Weekly Agrifoodtech Roundup: Funding, M&A, People Moves, and More

As we wrap up another week in the agrifoodtech industry, let’s take a look at some of the biggest deals, mergers, acquisitions, and personnel changes that have taken place.

Startup Funding

Some of the notable funding rounds this week include:

• London-based BeZero Carbon closing a $32 million Series C round to expand global carbon ratings services
• French farm robotics startup Aisprid raising $10.4 million
• Indian produce marketplace KisanKonnect securing $4.5 million

M&A, IPOs & Partnerships

On the M&A front:

• Pictor Biotech creates a vertically integrated synthetic biology and biomanufacturing powerhouse
• Ag marketplace DeHaat adds farmer advisory services to its platform with AgriCentral acquisition
• CH4 Global teams up with Mitsubishi on livestock methane reduction
• Nexture Bio Acquires Matrix Food Technologies, Inc. to increase offerings of animal-component-free enabling technologies

Funds, Grants & Accelerators

Some key updates in funds, grants, and accelerators:

• The51 holds $51 million final close for food and agtech fund amid challenging venture market
• SLM Partners holds €30 million final close on Silva Europe Fund
• Tender Food, Ginkgo Bioworks, and others secure millions in DOE grants for low-carbon food innovation
• Inaugural ‘Innovate for Impact Challenge’ launched by World Food Prize Foundation to uncover agricultural breakthroughs

People Moves

Highlights of personnel changes this week include:

• Protein manufacturer the EVERY Company taps Evan Geisert as chief financial officer
• Mars appoints Alastair Child as chief sustainability officer
• Gresham House appoints global director of natural capital
• Former Nike chief sustainability officer Noel Kinder joins UNCAGED Innovations’ board of directors

Other News

Additional updates from the industry:

• Dutch Mosa Meat seeks EU approval to sell lab-grown beef fat
• New Culture submits animal-free mozzarella product label to California Department of Food and Agriculture
• Deere sued by FTC over farmers’ right to repair equipment
• Funding troubles: Dutch plant-based cheese startup Willicroft winds down
• Singaporean alt-seafood leader swims into Gen Z trend with cultivated caviar

Stay tuned for more updates in the evolving agrifoodtech landscape.