Technology

  • Farmer discing his field as giant wind turbines overlook.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Mark Alexander via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    White House announces $7.3B clean energy financing for rural electrification

    The federal funding will support clean energy projects lowering electricity costs for cooperative utilities in 23 states, according to the Biden administration.

    By Ethan Howland • Sept. 6, 2024
  • Research pods at Plenty's Laramie, Wyoming, plant science research center.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Plenty Unlimited, Inc.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    Agtech seedlings: World’s largest vertical farming research center in the works

    Also in this week’s farm technology news: Syngenta teams on pheromone-based pest control, and the Institute of Food Technologists appointed a new president.

    By • Sept. 6, 2024
  • Meatable product
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Meatable
    Image attribution tooltip

    How a former agriculture industry exec became CEO of cultivated meat company Meatable

    Jeff “Trip” Tripician is looking to work with the meat industry rather than pitting the two against each other.

    By Elizabeth Flood • Sept. 4, 2024
  • The backs of two men on tractors are seen under a large irrigation system
    Image attribution tooltip
    Scott Olson via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    Agtech seedlings: Google gets into climate smart agriculture with water conservation partnership

    Also in this week's farm technology news: Fresh Del Monte names a head of innovation, and a Deere-backed startup raises $10 million for farm emissions monitoring. 

    By • Aug. 30, 2024
  • Gloved hands are seen measuring liquid with a pipette
    Image attribution tooltip
    David Ryder via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Bird flu vaccine for US dairy cattle is one step closer to reality

    The USDA approved the first safety trial for a vaccine and is working to address potential trade complications that could come with an immunization rollout.

    By • Aug. 29, 2024
  • A photo of the sign over the entrance to a store. The sign reads "7-Eleven" in green, red and yellow colors.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of 7-Eleven Inc.
    Image attribution tooltip

    7-Eleven’s lettuce procurement goes green with indoor farming partnership

    The convenience store chain is partnering with vertical farming company Plenty Unlimited to provide fresh produce for its 1,300 California locations.

    By Jessica Loder • Aug. 27, 2024
  • Eggs lay on a tray to be loaded into a machine with the label "Cheggy"
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Innovate Animal Ag
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    Agtech seedlings: US egg producer aims to become first to deploy in-ovo sexing

    Also in this week's farm technology news: Regenerative agriculture company Regrow Ag announces layoffs, and CropX announces plans to integrate its tech with CNH equipment.

    By Agriculture Dive staff • Aug. 23, 2024
  • Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Natural Language Processing Data Technology
    Image attribution tooltip
    Just_Super via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    AI could pose risk for food and ag companies

    ADM and other businesses are disclosing potential pitfalls of artificial intelligence as the technology becomes more essential for growth.

    By • Aug. 22, 2024
  • Aerial view of the Maryland Bioenergy Center in Jessup, Maryland.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by American Biogas Council
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    How biogas can support the US strategy for reducing food waste

    Anaerobic digestion can help drive progress on climate, but we have only just started to tap into the technology's potential, writes the head of the American Biogas Council.

    By Patrick Serfass • Aug. 21, 2024
  • A yellow, box-like sensor is seen on a cotton field
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Cargill
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    Agtech seedlings: Cargill tests irrigation tech on cotton fields

    Also in this week's farm technology news: Suzano invests in agtech for eucalyptus farming, and rock-picking startup TerraClear picks a Farmer Business Network exec to be its next CEO. 

    By • Aug. 16, 2024
  • Deere's CEO is seen delivering a speech with a large picture of a tractor behind him.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Ethan Miller via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Deere earnings beat expectations following layoffs

    Despite declining profits in the third quarter, the manufacturer is positioning itself ahead of industry competitors through steep production cuts.

    By • Aug. 16, 2024
  • Three square paper containers of chicken chunks, greens and crudites with Upside Foods napkins nearby on a yellow background
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Upside Foods
    Image attribution tooltip

    Upside Foods sues Florida over cultivated meat ban

    The alternative protein company says in a lawsuit that restrictions on lab-grown meat are unconstitutional and only serve to protect cattle ranchers.

