High-Tech and High-Value Strategies in Agritech

We are witnessing a new era in sustainable livestock #breeding. From climate-resilient poultry to low-emission cattle, advancements in Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) are transforming livestock breeding. With innovations like artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and selective breeding, the focus is on enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and food security. This is important because: - Lower costs: More feed-efficient breeds reduce expenses, while disease-resistant livestock lowers veterinary costs. - Higher yield: Optimized breeding leads to faster growth rates and increased productivity. - Premium market value: High-welfare, antibiotic-free, and climate-friendly meat aligns with consumer and regulatory demands. The environmental impact is game-changing: - Lower emissions: Advanced breeding reduces methane output from livestock. - Efficient resource use: Optimized breeds require less water and land, a key concern in arid regions. - Biodiversity preservation: Community-based breeding programs strengthen resilient, region-specific livestock populations. The UAE and KSA have made huge strides in agricultural sustainability, yet precision breeding through ARTs remains an underdeveloped frontier. With growing investments in agritech, the region could pioneer livestock breeding tailored for extreme climates. What’s possible? - Heat-tolerant cattle that thrive in desert conditions with minimal water. - Low-methane sheep, balancing sustainability and productivity. - Resilient poultry bred for improved health and food security without excessive antibiotic use. As the GCC pushes for food self-sufficiency, modern breeding technologies could be the next frontier. Given the importance of Halal principles, the region is well-positioned to blend AI-driven selection with natural resilience, rather than relying on genetic modification. This is more than an agricultural shift—it's an economic, environmental, and strategic opportunity waiting to be unlocked. Precision breeding can be the next big agritech investment in the GCC. #SustainableAgriculture #PrecisionBreeding #FoodSecurity #ClimateResilience #GCCInnovation Amer Lahham Farouk EL HOSNI Ahmad El-Husseini Nizar Hamdan Valentin Lavaill Kearney Middle East and Africa

From Commodity Player to Value Creator: Decentralised Processing is India’s Big Leap!! India’s agricultural story has always been defined by abundance and scarcity—often at the same time. Our diverse agro-climatic zones and unique seasonal cycles ensure that for most perishables—fruits, vegetables, and horticultural crops—we experience gluts during harvest and shortages a few months later. This structural pattern is not a bug; it’s our natural strength. But unless we harness it strategically, it will continue to translate into price crashes, post-harvest losses, and income volatility for millions of farmers. The solution lies in decentralised value addition through innovation in food technology not just more cold storage or centralized mega-parks. By bringing modern processing, preservation, and packaging closer to production clusters or even farmgate, we can unlock immense value from what today often goes to waste. Imagine small and mid-sized hubs across India that turn surplus tomatoes into paste, mangoes into pulp, onions into dehydrated flakes, jackfruit into ready-to-eat products, or bananas and mangoes into dehydrated bars—right where they are grown. This not only cuts logistical costs and wastage but also creates rural jobs, builds local entrepreneurship, and gives farmers a share in the value chain. Recently, I met an inspiring young food entrepreneur, Varun Raheja founder of Raheja Solar Food Processing, who embodies this decentralised vision. Through innovative solar drying technology, Varun and his team are converting surplus fruits and vegetables at the farm gate into high-value, nutrient-dense, and tasty ready-to-eat products. His approach not only preserves the goodness of fresh produce but also adds shelf life, reduces post-harvest losses, and creates sustainable income streams for farming communities. This kind of frugal yet impactful innovation demonstrates how technology, when designed for local conditions, can transform rural economies and help India leapfrog to the next level of agri-value chains. Globally, high-value agri exports are built on processed and branded products, not raw commodities. While India ranks among the world’s top producers of many perishables, our share in global value-added agri exports remains modest. To transition from a commodity supplier to a high-value agri powerhouse, we must integrate food technology with decentralised infrastructure and market access. The future of Indian agriculture will not be written in APMCs or ports alone—it will be shaped in thousands of decentralised food tech units across the country. That’s how we turn cycles of glut into engines of growth.

