The UK government has launched a £20 million competition to support the development of farm automation and robotics, aiming to address labour shortages, boost productivity, and foster resilient agricultural businesses. Industry leaders welcome the funding, noting its crucial role in helping companies move from prototype to commercial deployment, but stress that scale-up support remains vital due to the capital-intensive nature of bringing agtech to market. The programme, part of a wider £123 million investment, is designed to bridge the gap between innovation and practical on-farm adoption, with a focus on supporting high-quality, impactful projects.
The global fertiliser industry, historically focused on reliability and efficiency, is now prioritising innovation through collaboration with start-ups, digital technologies, and biological solutions to address interconnected challenges such as decarbonisation, nutrient efficiency, and climate resilience. Key innovation areas include low-carbon nitrogen production, precision nutrient application using AI and sensing technologies, and the integration of biologicals alongside conventional fertilisers. The sector recognises that no single breakthrough will suffice; instead, a combination of innovations and stronger incentives for farmers are needed to achieve sustainability goals. Looking ahead, the industry aims for a more digital, biological, and sustainable future, with deeper partnerships across the agricultural ecosystem.
Citrus greening has destroyed Florida’s orange industry, but a recent EPA-registered RNA-based therapy delivery technology might be a major step in bringing back yields.
Antony Yousefian, general partner at The First Thirty, advocates for an "agri-health" investment approach that views agriculture as a contributor to preventative healthcare rather than just food production. The firm avoids investments dependent on farm-level margins, instead seeking technologies that capture value further along the supply chain and attract investors from health-tech, biotech, and longevity sectors. Their systems-based strategy focuses on building interconnected portfolios where companies can create more value by collaborating. Advances in AI and related technologies are making these integrated approaches more viable, while new exit opportunities are emerging through private equity and AI-driven business models.
Former Defra Secretary George Eustice argues that agricultural innovation should prioritize resilience over automation, emphasizing the need for technologies that enhance soil health and reduce reliance on costly inputs. He identifies biostimulants, organic fertilisers, and soil-enhancing products as key to building resilience against volatile weather and economic shocks. Eustice calls for regulatory reforms to assess agricultural products by risk rather than arbitrary categories and supports rewarding farmers for sustainable practices that improve profitability and environmental outcomes. He also advocates for regulatory flexibility to spur scientific innovation, stressing that agri-tech must focus on resilient farming systems as climate pressures mount.
Heineken UK has launched a major initiative to incentivize farmers to adopt regenerative practices for malting barley, aiming to secure its barley supply, support sustainability goals, and test the scalability of regenerative agriculture. The programme, delivered in partnership with maltsters, merchants, and agronomy experts, offers financial and technical support to growers of all sizes, with the goal of sourcing nearly half of its barley regeneratively by 2027. Impact will be measured across environmental indicators such as soil health and biodiversity, with the first crop entering the brewing process in 2027. While this does not affect beer taste or significantly impact prices, it marks a strategic move toward a more resilient and sustainable supply chain.
Drought conditions across Europe are intensifying concerns about food security, with farming groups split between demands for emergency financial support and calls for long-term investments in water infrastructure, climate-smart technologies, and resilience measures. In the UK, the National Farmers’ Union warns of declining yields, possible food shortages, and urges rapid government action on water storage and irrigation investment. Central and Eastern European countries seek stronger EU compensation mechanisms for drought losses, while France, Germany, and EU officials advocate for adaptation strategies and insurance-based solutions over continual compensation. The debate highlights a growing divide between immediate relief and sustainable adaptation in European agriculture.
Eatable Adventures has launched NOVO Agrifoodtech, an equity-free accelerator aimed at helping deeptech start-ups from sectors like healthcare, aerospace, and manufacturing adapt their technologies for agriculture and food production. Supported by the Provincial Council of Bizkaia and AZTI, the program will select 10 international start-ups focusing on areas such as AI, biotechnology, robotics, advanced materials, and quantum computing. The 12-week hybrid programme offers technical support, pilot project opportunities, and investor access, with a particular focus on innovations that improve efficiency, traceability, and sustainability in the agrifood sector. Applications are open until September.