    By Elizabeth Flood • Aug. 15, 2024
  • A drone is seen spraying pesticides on a farm field
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Emerging Prairie via Grand Farm
    Image attribution tooltip

    The 4 types of agtech startups attracting venture investment

    Despite a tough funding environment, companies that address farm profitability and sustainability have remained somewhat resilient in this year's second quarter, according to Pitchbook. 

    By • Aug. 14, 2024
  • Agco tractors are seen in front of a technology center
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Felipe Valtrick is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    Agco top shareholder explores board changes in escalating power struggle

    India-based TAFE is calling for a strategic refresh, expressing "serious concerns" with the manufacturer's acquisition-based growth strategy.

    By • Aug. 9, 2024
  • Close-up tender first sprouts of soybean in the open field.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Zoya2222 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    Agtech seedlings: Plant communication technology gets big funding boost

    Also in this week’s farm technology news: Tanzanian espresso farmers team with researchers on precision tech, and a new insect plant in Canada showcases the future of protein production. 

    By Leah Borts-Kuperman • Aug. 9, 2024
  • A farm machine is seen on a brown field
    Image attribution tooltip
    Scott Olson via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Corteva’s seed innovation pipeline boosts sales

    In a tough economic environment, farmers are choosing to invest in seeds over pesticides and herbicides.

    By • Aug. 5, 2024
  • Farm data displayed as charts and graphs on acreage.
    Image attribution tooltip
    stock photo via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    Digital twins can mitigate risk for today’s farms. Here’s how.

    New technology could allow growers to utilize virtual replicas of farms to boost climate resiliency and efficiency.

    By Jamie Fowler and Mike Johanns • Aug. 5, 2024
  • A person holds a carton of jumbo blueberries on a farm.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Agrovision
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    Agtech seedlings: Superfruit grower raises $100M | Darling to supply sustainable aviation fuel for JetBlue

    Also in this week’s farm technology news: A robotics startup secures $21.5 million for machines that can convert plant waste into carbon-capturing biochar.

    By • Aug. 2, 2024
  • A blue CNH tractor is seen on a farm
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by CNH
    Image attribution tooltip

    CNH’s new CEO designates agriculture a core business amid market challenges

    The tractor maker is also building out its leadership team again to address sales headwinds as demand wanes.

    By • Aug. 1, 2024
  • Signage showcasing low prices of produce at a store.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Sam Silverstein/Agriculture Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Walmart, Denali partnership to turn food waste into animal feed at 1,400-plus locations

    The rollout comes after the two companies made their partnership public last year. Denali estimates it can recover 200,000 pounds of food waste per location annually.

    By Jacob Wallace • July 30, 2024
  • Agco, headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, is focusing more on precision agriculture and margin-rich opportunities.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Agco Corp
    Image attribution tooltip

    Agco to offload grain and protein business for $700M

    The sale to private equity firm American Industrial Partners will allow the equipment maker to sharpen its focus on precision agriculture.

    By • July 30, 2024
  • Tesseract's farm drones fly in the air.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Tesseract Ventures
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column

    Agtech seedlings: Defense contractor Tesseract retools military drones for US farms

    Also in this week's farm technology news: Tyson to explore potential partnerships with five supply chain startups, and Farmblox raises $2.5 million to scale in-field sensors.

    By Agriculture Dive staff • July 26, 2024
  • A John Deere logo is seen on a green tractor
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Deere lays off salaried workers as sales tank

    More cuts are coming after the tractor giant reduced its workforce by 1,800 people earlier this year amid declines in farmer income and demand.

    By • July 26, 2024
  • Containers of Nestle hot chocolate mix are seen on a store shelf.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Nestlé develops technology to reduce fat in dairy ingredients

    The food and beverage giant said the process cuts fat in milk powder by up to 60% without compromising on quality, taste and texture.

    By Christopher Doering • July 24, 2024
  • A Monarch tractor is seen
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Monarch Tractor
    Image attribution tooltip

    Monarch raises landmark $133M for self-driving electric tractors

    The deal marks a fundraising record for ag robotics and speaks to the strength of venture interest in precision agriculture despite a wider downturn in investment.

    By • July 23, 2024