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Editor’s note: Agtech Seedlings is a weekly compilation of the latest developments in agricultural technology, focusing on venture capital, product launches, and noteworthy innovations. Have news to share? Email us here.
NestFresh Aims to Pioneer In-Ovo Sexing Technology
NestFresh, based in Colorado, is set to become the first egg producer in the United States to utilize in-ovo sexing technology, marking a significant advancement as this method gains momentum outside Europe.
This innovative technology allows producers to determine the sex of chicks while still inside the egg, thus avoiding the euthanasia of male chicks post-hatching. Male eggs are identified and subsequently removed before the incubation process, with byproducts from the eggs potentially repurposed as protein powder or pet food ingredients.
While widely adopted in several European nations—where the culling of male chicks has been prohibited—it has not yet made substantial inroads in the American market.
NestFresh is the latest among U.S. egg producers to express interest in in-ovo sexing technology, striving to be the first to implement it. The company plans to roll out this technology by late 2024, with products expected to be available by mid-2025.
“Our adoption of in-ovo sexing technology represents a landmark shift in the egg production industry,” stated Mike Sencer, executive vice president of NestFresh. “While numerous companies have declared intentions to adopt in-ovo sexing technologies once they become available, NestFresh will lead in implementing this innovation.”
Germany’s Agri Advanced Technologies, creators of the “Cheggy” in-ovo sexing system, recently announced a partnership to introduce their system in two unspecified U.S. hatcheries. Alongside NestFresh, Egg Innovations and Kipster have also confirmed plans to incorporate in-ovo sexing technology this year.
— Sarah Zimmerman
Regrow Ag Reduces Workforce by Nearly 20%
Regrow Ag, a frontrunner in providing digital tools that promote regenerative agriculture practices, has announced a workforce reduction of 19%.
“This choice has been incredibly challenging, but it is a necessary step as we focus on maximizing our ability to seize the opportunities ahead,” co-founder Anastasia Volkova noted in a LinkedIn post.
Specializing in calculating the carbon footprints of agricultural supply chains, Regrow aids food companies in crafting sustainability objectives and streamlining regenerative agriculture programs. Their platform is utilized by major corporations like Cargill, Kellanova, and General Mills, according to their website.
“I believe that for our customers and the dedicated team remaining, we will achieve our goals and make a significant impact on the environment while transforming the food system for future generations,” Volkova stated.
— Sarah Zimmerman
CropX Enhances Digital Collaboration with CNH for Precision Agriculture
CropX, a provider of digital farm management solutions, has announced a partnership that enables the seamless integration of precision data from CNH’s agricultural machinery within its agronomic platforms.
The collaboration includes the establishment of a new “application programming interface,” which automates data flow between the two systems, enhancing data visualization, record-keeping, planning, and variable-rate applications.
The aim of this integration is to provide farmers with actionable insights from their field data, improving user experience. This data can also be utilized for creating digital maps to monitor seeding and fertilizer distribution.
“The vast quantities of data collected by agricultural equipment are immensely valuable,” stated CropX CEO Tomer Tzach. “Incorporating that data into the CropX platform enhances its accessibility and utility, thereby boosting farm efficiency and sustainability.”
With this agreement, CropX has now established APIs with major agricultural equipment manufacturers CNH and John Deere, furthering its ambition to consolidate all farm data into a single, user-friendly platform.
— Nathan Owens
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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.