Mosaic released its second quarter 2026 earnings, reporting shrinking sales volumes across its fertilizer divisions, while the ag supplier’s biological business provided a small hedge against the volatility.
A University of Nebraska-Lincoln study of eight Midwest states finds that strong agricultural output alone does not guarantee agtech investment; instead, regions with deliberate efforts to build start-up and commercialization infrastructure attract more venture capital. Nebraska, despite a robust agricultural base, lags in agtech funding due to gaps in growth-stage financing, start-up formation, and ecosystem coordination, resulting in a $45 million shortfall compared to expectations. States like Missouri and North Dakota outperform their agricultural benchmarks by investing in bioscience infrastructure, innovation hubs, and coordinated ecosystem initiatives. The report concludes that successful agtech ecosystems require targeted action and collaboration among research, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry stakeholders.
Bayer reported strong second-quarter results, led by its Crop Science division, which saw robust sales and profitability, helping the company beat earnings expectations. CEO Bill Anderson dismissed speculation about breaking up the company, emphasizing a focus on five strategic priorities, including improving the pharma pipeline, increasing Crop Science profitability, reducing debt, resolving litigation, and boosting productivity. Progress in resolving glyphosate litigation and a €3bn investment from Apollo have improved Bayer’s balance sheet and outlook. Management believes that operational improvements and addressing key challenges are the best path to unlocking value, rather than pursuing a breakup at this stage.
CNH Industrial reported steady second-quarter results, with revenues up 2% year-on-year, but sees no near-term recovery in global farm equipment demand as farmer profitability remains under pressure and machinery purchases are delayed. The company is prioritizing dealer inventory reductions, maintaining production restraint, and investing in precision agriculture and connected technology as part of its long-term strategy. Margin improvement initiatives, including strategic sourcing and manufacturing efficiencies, are on track, while the construction division provides growth and offsets agricultural softness. Management remains confident that operational improvements and technology investments will position CNH for stronger profitability when market conditions improve.
New trial data from Ag Novachem shows that Pangaea Booster™, an adjuvant technology, significantly improves the efficacy of existing insecticides against cabbage stem flea beetle and other key pests in oilseed rape, potentially addressing resistance issues that have challenged growers since the loss of neonicotinoid seed treatments. Laboratory and field trials in the UK, Europe, and Czechia demonstrate that combining Booster with pyrethroids and other insecticides leads to higher pest mortality rates and reduced crop damage compared to using insecticides alone, offering a practical resistance management tool and renewed confidence for oilseed rape cultivation.
Corteva Agriscience raised its full-year earnings outlook after strong first-half results driven by premium seed technologies, licensing growth, and operational discipline, but shares declined as investors focused on weaker-than-expected revenue and questioned the sustainability of profit growth ahead of the company's planned October split. While the seed business delivered robust organic growth and crop protection remained profitable, ongoing pricing pressures—especially in Brazil—persist. Management highlighted innovation in seed genetics, crop protection, and biologicals as strategic strengths, yet investors seek clearer evidence that these initiatives can translate into sustained top-line growth beyond margin expansion. The upcoming separation into two standalone companies remains on track, with future growth and earnings momentum drawing heightened investor scrutiny.
As Europe faces severe drought, attention is turning to the development of climate-resilient crop varieties. However, intellectual property specialists warn that scientific innovation alone is insufficient; breeders must also secure proper legal protections and commercialization strategies, such as plant breeders’ rights and variety listing. Delays or confusion regarding ownership, filing, and naming can jeopardize the value and success of new varieties, especially in an international context. Effective management of intellectual property is essential for breeders to bring climate-resilient crops to market and ensure long-term agricultural resilience.
Forecasts predict a strong El Niño by late 2026, raising concerns about global food crises, but ING analysts argue that global agricultural production is likely to remain resilient due to advances in technology and the growing importance of Brazil as a crop producer. The greater risk is regional, especially in Asia-Pacific, where drier conditions threaten wheat, rice, sugar, palm oil, and aquaculture, potentially leading to export restrictions and rising prices. ING urges agribusinesses, particularly those in or sourcing from Asia-Pacific, to invest in supply chain resilience and risk monitoring to better prepare for climate-driven disruptions.
