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Editor’s note: Agtech Seedlings provides a weekly roundup of the most recent developments in agricultural technology, focusing on venture capital, product launches, and significant milestones in innovation. Have news to share? Contact us here.
Microsoft’s Grand Farm Initiative to Establish Innovation Hub in Georgia
A 250-acre farm in Perry, Georgia, is set to become a pioneering agricultural site for the future.
Grand Farm, a venture backed by Microsoft aimed at promoting digital technology adoption in agriculture, is partnering with the University of Georgia to establish an innovative working farm. The farm anticipates launching its initial field projects next year, incorporating precision agriculture tools and robotics to enhance research and sustainable farming practices.
Since its inception in 2019, this marks Grand Farm’s second location; its first innovation farm was launched in North Dakota, where it committed $1.5 million to equip workers with digital skills and promote agricultural innovation in rural areas of the U.S.
The innovation sites by Grand Farm leverage Microsoft’s technology, including its FarmBeats platform, which enables farmers to monitor soil temperature and moisture for informed crop nutrition decisions.
This month, grain trading leader CHS announced its collaboration with Grand Farm to enhance technology and research at the North Dakota site, aiming to advance fields such as autonomy, artificial intelligence, robotics, and drone technology.
Introducing Regenerative Agriculture to Rice Production
AgriCapture, a certifier of farm emissions, has announced the issuance of what it claims are the first-ever carbon credits awarded to rice growers for adopting sustainable agricultural practices.
The credits were allocated across 455 rice fields located in Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, and Texas, allowing participating farmers to conserve over 9 billion gallons of water by transitioning to regenerative farming methods. The focus of these credits is to promote practices that save water and reduce methane emissions.
“AgriCapture is dedicated to transforming the agricultural sector by promoting and rewarding sustainable farming practices that enhance efficiency and productivity,” stated Tyler Hull, president of AgriCapture. “By creating premium carbon credits, we are establishing a financial tool aimed at transitioning U.S. agriculture towards lower carbon intensity.”
Berry Supplier Partners with Technology Firm for Shelf-life Enhancement
Agrovision, a major blueberry supplier, is collaborating with agtech company RipeLocker to extend the freshness of its fruits.
RipeLocker employs low-atmosphere vacuum chambers to pause the aging process in fruit, effectively prolonging its freshness for up to 12 weeks, nearly triple the normal duration. As stated by RipeLocker, Agrovision is the first global berry producer to utilize this technology.
Agrovision ranks among the largest berry producers globally, with brands such as Fruitist and Big Skye. The company, which aims to provide year-round berry availability, secured its largest equity financing to date in March to expand its international footprint.
“We are optimistic that this partnership with RipeLocker will significantly impact our operations,” said Agrovision Co-Founder and CEO Steve Magami. “The benefits of this advancement are extensive: we can ensure prolonged freshness, access more distant markets, and introduce high-flavor varietals that were previously limited by shorter shelf lives.”
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Maria Sanchez completed her Bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences from the University of California, Davis, in the USA. Her studies focused on plant genetics and biotechnology, with an emphasis on developing disease-resistant crop varieties. Maria has contributed to several research projects aimed at improving crop resilience to climate change and is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Plant Breeding.
