize branch network
Phatisa reaches $143M final close on Food Fund II
Blockchain in Ag: February 26th 8:30-10:30 AM CST
Join us next Friday for an exciting event highlighting blockchain in #agriculture and the innovations driving forward integration and technology in ag. You will hear from two of The Yield Lab Institute's Soy Challenge finalists, Genesis Feed Technologies' Peter Schott and The New Fork's Marieke de Ruyter de Wildt, discuss the exciting developments and opportunities that #blockchain presents for ag. And you will be hearing a reverse pitch from The Yield Lab's Meg Brigman. Register here!
Soy Innovation Challenge Finale: March 3rd 7:00-8:00 AM CST at Commodity Classic
The Soy Innovation Challenge will conclude at the Commodity Classic on March 3rd virtually from 7:00-8:00 AM CST. The event will feature 5 minute pitches from all 7 finalists followed by a 20 minute live Q&A session. The winners of cash prizes and AWS in-kind technical service credits will be announced at the conclusion of finale. You can register here for the free event. As a build up to the finale, the Yield Lab Institute will feature a finalist each day on our social media accounts for the next week. You will learn more about each of the finalists so stay tuned to our Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook accounts for content on the challenge.
Theme of the week is definitely resilience. I noticed stories about how the livestock and commodity crop sectors were hit hard by the cold weather; but farmers responded to the challenge. I cannot help but think that agtech startups and founders adopt that same mindset: respond and move forward. We have too many pressing food issues for us to give up. Stay safe and warm agtechies
BD
Brandon Day is the Chief Operating Officer of the Yield Lab Institute, is the think-tank, non-profit arm of The Yield Lab global network of venture capital funds and accelerator programs. The Yield Lab Institute is focused on driving more impactful innovation to market through targeted initiatives that include innovation challenges, ecosystem assessments and technical studies and research in agrifood. If you would like to learn more about the Institute and its initiatives, please contact brandon@theyieldlab.com.