Latest Developments in Agri-Tech Funding and Partnerships

This week has seen significant advancements in the agricultural technology sector, with notable funding rounds aimed at revolutionizing the way we interact with crops and food delivery services.

Wild Bioscience Leads the Charge in Climate Smart Agriculture

Oxford University spinout Wild Bioscience successfully raised a substantial $60 million Series A round. The company aims to harness artificial intelligence to unlock insights from plant genomes, offering the potential for developing climate-resilient crops that can thrive in changing environments.

Funding Highlights

• Robot-maker Starship Technologies secured $50 million to boost its autonomous food delivery services.
• Ascribe Bio raised $12 million to enhance its crop protection platform.

European Union Initiatives

Across the pond, the European Union has announced a variety of grants aimed at fostering innovation in agriculture, while in the United States, EcoEnterprises has closed its fourth Latam-focused fund, amounting to $100 million.

Global Funding News

Check out some of the latest investment deals in agri-tech:

• 🇮🇳 Indian quick-commerce firm Zepto raises $450m at $7b valuation Deal Street Asia
• 🇨🇭 Ecorobotix doubles down on AI software for precision spraying after $150 million raise AgFunderNews
• 🇬🇧 Oxford spinout Wild Bioscience bags $60M to grow climate-resilient crops TechFundingNews
• 🇺🇸 Starship Technologies raises $50M as robot delivery race revs up Restaurant Business Online
• 🇺🇸 Ascribe Bio secures $12 million Series A funding to advance natural crop protection platform iGrow News
• 🇺🇸 Tender Food rebrands as Lasso, raises $6.5 million for expansion AgFunderNews
• 🇫🇷 French foodtech startup Kikleo raises €3.5M to help restaurants cut food waste Silicon Canals

Mergers and Acquisitions

In M&A news, Gourmey has acquired Vital Meat in a significant merger focused on cultivated meat technologies. Additionally, Mars has teamed up with a European renewable energy developer to explore sustainable energy solutions.

Grants and Accelerators

Various funds and initiatives have launched to further support agri-tech innovation:

• 🇺🇸 EcoEnterprises reaches $100m first close for fourth LatAm impact fund Agri Investor
• 🇮🇹 Italy’s Maia Ventures launches a $64 million agrifood fund, backed by the EIF and others AgFunderNews
• 🇪🇺 EU project FABULOSE receives €3.5 million to develop animal-free leather Vegconomist

Other Noteworthy Updates

In regulatory news, the EU has announced a delay in sustainability reporting standards for non-EU companies. Meanwhile, South African insect ag company Inseco is winding down operations due to persistent power issues, leaving many to ponder the future of the insect agriculture market.

For more detailed coverage on these developments, follow us for the latest updates in agri-tech and sustainability.