agtech

Tropic Biosciences is developing decaffeinated coffee varieties and bananas with a longer shelf life using CRISPR gene editing technology that Pontifax managing partner Ben Belldegrun tells Agri Investor is drawing biotech investors into the market.

Australia-based BlockGrain says its technology could help growers earn additional revenue while helping others avoid costly bridge loans and overdrafts.

The vehicle targets family offices, DFIs, corporates and foundations as it eyes a first close by the end of the year, VC chief Selma Ribica tells Agri Investor.

Cash provided by existing investors will be used to seal the ATP deal, which the biostimulant maker's CEO hopes marks the first of a series of strategic purchases.

Seventure Partners, a subsidiary of France's Natixis, had already closed a €160m microbiome-focused fund backed by corporate giants in 2015.

Inmarsat is partnering with big agri to boost margins at institutional-scale properties in LatAm and Asia.

Dubbed the world's largest solar park, the $2.3bn Pavagada facility will lease land from struggling producers in an arid part of Karnataka state.

The state-backed financier is investing in sustainability improvements across assets managed by the firm, with a new business created to help reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Omnivore says foreign investors represent a sizeable portion of its second fund, which has a $75m target.

London-based Balderton Capital led the Series A funding, which Infarm will use to expand its network across Europe.