USDA

Participants at the Future Food-Tech Alternative Proteins conference in New York drew encouragement from the USDA's approval of cultivated chicken while examining challenges and opportunities across a diverse set of markets.

The funds were pooled from members of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network a group of banks and lenders chartered to serve agriculture and the US rural economy.

Crop price premiums and increasing demand for organic products make the proposition for transitioning conventional land promising. But buyers beware: due diligence is rigorous, the transition process is labor-intensive, and there are no guarantees.

David Widmar, agricultural economist at Purdue University, told Agri Investor that the difficulties US farmers will face in the upcoming 2017 season are likely setting in.

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture has announced four grants to combat citrus greening disease, which has led to a 75 percent decline in Florida's $9bn citrus industry since it was first detected there in 2005.

Despite the strength in exports, the separate 2016 Farm Sector Income Report shows continued weakness.

The USDA says barriers to trade cost $5.5 billion in US exports and 0.3% of the European Union's GDP.

ACAP made investment into a certified organic herbs producer alongside food and agriculture equity groups Middleland Capital and S2G Ventures.

Advantage Capital Agribusiness Partners invested $7m in Pacific Ag, which harvests and sells crop waste.

The fund has invested about $161m in 22 critical water and community facilities projects in 14 states.