If traditional pesticides are blunt instruments for killing pests, RNAi (RNA interference) is the polar opposite, says Dr. John Husnik, CEO at Vancouver-based Renaissance Bioscience. "It's exceptionally precise." The post Yeast-powered RNAi is the future of precision pest management, says Renaissance Bioscience appeared first on AgFunderNews ..read more

According to auctioneer Silicon Valley Disposition, equipment up for sale includes “high-end and late-model (mostly 2022) R&D instruments" including bioreactors. The post Brief: SCiFi Foods assets up for sale in online auction August 6-8 appeared first on AgFunderNews ..read more

Widespread usage of GLP-1 drugs will have a profound impact on the food industry, predicts Wegovy user and founder of Sweden Foodtech Johan Jörgensen. The post Guest article: GLP-1 drugs: The effect on food systems is going to be profound… and relatively quick appeared first on AgFunderNews ..read more

Plus: NoPalm Ingredients raises funds for its palm oil alternative and layoffs at Cargill. The post The Week in AgriFoodTech: Micropep raises $29m, Oceano Fresco reels in $18m, Juicy Marbles serves up edible (plant based) bones appeared first on AgFunderNews ..read more

Funds will help scale up operations of rubber production and further build out the company's seed breeding program. The post Breaking: Edison Agrosciences lands fresh funds to make natural rubber from sunflower crops appeared first on AgFunderNews ..read more

An alliance of large North American farmers led the round, which will fuel the rollout of InnerPlant's insight platform for soybeans. The post Exclusive: InnerPlant bags $30m Series B led by its ‘ideal investors’: an alliance of North American farmers appeared first on AgFunderNews ..read more

Alessia Lenders is head of impact at SLM Partners, a natural asset investor working to scale up sustainable and regenerative farming and forestry. The views expressed in this article are the authors’ own and do not necessarily represent those of AgFunderNews. Groundswell, fondly known as the “Glastonbury of the farming world,” is a rapidly growing festival for farmers eager to learn about the principles and practices of regenerative agriculture. It centers on the farmers’ core asset – the soil. But recently the event has been attracting a more diverse audience of players from across the agric ..read more

The farm robotics sector has shown some resilience in 2024 and continues to bring innovative products to market, despite the challenging year for fundraising. In the first half of 2024, the AgFunder-defined Farm Robotics, Mechanization, and Equipment category has raised nearly $399 million, a 21.1 % decline from $505.5 million in H1 2023. [Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent company is AgFunder.] However, this drop needs to be considered in the context of a general investment contraction that has characterized the last 18 months. Overall agrifoodtech investment was also down in H1 2024: 12.5% com ..read more

Australian startup Nourish Ingredients has announced a collaboration with dairy giant Fonterra to accelerate the development of dairy products with fats produced via fermentation. Nourish, which is developing a range of high-impact, low-inclusion ‘animalic’ fats in fermentation tanks, will work with Fonterra on Creamilux, a lipid produced by a genetically engineered microbe that “recreates the rich, creamy mouthfeel, taste and emulsification properties of dairy fat.” As part of their collaboration, Fonterra and Nourish will explore the potential of Creamilux “as a key ingredient to unlock fun ..read more

Alt meat startup Meati Foods has been hit with a putative class action lawsuit alleging it falsely advertises its cutlets and steaks as ‘made from mushroom root’ when they are in fact made from a strain of filamentous fungus called Neurospora Crassa, a type of mold. In a complaint* filed in the Eastern District of California, plaintiff Serena Caldeira alleges that “Meati products are not made from mushrooms roots, nor are they made from any part of a mushroom. Specifically, the main ingredient in Meati products is Neurosporo Crassa, a red mold that commonly grows on bread.” Caldeira adds: “Me ..read more