News

Soil in Formation (SIF) created a data platform to show soil’s ability to sequester carbon — a tool that can help develop the ag industry's carbon market.

Scottish berry producer Angus Soft Fruits is using robotics to protect its harvest from powdery mildew, a fungal threat worsened by recent hot and humid weather. Partnering with Saga Robotics, they employ the 'Thorvald' robots to apply ultraviolet-C light treatments, reducing reliance on chemicals and supporting sustainable farming. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to integrate innovative technologies like drones and data analytics into berry production, aiming to enhance sustainability and efficiency amid climate challenges.

Fotenix, an AI-powered agricultural diagnostics company, addresses the challenge of technology adoption in UK agtech by offering multispectral imaging cameras for early disease and pest detection. Despite a strong environment for grant-funded tech development, the UK lacks support for tech adoption, which Fotenix aims to overcome with a £2.1m raise and the government's new ADOPT scheme supporting farmers financially. Founder Charles Vreys highlights the importance of AI in detecting non-visible agricultural issues and notes challenges like poor internet connectivity in rural areas. Despite no UK agtech success stories yet, Fotenix focuses on scaling its market reach and improving adoption to bridge the gap between tech demonstration and large-scale application.

Mexico’s ag sector remains robust in the face of multiple headwinds from trade challenge to climate change, as agtech will play a crucial role in future-proofing the sector.