technology

The firm, one of the first VC firms to focus on Australian agtech, exceeded its fundraising target of A$30m for its inaugural vehicle.

Flagship general partner Ignacio Martinez says the company’s integrated approach to pest management has an initial focus on olive pests and citrus greening, with plans to achieve revenue by early 2022.

Ponsi Trivisvavet says the Series D will support development of the Flagship Pioneering-backed startup’s next-generation corn and soybean seeds, which are likely to reach markets within a ‘couple of years.’

Founder Matt Crisp says the plant-based protein supply chain has been the natural ‘proving ground’ for the company’s data and analytics platform, which can also support future food system trends.

A new report hopes to spark discussion about what agriculture will look like in 2035, identifying five key themes that could disrupt the sector and affect investment strategies.

Director of sovereign wealth research Javier Capape Aguilar says agriculture will be among key sectors in the near term for state-backed investors.

Co-founder David Rosenberg says he saw risk in allowing other companies’ technology to define the category for public market investors.

Board member Geoff Duyk says the company’s use of nutrients from wastewater bacteria and food and ag refuse reflects an evolving approach to waste across sectors of the US economy.

Robert Tichio says the $402.5m vehicle is hunting growth-oriented agriculture opportunities to match the SPAC market’s early focus on mobility, electrification and other carbon-transition subsectors.

Dwight Anderson says an improving commodity outlook and government attention on food supply chain risks are among factors helping create a material improvement in investor sentiment towards ag.