InSoil, a European climate finance company, has secured a €120 million senior secured credit facility from Pollen Street Capital to expand lending to small and medium-sized farms adopting regenerative agriculture practices. The deal, backed by a European Investment Fund guarantee, highlights the growing interest of institutional investors in sustainable agriculture and the shift towards financing climate-related opportunities. InSoil leverages environmental data and soil carbon credits to differentiate its lending model, aiming to address a €62 billion annual financing gap faced by European agricultural SMEs. This transaction signals that regenerative agriculture is emerging as a viable asset class, attracting significant private capital.
Trump reignites a trade war, bringing with its fresh concerns on ag input prices, while fertilizer volatility is expected to continue amid uncertainty in the Middle East.
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The UK wine industry is rapidly expanding, with over 1,100 vineyards and increasing consumer recognition, but WineGB chief Nicola Bates warns that targeted government support is needed for it to reach its full potential. Key challenges include workforce shortages, the need to boost domestic and export demand, and the dominance of small producers facing economic pressures. Bates calls for stricter labelling rules for British wine, expanded grant access, and a wine tourism duty relief scheme to support growth and investment. Sustainability and wine tourism are highlighted as
BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division reported solid volume growth and stable margins in the first half of 2026, despite ongoing pricing pressure from weak farm economics, generic competition, and geopolitical uncertainty. The company is progressing with plans to carve out Agricultural Solutions as a standalone business, targeting IPO readiness by mid-2027, and is implementing new infrastructure and corporate functions for the transition. Demand for crop protection products remains resilient, but management warned that market challenges persist due to adverse weather, subdued commodity prices, and ongoing global supply chain disruptions, particularly from Middle Eastern conflicts. BASF raised its full-year EBITDA guidance but maintained a wide forecast range, citing continued risks from inflation and volatile global markets.
Ag chemical company BASF is expanding its protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor portfolio with Replexor Active, registering the active in Brazil and Australia before moving to the U.S. and Argentina next year.
UK horticulture leaders at Fruit Focus 2026 called for urgent government and industry action to address structural barriers including seasonal labour uncertainty, rising energy costs, water infrastructure, crop protection regulations, and the loss of key support schemes. They argued that restoring competitiveness—rather than simply increasing output—is essential for growth, highlighting disadvantages compared to European counterparts due to policy decisions, expensive labour, and lack of support programs. Sector representatives stressed the need for long-term certainty on worker visas, energy policy, and regulatory alignment to support investment and innovation, and advocated for collaborative, grower-led research to tackle practical challenges. The emerging growth strategy emphasizes shared responsibility among government, growers, and the supply chain.
Wild Bioscience, an Oxford spinout, has acquired independent breeder F1 Seed to create Britain’s first independent precision-breeding wheat business, integrating gene editing, artificial intelligence, and commercial breeding. This move aims to address longstanding challenges in agricultural biotechnology by enabling the company to discover, develop, and market new wheat varieties without relying on multinational seed companies, broadening the UK’s narrow wheat gene pool and improving disease and climate resilience. The acquisition leverages recent UK legislation supporting precision breeding and is seen as a significant step for domestic innovation in a sector facing stagnant yields and increasing climate pressures.
Israeli agtech start-up Nanovel has secured €2.5 million from the European Innovation Council to advance autonomous citrus-harvesting robots, which use AI and patented robotics to pick fruit hidden within dense tree canopies. The company is targeting commercial launch by 2028, aiming to address labor shortages and high harvesting costs in citrus production, with Spain set as a key testing ground. Nanovel’s technology, if proven effective in real-world trials, could overcome one of agriculture's toughest automation challenges and pave the way for expansion into other specialty crops.
