‘The whole system is now more investable’: Reservoir makes the case for ag robotics

When growers are testing new ag robots, they will usually tell you one of two things, observed Ben Palone at Western Growers at the inaugural Ruggedize conference at Reservoir Farms in Salinas: “They’ll say it’s alright, which means its working great, or it’s a piece of sh*t.”

Growers, said Verdant Robotics* CCO Curtis Garner, expect your machine “to just work. Bombproof, reliable, and if something breaks, swap it.” And they will always “buy reliability before they buy innovation,” added John Deere business integration manager Sean Sundberg. READ MORE

5 key investor lessons on blended capital for agrifood

Two major challenges in agrifoodtech dominate discussions right now: the flatlining of venture capital in the space and the recognition that many agrifood technologies need longer timelines than is common in the VC world. This is especially true for projects taking place in developing markets, where currency volatility, underdeveloped infrastructure, and limited farmer access to markets abound.

“Blended finance” — loosely defined as the combination of public and private funds — is frequently thrown into this discussion as a solution to both problems. READ MORE

Why VC Investors Are Plowing Record Sums Into Agtech

Shifts in how people think about food, investing and even changes brought about by COVID-19 have led to more money—and more deals—in the agtech sector than ever before.

Last year was a record year for agtech, with nearly $5 billion invested in the sector in 440 funding deals to VC-backed startups, according to Crunchbase data. That far outstrips the $3.3 billion invested in 422 deals in 2020. READ MORE