iGrow Plant Science News

Staphyt Secures New Investors to Drive Global Expansion Staphyt, a global provider of agronomic research services, has entered a new phase of development by opening its capital to Unigrains, Bpifrance, Nord Est Partenaires, and IRD INVEST. The transaction aims to facilitate diversification, expansion into new geographic regions, and further external growth initiatives. Founded in 1989 in Inchy-en-Artois, France, Staphyt specializes in field trials, laboratory analyses, and regulatory consulting services for the agrochemical, biosolutions, and seed sectors. The company currently operates more than 50 proprietary trial sites across 17 countries, serving international clients in Europe, North America, and South America. Arthur Boisleux, President of Staphyt, emphasized the importance of this partnership: “With the arrival of Unigrains, Bpifrance, Nord Est Partenaires, and IRD Invest in our capital, we will benefit from the financial resources and strategic expertise of complementary investors who share our vision for the development of our company. We are delighted to begin this new phase in service of our mission, which consists of providing our clients with unique and tailor-made solutions with a common objective: to sustainably feed the world of tomorrow.” Article in the first comment ?? Follow iGrow Plant Science News for more!

GigaCrop Secures $4.5M Pre-Seed Funding Biotech startup GigaCrop announced that it has raised $4.5 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Playground Global, an early-stage deep-tech venture capital firm. The funding will accelerate research into improving photosynthesis efficiency, with the goal of doubling crop yields. GigaCrop’s machine learning-driven enzyme engineering technology is designed to help plants use sunlight more efficiently, allowing farmers to grow more food, fiber, and fuel without increasing water, fertilizer, or land use. “GigaCrop has the potential to change the world by doubling crop yields. This breakthrough could drive a more energy-abundant future and unlock economic growth by transforming agriculture at its core.” — Bruce Leak, General Partner at Playground Global and GigaCrop Board Member Article in the first comment ?? Follow iGrow Plant Science News for more!

Bioceres Crop Solutions Secures EPA Approval for Rinotec Insecticide and Nematicide Bioceres Crop Solutions (NASDAQ: BIOX) along with its subsidiary ProFarm Group, has announced that its Rinotec insecticide and nematicide platform has received federal registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Rinotec’s EPA approval highlights its low-risk profile, as it is exempt from residue tolerance requirements, meaning that the EPA does not consider it a risk to human health or non-target organisms. “The Rinotec platform is unique in its metabolite-based approach to biologicals, enabling substantial dose reductions while maintaining the efficiency and consistency of synthetic chemical pesticides. This makes it an ideal solution for row and specialty crops alike.” — Milen Marinov, Chief Commercial Officer, Bioceres Crop Solutions Article in the first comment ?? Follow iGrow Plant Science News for more!

Ohalo Forms Strawberry Consortium to Advance Hybrid Breeding Ohalo? has launched the Ohalo Strawberry Consortium, a collaboration with leading strawberry growers, packers, and marketers to advance strawberry breeding through a hybrid breeding system. The initiative seeks to develop true-seed strawberry varieties, improving efficiency, sustainability, and market accessibility. Traditionally, strawberry plants are propagated vegetatively, requiring multiple cycles of runner shoots, which is costly and time-intensive. Ohalo’s hybrid breeding system eliminates this need by enabling direct seeding of uniform strawberry plants, offering a faster and more scalable approach. Dave Friedberg, CEO of Ohalo, stated: “We are thrilled to collaborate with leading strawberry growers, packers, and marketers to bring more flavorful, sustainable, and economically valuable strawberry varieties to market. This partnership accelerates our vision of transforming the strawberry industry for the benefit of farmers, retailers, consumers, and the environment.” Article in the first comment ?? Follow iGrow Plant Science News for more!

?? Missed it last week? Here’s your reminder! ?? The USA Indoor Farming Market Report 2025 is out, delivering key insights into the future of controlled-environment agriculture. From investment trends to technology advancements, this report provides essential data for industry professionals, investors, and policymakers looking to stay ahead. ?? Inside the report: ? Market growth projections & investment hotspots ? Innovations shaping indoor farming in the USA ? Expert insights from key industry leaders ?? A huge thank you to my co-author, Thea-Isabella Otto, for her invaluable input in shaping this report! Your expertise and deep industry knowledge made this a must-read resource. We also extend our gratitude to our sponsors, TTA-ISO Bleskensgraaf & Grow-tec, and our incredible contributors: ?? Shlomy Raziel – President & Founder, Grow-Tec ?? Renko Schuil – Sales Manager Food, TTA-ISO ?? Corenthin Chassouant – VP of Sales, Industries Harnois | Manufacturier de serres commerciales et MegaDome ?? Neda Vaseghi – CEO & Founder, Microclimates Inc. Your insights and support helped bring this report to life! ?? Don’t miss out—download your copy today! ?? ?? https://lnkd.in/e5Zdxfr9