Oxford University spinout Moa Technology has raised £22.2 million in Series C funding to advance its pipeline of resistance-breaking herbicides and herbicide-reducing technologies, aiming to position itself as an independent innovation partner in the crop protection industry. Moa’s GALAXY platform has identified over 80 novel herbicide modes of action, with several programmes showing promising results in international field trials and moving toward commercialisation. The company maintains independence by partnering with, rather than being owned by, major crop protection firms, and is also developing Moa Amplifiers and bioAmplifiers to enhance or reduce herbicide use. The funding will primarily support the company’s most mature programmes while continuing investment in early-stage discovery.
A Rabobank analyst shares a breakdown of what’s happening in Brazil’s soybean, corn, and sugar markets and the local and global factors impacting each.
Belgian biotech firm Zymofix has secured €1.9 million in funding from VLAIO to support the MicroFix project, which aims to improve the predictability of biological crop inputs by studying how microbial manufacturing processes affect product performance. Collaborating with Ghent University, the project will focus on Zymofix’s solid-state fermentation technology and its impact on microbial traits, stability, and efficacy. The initiative seeks to address performance variability in biologicals, strengthen scientific understanding, and support the transition to more sustainable, circular agricultural systems in Flanders.
Bayer has launched MagicTrap 2, an AI-enabled, solar-powered pest monitoring system for oilseed rape, in the UK and is expanding to 14 additional European countries. The device provides real-time pest detection and remote alerts to growers via the MagicScout app, with improvements in hardware for greater reliability. Bayer emphasizes that the platform’s primary value lies in earlier pest detection and improved decision-making, rather than demonstrated increases in yield or profitability. Feedback from growers highlights increased confidence and earlier response to pest activity, with the company aiming to expand the monitoring network and its future capabilities.
John Deere’s largest air cart provides enhanced seeding capacity and precision agriculture capabilities, designed to make large ag producers more efficient.
BugBiome, a Norwich-based agri-biotech company, has secured a £500,000 Innovate UK grant for a 24-month project to develop a biological insecticide targeting cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB), a major threat to UK oilseed rape crops. In partnership with the John Innes Centre, Harper Adams University, and Applied Insect Science, the initiative leverages leading expertise in pest biology and biopesticide development to address the urgent need for sustainable crop protection as synthetic pesticide options decline.
Syngenta is leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate the development of crop protection products, using predictive modeling and generative design to optimize multiple parameters simultaneously and significantly shorten R&D timelines. The company emphasizes that AI will augment, not replace, scientists and farmers, with humans remaining central to decision-making. AI is already integrated across Syngenta’s digital platforms, enhancing data collection, product customization, and the feedback loop between growers and researchers. Syngenta remains mindful of AI’s environmental footprint, ensuring its use delivers greater agronomic and environmental benefits than the resources it consumes.
The European Commission has adopted its first carbon farming certification methodologies under the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation, establishing an EU-wide framework for certifying climate-positive land management activities. Industry leaders, including the International Soil Carbon Industry Alliance (ISCIA), welcome the move as a step toward a harmonized market but warn that stimulating demand for certified units remains the sector’s biggest challenge. ISCIA is working with policymakers to develop guidance and explore mechanisms to boost buyer confidence and ensure market growth, while advocating for earlier regulatory drivers to support demand. The main concern is ensuring enough buyers participate to make the carbon farming market effective for farmers.
Syngenta has partnered with Groundwork BioAg to launch a programme that combines mycorrhizal biologicals with soil carbon initiatives, allowing farmers to earn income from carbon credits while improving crop yields and soil health. The model targets corn, soybean, cereal, and sunflower growers in Europe and Latin America—especially those using low- or no-till systems—with farmers receiving two-thirds of the carbon credit revenue generated. The initiative leverages Groundwork BioAg’s mycorrhizal technology to enhance nutrient uptake, bolster resilience, and sequester significant amounts of soil carbon, with credits certified under Verra’s VM0042 methodology. The programme will be offered under a new Syngenta brand, reflecting a shift toward integrating biologicals as both agronomic and climate solutions.
