Regenerative farms cut drought losses by two-thirds in landmark France study
Early findings from a large-scale European dataset suggest regenerative agriculture can materially improve resilience to climate shocks, with farms in France losing up to three times less yield during recent droughts
Regenerative agriculture has long been touted as a solution to climate risk, but until now, much of the supporting evidence has been limited to small-scale studies or modelling. That may be starting to change.
Soil Capital has unveiled early findings from what it describes as a first-of-its-kind European dataset, analysing independently verified, field-level data from 1,262 farms across 331,600 hectares in France – an area more than twice the size of Greater London.
EU embraces ‘product-based’ gene editing rules – delivering long-sought model for Bayer, Syngenta and Corteva
The European Parliament’s adoption of new genomic techniques (NGTs) rules marks a decisive regulatory pivot towards a model long advocated by global crop giants, but NGOs warn the shift amounts to a backdoor deregulation of GMOs, setting up a new phase of political and market resistance
The European Parliament has officially adopted new rules governing plants developed using new genomic techniques (NGTs), completing a legislative process that began with a provisional agreement between Parliament and Council in December 2025.
The reform is being hailed by industry as a turning point for European plant breeding, enabling faster access to crops with traits such as climate resilience, pest resistance, higher yields and reduced pesticide use.
A Buffett of algos for agtech
In this essay, Michael Lee, managing director at Syngenta Group Ventures, explores the mental “algorithms” guiding venture capital investment in agtech, drawing comparisons with biotech and public markets to argue for more disciplined valuations and realistic exit expectations
Mental models (algorithms) are rarely formalized, but VCs develop an intuitive sense for them over time. These algos aim to reduce failure. Nonetheless, VCs still make poor investment choices (about 2/3 of all investments return less than 1x).
The main body of this article examines algos for agtech, but given volatile and infrequent agtech exits, I compare with a longer established VC sector, namely biotech. But firstly, is it possible to imagine algos to identify good and bad times to invest in the longest market of them all – public markets?
‘More companies will fail’: Goterra collapse raises questions over insect waste-to-protein model
More insect protein companies are likely to fail as Goterra’s administration raises fresh doubts over whether waste-to-protein models can scale commercially, warns the Insect Institute
The insect protein sector is facing a pivotal moment as the collapse of Australian waste-to-protein player Goterra intensifies scrutiny of business fundamentals.
Goterra’s unravelling came into focus at the start of June when it entered voluntary administration after struggling to secure fresh capital.
Bayer-Aphea.Bio deal targets next-gen bioinsecticides as ag majors continue biologicals push
Partnership highlights the industry pivot toward nature-based crop protection, with bioinsecticides emerging as a key battleground for innovation and growth
Aphea.Bio has struck a strategic research partnership with Bayer to co-develop bioinsecticides targeting sap-sucking insects, in a move that underscores the broader shift among agrochemical majors toward biological crop protection.
The collaboration will combine Aphea.Bio’s pipeline of bioactive metabolites – derived from carefully screened microbial strains – with Bayer’s global development, regulatory and commercialisation capabilities. The initial focus is on fruit crops including pome, stone fruit, citrus and grapes, with scope to expand into vegetables and major row crops such as cotton and soybean.
Switzerland’s agtech paradox: world-class innovation, limited scale
A hotbed of scientific talent and start-up creation, Switzerland’s agtech sector punches above its weight in early innovation. But structural, cultural and financial barriers are holding back the emergence of global giants
There are plenty of things that seem great in youth but grow somehow disappointing with time: eating mud, being asked your age, staying up past midnight. The Swiss agtech scene might just be another.
Switzerland is buzzing with young start-ups, with the country ranked by the UN as the world’s most innovative for 15 years in a row. This includes agriculture, where pioneering companies like Ecorobotix and Voltiris have emerged to great acclaim in recent years.
‘From science project to scalable platform’: Cibus Capital on why Physical AI is reshaping investment
As capital discipline tightens across agtech, Cibus Capital’s Archie Burgess argues that a new wave of Physical AI – combining robotics, automation and adaptive intelligence – is moving beyond hype to deliver real on-farm returns, reshaping both investor priorities and the future of farming
A capital reset leaves stronger, but fewer, players. That’s how Archie Burgess, investment director at Cibus Capital, sums up the current agri-tech investment.
The sector has undergone a sharp correction in recent years, forcing a fundamental rethink of how companies are built, and funded.
From gut health to soil health: Why agriculture must learn from probiotics
Cybèle Agrocare’s Nina Vinot believes the future of farming lies in applying microbiome science from human health to the soil, but warns that gaps in data, investment and decontamination innovation could hold the sector back
For Nina Vinot, the parallels between human health and agriculture are too striking to ignore.
As business development director at French agri-biotech company Cybèle Agrocare, Vinot has built her career at the intersection of gut health, probiotics and agricultural microbiomes. She believes farming is only beginning to scratch the surface of what that crossover could deliver.
Alltech releases Olerix to improve swine growth, feed efficiency
Alltech expands its animal nutrition portfolio with a feed additive for swine with poultry tests underway
Feed and ag supplier Alltech revealed Olerix, a proprietary phytogenic blend for swine, designed to promote animal growth and improve feed efficiency at an economical price point for producers.
Scientific literature has shown that livestock consumption of essential oils enhances nutrient utilization, thus improving feed efficiency, Jose Soto, monogastric research and technical lead at Alltech, told AgNavigator.
Cattle tech start-up hits profitability, raises $10m Series B round - all without VC
Livestock tech start-up 701x is hitting profitability and expanding its global presence as the company contemplates another round of funding that would bring in venture capital
Many agriculture tech start-ups are supported by venture capitalists, who provide crucial investments to develop a company but not every company takes this route. Fargo-based 701x is one such company, which is finding success by tapping into interest from local ranchers and investors, raising $10 million in Series B funding, fueling the company’s global ambitions.
Launched in 2020, 701x offers GPS-enabled, satellite-connected ear tags for cattle connected to a digital farming platform called Xtpro, which comes with the ear tags at no additional charge, Kevin Biffert, CEO and president of 701x, told AgNavigator.
