Latest News From Produce Tech

USDA reviews genetically engineered tomato, potato plants
USDA reviews genetically engineered tomato, potato plants

The USDA recently reviewed soybean, tomato, and potato plants modified using genetic engineering to determine whether they presented an increased plant pest risk compared to similar cultivated plants.

Report: Growers spend $500K average per year on automation
Report: Growers spend $500K average per year on automation

The second annual Western Growers Specialty Crop Automation Report reveals a 25% increase in average year-over-year agtech investment.

Carbon Robotics raises $30M to scale its LaserWeeder platform
Carbon Robotics raises $30M to scale its LaserWeeder platform

Carbon Robotics plans to use new funding to expand sales regions for its weed control platform, as well as scale manufacturing, develop new software and hardware products, and launch into international markets.

Agmatix partners with NASA Harvest to support the use of sustainable agricultural practices
Agmatix partners with NASA Harvest to support the use of sustainable agricultural practices

Satellite imagery alongside ground measurements will be analyzed using the Agmatix platform to inform sustainable on-farm decisions.

Syngenta Group and Yara adopt Varda’s Global Field ID system
Syngenta Group and Yara adopt Varda’s Global Field ID system

Norway-based crop nutrition company Yara and the Syngenta Group have entered into a partnership with agtech startup Varda, which was founded by Yara.

NASA sowing seeds for space salsa
NASA sowing seeds for space salsa

NASA’s Plant Habitat scientists are growing space gardens with fresh vegetable favorites to supplement astronaut diets and help them endure long-duration space travel to the moon, Mars and beyond.

Bayer and Ginkgo Bioworks close deal creating a partnership to develop biological products for agriculture
Bayer and Ginkgo Bioworks close deal creating a partnership to develop biological products for agriculture

Bayer has announced the company has closed its previously announced transaction with Ginkgo Bioworks to begin a multiyear strategic partnership to accelerate research and development of ag biological products.

BioConsortia showcases innovation pipeline
BioConsortia showcases innovation pipeline

BioConsortia displayed its innovation pipeline on Aug. 30 at its Davis, Calif., headquarters in an investor-focused Technology Showcase event.

Walmart invests in indoor vertical grower Plenty
Walmart invests in indoor vertical grower Plenty

In what could be the first move of its kind for a massive retailer, Walmart is investing in an indoor vertical leafy greens grower: Plenty Unlimited Inc., based in South San Francisco.

AgroScout acquires the assets of TerrAvion to broaden its imagery capabilities in agro data management 
AgroScout acquires the assets of TerrAvion to broaden its imagery capabilities in agro data management 

AgroScout agro analytics platform, announced today that it acquired the assets of TerrAvion, a market leader in imagery data management for agriculture.

Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops, CropTrak create Stewardship Calculator 2.0
Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops, CropTrak create Stewardship Calculator 2.0

The Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops has announced a partnership with CropTrak to accelerate adoption of the Stewardship Calculator 2.0 across the specialty food supply chain.

Kubota and Yamaha Motor invest in U.S. startup developing robots to automate strawberry harvesting
Kubota and Yamaha Motor invest in U.S. startup developing robots to automate strawberry harvesting

Kubota Corporation and Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. have invested in U.S. startup Advanced Farm Technologies.

Carbon Robotics unveils new generation autonomous weeders
Carbon Robotics unveils new generation autonomous weeders

Carbon Robotics, an autonomous robotics company, has unveiled its third-generation autonomous weed elimination robots.

Oranges Citrus
Nutrien Ag Solutions Partners with Elemental Enzymes to Combat Citrus Greening

“Since 2005, citrus growers have been plagued by citrus greening—a yield- and quality-robbing disease complex that has devastated the industry—causing farm gate losses of more than $8 billion,” says Ryan Bond.

Bayer, AI company start greenhouse vegetable project

Bayer is partnering with Israeli artificial intelligence data analytics company Prospera Technologies Inc. in a program the companies say will optimize profitability and sustainability of greenhouse growing.