The agricultural chemical industry, much like the broader chemical sector, is at the forefront of a seismic shift. We are no longer talking about incremental change, this is a wholesale transformation driven by technology and evolving market needs. In my journey within this sector, I’ve witnessed how digital tools are reshaping what’s possible, not just in terms of efficiency but in how we create value for our stakeholders and contribute to sustainability. The trends emerging today are redefining our future. Take precision agriculture, for example. The integration of IoT, AI, and GPS is empowering farmers with unprecedented precision. Real-time data from fields now guides decisions, ensuring that fertilizers and pesticides are applied exactly where and when they’re needed. The result? Less waste, better yields, and a step forward in sustainable farming. Generative AI and data analytics are accelerating innovation in ways we couldn’t have imagined a decade ago. Designing agrochemical formulations is no longer a slow, linear process, AI can now generate chemical structures with desired properties in record time. Meanwhile, predictive analytics are helping us stay ahead of pest outbreaks and optimize supply chains. Then there’s the rise of digital marketplaces, which are transforming how we connect with our customers. Farmers now have direct access to products, services, and expertise at their fingertips. It’s about more than convenience, it’s about building relationships and empowering communities. One of the most exciting developments is blockchain technology. Transparency and traceability are no longer aspirations; they are realities. By tracking products from farm to fork, we are enhancing food safety, building consumer trust, and strengthening the integrity of our supply chains. Automation and robotics are not just about efficiency, they’re about resilience. From material handling to predictive maintenance, these technologies are reducing downtime and ensuring we meet demand, even in the face of challenges. And we can’t overlook the power of digital twins. These virtual replicas of physical systems are giving us real-time insights into our operations, enabling better decision-making and fostering deeper collaboration with our partners and customers. The common thread in all these advancements is customer-centricity. The best technology is meaningless unless it solves real problems. By developing platforms that allow real-time feedback and communication, we’re not just selling products, we’re co-creating solutions with our customers. As I reflect on these shifts, one thing is clear: digital transformation is no longer optional. It’s an imperative for survival and growth in a competitive, resource-constrained world. The question I often ask myself is: How can we ensure that these advancements don’t just serve us today but leave a legacy for the generations to come? I’d love to hear your thoughts. #AgricultureInnovation

Did you know that China has 22% of the world’s population but only 7% of its arable land? Yet, it has managed to ensure food security without relying heavily on imports. ❌Not through luck. ❌Not through endless expansion. ❌Not even through massive subsidies. China’s food security strategy is built on one thing: innovation in agriculture. Here’s how they’ve done it: ↳ Maximizing land use efficiency China has mastered the art of getting more from less. Farmers in rice-growing regions use the same paddy fields to raise fish. ↳ Carp fish thrive in flooded rice paddies, feeding on insects and algae, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. ↳ Once the fish mature, ducks are introduced to eat snails and insects, further controlling pests naturally. This integrated system increases productivity without requiring additional land. ↳ Expanding arable land China is actively converting once-barren land into productive farmland. ↳ Scientists have developed salt-resistant rice varieties that grow in coastal regions, turning previously unfarmable land into fertile ground. ↳ Desertification control projects are reclaiming vast stretches of desert and transforming them into agricultural hubs. ↳ Embracing technology Agricultural modernization is at the heart of China’s food security plan. The use of drones in farming has revolutionized food production: ↳ Lower labor costs ↳ Optimized irrigation ↳ Improved pest control Contrary to claims of forced labor in cotton fields, mechanization has taken over most tasks, making manual labor largely unnecessary. ↳ Innovative farming locations China has found ways to produce food in unconventional environments: ↳ Pigs raised in multi-story buildings and forests instead of traditional farms ↳ Sheep grazing under solar power plants, combining livestock farming with renewable energy production ↳ Deep-sea fish farming, including salmon, to increase seafood production The results? China has transformed its agricultural sector into a high-tech, high-efficiency system that sustains its massive population. Even at the household level, families make use of every available space. Instead of ornamental lawns, many urban and rural Chinese grow vegetables in their yards. I once traveled to Xian, China, and was amazed to see farmers growing corn on tiny patches of rocky terrain—where only a few square meters were available for cultivation. ↳ The key takeaway? Food security isn’t just about having more land—it’s about making the most of what you have. So, what lessons can other nations learn from China’s approach? ♻️ If this interests you, share it with your network and let’s discuss sustainable agriculture solutions! Follow Jean Claude NIYOMUGABO for more!

Glad to have an op-ed on IFC - International Finance Corporation’s work on Agtechs published in South Africa’s The Star newspaper today.   In it, I explore how partnerships between AgTech firms and financial institutions can transform African agriculture which is dominated by smallholder farmers.   In Morocco, we’re working with SOWIT | AgriTech and AgriFinance and Alamana Microfinance Maroc to equip wheat farmers with better data and access to credit. The result? Higher yields, better prices, and nearly doubled incomes. In Nigeria, we are working with Babban Gona and Sterling Bank to scale Babban Gona's reach. Similar projects are underway in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Ethiopia. All have promising early results.   These partnerships show what’s possible when we connect digital innovation with financial inclusion across the agriculture value chain.   This is about more than farming and technology. It’s about unlocking economic opportunity and creating jobs not just in farming communities but across countries and borders, while building resilience to shocks and supporting macroeconomic stability.   Africa holds a quarter of the world’s arable land yet produces just 10% of global output. We can change that.   By increasing access to credit to farmers, aligning lending with planting cycles, and giving farmers the tools to succeed, we’re helping shape a more secure, more productive future for Africa and all who live here.   #agtech #jobs #foodsecurity #IFC #Africa   https://lnkd.in/eynM-Emk  

