agtech

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.

The latest evidence comes from Scrum Ventures, which has launched a studio.

Public market flotations by highly coveted and well-funded ag start-ups have followed in the footsteps of Beyond Meat’s 2019 IPO, adding to the growing signs of industry maturity.

PowerPollen already has licensing and research partnerships with Corteva and BASF and plans to market directly to individual farmers over the long term, says co-founder Todd Krone.

Founder Nick Cooney says Asian family offices provided 70% of the $23m already raised towards a $50m target, as Asian governments introduce incentives to support investment into the alternative protein space.

The Cibus Enterprise Fund has taken an 11.7% stake in Saga Robotic as head of VC Alastair Cooper predicts a 'revolution' in farming robotics.

Founder Josh Lessing says the mixture of ag and robotics focused investors contributing to Root AI’s $7.2m seed round feel the same sense of urgency from different perspectives.

AGP and four other investors have committed A$13m to the livestock feed additive start-up that has been shown to reduce methane emissions from beef and dairy production by up to 80%.