agtech

Agtech investment data from Pitchbook shows agrifinance and e-commerce firms could double the $587m raised in 2019 to eclipse the $1bn mark for the first time.

Tenacious Ventures co-founder Sarah Nolet takes a look at how agricultural production needs to change in the face of climate change and where new opportunities may be found.

iUNU uses cameras and sensors to monitor plants grown in an indoor setting and is the second greenhouse-related investment by Ceres’ second fund.

Direction of travel signaled by the bloc over the past few years is creating a fundraising environment beneficial to start-ups and is now backed by a sustainability conscious subsidy package.

VC investment into agtech has grown 75% since 2014 and looks keen to keep growing as the sector offers opportunities across types of investors.

Among the businesses to receive backing is Nanoracks, a frequent user of the International Space Station that is building a research center in the emirate to explore harsh climate food production.

Australia’s place among the biggest global food producers could be to blame for its worrying lack of urgency and investment in agtech, says Farmbot managing director Andrew Coppin.

Eric Archambeau says some of Europe’s leading agtech startups may prove more scaleable than their American counterparts.

ECBF Management general partner Michael Brandkamp says the fund has an IRR “above 20 percent” and hopes to sign five new investors to double the vehicle’s €82m first close size.

Co-founder Ben Belldegrun says investors are eager for direct exposure to sub-sectors like biological inputs and food traceability.