#AI | #Blockchain : MahaAgri-AI Policy 2025-2029 .  The key objectives that the department of Agriculture seeks to achieve through this policy are : 1. Develop and deploy a statewide food traceability and quality certification platform as part of #DPI : Establish a digitally integrated platform that ensures end-to-end traceability of agricultural produce and enables verification of food quality through credible government backed and internationally recognised certifications. Leveraging AI, blockchain, QR codes, and #IoT, the platform will enhance transparency, support compliance with national and international standards, and improve market access for farmers and producer collectives. 2.  Promote Farmer Centric Design and Adoption: Ensure farmers are co-creators in AI solution design by enabling participatory model development, multilingual advisory delivery, and community-based piloting mechanisms 3. Deploy Remote Sensing-Based Engine as a Shared Digital Public Good for the state: Deploy a unified, AI-enabled Remote Sensing Intelligence Engine to serve as a shared digital public good across multiple departments. This engine will process satellite imagery, drone feeds, and GIS datasets to generate high-resolution insights on land use, crop health, water availability, soil moisture, vegetation indices, and disaster risk. 4. Build Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture (DPI-A): Operationalize the Agriculture Data Exchange (ADeX), expand weather and soil sensor networks, and integrate with platforms such as Agristack and MahaAgriTech to support AI readiness 5. Mainstream GenAI and Emerging technology across #Agriculture value chain: Deploy context-specific GenAI and emerging technology enabled tools for crop planning, disease and pest prediction, irrigation management, supply chain optimization, post harvest handling, and market access.

When you’re working to revolutionize the $9B global seed market, you don’t just show up with big talk—you show up with precision tools, deep science, and a funding round that turns heads. Inari, with Ponsi Trivisvavet on CEO duties, just pulled in a $144M Series G, proving that the future of #farming isn’t just about feeding the world but doing it smarter, faster, and with fewer resources. This isn’t business as usual—it’s the kind of chess game that makes even the skeptics sit up and take notes. Let’s talk investors. Heavy hitters like the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and a major financial powerhouse have thrown down serious confidence capital. And they’re not alone—longtime believers like Hanwha Impact Partners, NGS Super, the State of Michigan Retirement System, and the ever-influential Flagship Pioneering doubled down. That’s not just cash; that’s an endorsement of Inari’s place in the agtech big leagues. So what’s the magic? Inari’s proprietary SEEDesign™ platform isn’t just another buzzword generator. It’s the kind of tech that makes nature sit up and say, “Why didn’t I think of that?” With AI-powered #predictivedesign and #multiplex #geneediting, they’re rewriting genetic blueprints for #soy, #corn, and #wheat to increase yield and slash resource use. We’re talking up to 20% more yield with less water and nitrogen. That’s like turning up the volume while cutting the power bill—a move every farmer on the planet wants in on. And let’s not ignore the market strategy. Inari doesn’t want to be your competition; they want to be your secret weapon. Their asset-light model works hand-in-hand with seed companies rather than bulldozing them, giving the little guys a shot at thriving alongside the titans. It’s bold, it’s collaborative, and it’s exactly what this industry needs. Of course, the agtech road isn’t without its potholes. Inari’s legal face-off with Corteva over patents reminds us that innovation often comes with resistance. But let’s be real—when you’re moving this fast, you’re bound to ruffle some feathers. And with $720M in total funding and a valuation climbing to $2.17B, Inari has the resources to play this long game. But here’s the bigger picture: Inari isn’t just solving today’s problems; they’re planting solutions for tomorrow. As climate pressures grow, the #agsector needs to evolve—or risk collapse. Inari’s approach is like a Swiss Army knife for #sustainablefarming, addressing food security, resource scarcity, and economic viability all at once. So, what happens when a Cambridge startup with global ambitions lines up the kind of tech and talent that can redefine an industry? Let’s just say the seeds have been planted, and the future of agriculture is looking a whole lot greener. #Startups #AgTech #StartupFunding #Innovation #SeedDesign #SustainableFarming #FarmTech #Agriculture #Technology #Disruption #GreaterGood #CleanTech #TechEcosystem #StartupEcosystem #VentureCapital

Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of speaking directly with specialty crop growers, advisors, and weed management experts across the country. The conversations were candid, insightful, and sometimes brutally honest. One thing is clear: weed control in high-value crops is at a crossroads. Labor costs are soaring, herbicide regulations are tightening, and resistance challenges keep mounting. Yet, within this challenge lies an incredible opportunity for robotic and precision herbicide solutions. In my new article, Robotic Weeding and Precision Herbicide Application for High-Value Specialty Crops, I share what I learned from these discussions; where the pain points are, where technology can make the biggest impact, and what adoption will truly require from innovators and service providers. If you work in AgTech, specialty crop production, or policy, this is worth the read. The stakes, and the opportunities, are huge. 🔗 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g64jVVK5 #AgTech #SpecialtyCrops #WeedControl #Automation #PrecisionAgriculture #RoboticsInAg AgTech Advisory Collective - AgTech Market - AGceleration Advisory Service - AgTech-Pro - AVL Advisor & Coach - Recode Ventures - Metal Dog Labs - Alejo Valverde Lyons - Patrick Honcoop - Maxence Guillaumot -Michael Macolino - Rhishi P.

We've seen two previous waves of precision agriculture investment—GPS-guided equipment in the 1990s-2000s and sensor-driven variable rate application in the 2010s. Ecorobotix's $150 million raise signals we're entering a fundamentally different third wave. The first wave created companies like Trimble Inc. and integrated precision into major equipment manufacturers like John Deere. The second wave spawned hundreds of agtech startups chasing IoT and data analytics—most of which failed to achieve meaningful exits. What makes this third wave different? Three structural shifts are converging: Regulatory forcing functions: EU regulations targeting 50% pesticide reduction by 2030 create compliance requirements that override farmer discretion. When regulations dictate outcomes, adoption curves steepen. AI maturity meeting agricultural readiness: Computer vision and machine learning have reached the point where real-time plant identification and treatment decisions can happen at field scale. Ecorobotix's Plant-by-Plant™ technology with spray footprints measured in centimeters wasn't technically feasible five years ago. The agricultural robotics market growing from $15.78 billion in 2024 to projected $84 billion by 2032 reflects this capability inflection point. Capital concentration in proven models: Agtech funding declined 27% in Q3 2025 with just $1.3 billion across 108 deals. But mega-rounds are still happening for companies with demonstrated commercial traction. The top 10 agtech deals represented 75% of sector funding in Q3. Capital is fleeing science projects and flooding toward technologies already generating revenue. The historical pattern suggests this wave will consolidate faster than previous cycles. Strategic buyers have dominated recent exits—Bayer, Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, John Deere, and Syngenta all made acquisitions in 2024-2025. Unlike the 2010s when startups hoped to reach IPO scale, today's winners are building for strategic acquisition at $100-500 million+ valuations. Highland Europe's involvement is particularly telling—their portfolio includes 45+ IPOs and 150+ M&A exits. They're not growth-stage investors gambling on technology; they're late-stage capital positioning companies for liquidity events within 3-5 years. The question isn't whether precision agriculture reaches mainstream adoption—that's inevitable given regulatory and economic pressures. The question is which companies capture value during the transition, and which become cautionary tales of too much capital chasing too little differentiation. #PrecisionFarming #AgTechHistory #InnovationCycles

Do we need any stronger proof of where global agri-food systems are headed? In 2024, the United States, with over 1,003 million acres of agricultural land, exported $159 billion in food and beverages, largely from bulk commodities. Now contrast that with the Netherlands: just 4.5 million acres of farmland, but $111 billion in exports, nearly 70% of the U.S. value, driven by technological innovation and high-value processed food exports. This isn’t just impressive, it’s a wake-up call. It shows what agri-food tech and cutting-edge innovation can truly achieve. At its core, this is the natural evolution of industry: survival of the most innovative. Whether you're in CPG, food retail, seed production, or food processing, one thing is clear, innovation is no longer optional. It’s the growth engine behind success across production, sourcing, supply chains, packaging, marketing, and more. At Cropin, we've spent over 15 years helping agri-food businesses transform through innovation. Recently, we partnered with Forrester Consulting to quantify this impact. Their Total Economic Impact™ study found that a Cropin customer saw $3.9M in benefits over 3 years, with an NPV of $2.4M and an ROI of 161%. But the value goes beyond just numbers. Our customers come to us to: Build resilient supply chains Build visibility and transparency across their global operations  Ensure compliance with regulations like EUDR Tackle climate risks Enable sustainable sourcing Increase yields, efficiency and farmer incomes 💡 If the Netherlands can achieve what it did on just a fraction of the land, imagine what’s possible when innovation becomes your core strategy. The game of agri-food production is changing, and so must we! https://lnkd.in/grnbGNBT #agriculture #foodsystems #innovation #agtech