Agtech Action | Week of 10.24.20 - 10.30.20
Outdoor dining bubbles, Phase 1 is behind schedule, and a huge milestone for a St. Louis-based agtech startup
Big news this week so let’s get to it. A huge milestone from St. Louis’ own Benson Hill, the reason why food allergies are on the rise and lab-grown meat is scaling like the internet (but will it sustain?). And for those of you who miss dining, you can do so now with your very own dining bubble (I’m not kidding). So much to get to but I do not want to spoil this week’s agtech Friday news. Happy Friday!
Food and the World:
FDA pilot program tests 3rd-party audit alignment with FSMA
First Asian giant hornet nest eradicated in Washington
Which 2020 candidate does the Electoral College favor?
The pandemic has the potential to finally transform meat processing in the US
More than $7B paid to farmers for 2nd round of CFAP
Outdoor dining bubbles (this is a thing)
Chobani is going to increase its minimum wage to $15/hr
How does one of the world’s largest pig firms go bust during a boom?
Meet the 24-year-old who’s tracking every broken McDonald’s ice cream machine in the US
Mucci Farms unveils 200-acre expansion plan in US, Canada
Lantic and DouxMatok partner to offer cane-based sugar reduction solution to the US food industry
Walnut mold confuses growers in CA
Remarkable food tech is making real honey without bees
Cheese bloc: India’s dairy farmers become hurdle to trade deals
‘Phase 1’ fails to deliver, and a new approach to China is needed, says trade expert
Why are British people protesting US farm imports?
Child malnutrition at record highs in parts of Yemen: U.N. survey
Alaskan salmon fishers to Trump: leave the Tongass National Forest alone
Indian farmers say no alternative to burning stubble
Is hoarding a problem of messaging, selfishness, or simply fear?
Agriculture in the News:
Farmers are urged to stay alert on marketing grain, analyst says
Why food allergies are on the rise
Tyson Foods workers to replace some federal inspectors at US beef plant
EPA grants 5-year re-registration for dicamba in dicamba-tolerant crops
EPA approves dicamba for over-the-top use for next 5 years
Check out the damage from Derecho to Iowa corn farmer
More than $7B paid in 2nd round of CFAP
Want to win rural voters? Fight big ag
USDA sanctions National Produce Sales for PACA violations
Can Burger King’s reusable packaging change fast food forever?
USDA’s harvest numbers come in as expected by the trade
Could COVID be a foodborne illness? Virginia Tech researchers just got $1M to find out
Most US farmers remain loyal to Trump despite pain from trade wars and COVID
Whistleblower says JBS asked employees to pay $100 for COVID tests. Few participated
AFM football-themed campaign includes Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews
Helpful Resources:
7 prominent groups for women in agriculture
Snakes on farms: everything you need to know
Herbicide vs. pesticide: how these terms are used
New tool kit shows economic soil health benefits
Fun:
Montana ranchers featured in ‘Life of a Farmer’ video series
Culver’s Scoops of Thanks Day fundraiser hits record for FFA
FFA members react to the first-ever virtual National FFA Convention
15 minute with Wisconsin farmer, Doug Rebout
7 amazing corn mazes – and how to solve them
Trick or toxic: Should we swap our children’s favorite candies with more ‘natural’ versions?
Top 3 things people want to know about your dairy
Interesting Reads:
Stanford researchers reveal US corn crop’s growing sensitivity to drought
The cute critter rewriting our understanding of prehistory
Lab-grown meat is scaling like the internet
Will the oceans help feed humanity?
Proagrica Report illuminates 7 trends in ag and artificial intelligence
Family and Community are the best parts of farming
Explore the subliminal messaging on your Halloween candy’s label
Farm to Fridge: Food and Agriculture are ripe with visual technology opportunities
10 amazing GMOs that you need to know about
Finance:
Benson Hill raises $150M Series D found to accelerate the pace of food innovation on a global scale
SoftBank leads $140M Series D with Plenty
‘Desktop diligence’ is hurting new GPs
PGIM expects steady farmland deal flow as valuation uncertainty continues
Laguna Bay sells first asset from Agricultural Fund I for A$80M
Apeel secures $30M in new funding to create participatory, inclusive food systems
Astanor’s role in $372M Ynsect Series C driven by ‘systemic change’ strategy
Apeel, investors establish supply chains for small growers
Harvard ups private equity allocation and sheds illiquid holdings
‘The money will really start to flow when it’s too late’ – Bonnefield’s Eisenhauer
On the Institute side, we are planning for our Soy Innovation Challenge kickoff event. You will get to see the 7 finalists and their exciting innovations, as well as curated content around innovations in the soy value chain, stakeholder perspectives on innovation and opportunities to overcome and accelerate adoption. More details to come and I cannot wait to unveil that to you all.
3 topics summarize this week’s news: finance, farming and food supply. Finance because of the monumental fundraises for agtech startups; farming because of increased aid that farmers have received, and need, to weather COVID; and food supply driven by the demand for local, healthy, and uninterrupted sourced food. And all 3 of these topics are interconnected: the fundraises allow innovation to scale and reinforce our food supply chains, which ensure that farmers have a market to sell their crops. All 3 of these play a key role in feeding us and ensuring our health and food security.
If you would like to get involved or support the Yield Lab Institute initiatives, please email me at brandon@theyieldlab.com. Be safe and eat your fruits and vegetables.
Brandon