Bayer has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with French seed breeder RAGT, granting it access to elite wheat genetics and advancing its plans to commercialise hybrid wheat in Europe and North America by the early 2030s. Hybrid wheat, produced by crossing genetically distinct parent lines, promises higher yields and greater resilience, addressing stagnating wheat production and climate pressures. The deal strengthens Bayer’s position in the market and aims to build a transatlantic wheat franchise, with RAGT and Bayer sharing a vision to accelerate hybrid wheat development and meet the evolving needs of global agriculture.
German startup Orbem has developed AI-powered MRI technology that enables rapid, industrial-scale scanning of produce such as eggs, avocados, and watermelons to detect quality issues and reduce food waste. By automating MRI analysis and integrating it into food production lines, Orbem claims it can accurately assess internal quality in less than a second, allowing for smarter sorting and use of both high- and lower-grade produce. With over 200 million eggs scanned since its commercial launch, the company is building the world’s largest biological imaging dataset and aims to set a new standard for food production, with ambitions to eventually expand its technology into healthcare applications.
Brazilian agricultural innovation outpaces other Latin American or Caribbean countries, but the LatAm ecosystem is vibrant with founders and start-ups for every portion of the supply chain.
Dogtooth Technologies, a UK-based developer of AI-powered harvesting robots, has secured over £14 million in funding to expand its robotic systems across the horticulture sector. The investment, which includes contributions from multiple investors and grants, will support the commercial deployment of Dogtooth’s embodied AI technology that autonomously identifies and picks delicate crops like strawberries, addressing ongoing labour shortages in agriculture. The company’s robots have already been deployed commercially, demonstrating readiness for large-scale use and attracting significant investor interest in the agricultural robotics space.
Brazil provides an ideal environment for research and development of biological-based crop inputs, influencing go-to-market strategies for start-ups and major ag suppliers.
Bayer’s venture arm has led a Series B funding round in Sabanto, a company specializing in autonomous retrofit kits for existing farm machinery, aiming to address labor shortages, lower costs, and support regenerative agriculture. Sabanto’s technology allows farmers to convert current tractors into autonomous machines, increasing operational hours and reducing reliance on expensive new equipment. Bayer was drawn to Sabanto’s proven commercial adoption, scalable business model, and potential to improve farm profitability and sustainability. The investment aligns with Bayer’s goals of advancing resource efficiency and supporting long-term soil health through smaller, lighter, and more precise autonomous farming solutions.
The University of Warwick is leading a €6 million European project, PhytoPRISM, to develop a coordinated platform for managing invasive plant pests and diseases exacerbated by climate change and global trade. The initiative, involving 15 institutions across eight countries, aims to help authorities model and optimize pest management strategies across the agri-food and forestry sectors, moving beyond fragmented and reactive approaches. By providing open-access decision-support tools and testing interventions on key European quarantine pests, the project seeks to balance food security, sustainability, and reduced reliance on chemical controls. The effort comes as climate pressures and globalization intensify threats to European agriculture, highlighting the need for more proactive, data-driven responses.
Ethan Soloviev, chief innovation officer at HowGood, argues that the main barrier to scaling regenerative agriculture is not defining or proving its worth, but rather unlocking much greater financial flows to farmers. The sector has broad consensus on its benefits, yet lacks sufficient financial mechanisms, with collaboration needed between banks, insurers, food companies, and local partners to de-risk and finance agricultural transitions. Soloviev emphasizes that effective solutions are likely to emerge at regional levels through coordinated initiatives, and that the focus is shifting from debates about definitions to practical deals and investment. Despite political headwinds around ESG and net-zero, companies continue to invest in regenerative practices for business resilience, but the scale of investment remains far too small.
Corteva has entered a multi-year R&D partnership with UK-based Moa Technology to accelerate the discovery of novel herbicides, signaling a shift toward combining external innovation with in-house research as the company prepares to split its Seeds and Crop Protection businesses. The collaboration, focused on tackling herbicide-resistant weeds, exemplifies Corteva’s broader strategy of supplementing internal expertise with technology from startups and specialist partners through initiatives like Corteva Catalyst. This approach, highlighted by additional collaborations with companies such as AgPlenus, Micropep, Hexagon Bio, and FMC, provides a blueprint for Corteva’s future as a standalone crop-protection company.