Verinomics Unveils Genesis? and Genova? Platforms Verinomics has unveiled Genesis? and Genova?, two breakthrough platforms aimed at accelerating crop trait discovery and breeding processes. These platforms streamline product development, allowing breeders and growers to develop high-value, market-ready crops more efficiently. Dr. Stephen Dellaporta, President and Founder of Verinomics, stated: “We founded Verinomics with a vision to harness genomic technologies to solve urgent challenges in agriculture. Our precision breeding platform combines chromosome-level genome assemblies, population genomics, AI-based trait identification, and transgene-free gene editing, allowing us to rapidly identify the genetic architecture of valuable traits and develop enhanced, edited varieties without introducing foreign DNA.” Article in the first comment ?? Follow iGrow Plant Science News for more!

?? This Week in AgTech: Innovations, Investments & Sustainability ?? From GigaCrop’s $4.5M funding to boost photosynthesis efficiency to Pivot Bio’s nitrogen-fixing microbes, the AgTech industry is moving fast! ?? ?? Key updates this week: ?? BioLumic unveils light-activated seed traits for improved crop resilience. ?? Bioceres Crop Solutions secures EPA approval for Rinotec, a biological pest control solution. ?? Pivot Bio unveils PROVEN? G3, a next-gen nitrogen-fixing microbial solution for corn, with commercial availability set for 2026. ?? Verinomics raises $13M to advance genomics-driven specialty crop breeding. ?? Indigo & Google collaborate on regenerative agriculture in Oklahoma. ?? Rumin8’s veterinary product achieves a 95.2% methane reduction in cattle. ?? CIBO Technologies introduces an open platform for carbon and sustainability data integration. ?? Syngenta partners with Planet Labs to integrate high-resolution satellite imagery into Cropwise, improving remote crop monitoring and pest detection. ?? LettUs Grow & KG Systems collaborate to expand Advanced Aeroponics technology, aiming to boost efficiency & yields in CEA farming. ?? Which of these developments do you find most exciting? Let’s discuss in the comments! ?? Subscribe to our newsletter at https://lnkd.in/edFcKQmz

Biotalys Reports Strong Field Trial Results for New Biofungicide Candidate Biotalys has announced positive results from initial field trials for its BioFun-6 program. Conducted in Europe and the U.S. by independent contract research organizations (CROs), the trials tested a lead AGROBODY? candidate in: -> Grapes against Botrytis (grey mold) -> Cucumbers and tomatoes against powdery mildew Commenting on the results, Kevin Helash, CEO of Biotalys, stated: “We are very pleased with the outcome of these promising field trials, which further validate the potential of our AGROBODY technology platform to deliver highly effective protein-based crop protection solutions. The data support BioFun-6’s efficacy in controlling fungi at significantly reduced dosage rates— a key milestone toward our goal of offering cost-effective, sustainable products to growers across diverse crops and pathogens. I’m incredibly proud of what our team has achieved and grateful for their dedication, bringing us closer to monetizing our portfolio while creating value for our growers, partners, and shareholders.” Article in the first comment ?? Follow iGrow Plant Science News for more!

Advancing Microbial Solutions in Agriculture Biological solutions are gaining traction in agriculture as farmers and agribusinesses seek effective alternatives to traditional inputs. Jord BioScience focuses on improving microbial product performance through a B2B model, leveraging a microbial collection developed over 30 years. The company’s approach aims to enhance consistency and scalability in biological products, addressing key industry challenges. Key Insights: ?? Utilizes a 6,500+ isolate microbial bank to support product development. ? Reduces lead generation timelines for biological solutions from years to months. ?? Works with agribusiness partners to improve microbial product efficacy and reliability. ?? Navigates regulatory complexities in different markets. ?? Reports improved microbial product success rates in field trials. Looking ahead, Jord BioScience anticipates launching multiple products across key agricultural markets by 2030. Continued advancements in microbial research and industry collaboration will play a role in expanding the adoption of biological solutions. A special thank you to Keri Carstens, CEO of Jord BioScience, for sharing insights on the company’s work in this space. Article in the first comment ?? ?? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

SOLASTA Bio Achieves Key Milestones in Green Insecticide Development SOLASTA Bio has reached a major milestone in its path to regulatory approval and commercialization. The company, known for its nature-inspired, small peptide-based insect control agents, has secured its first patent grant and received a favorable classification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), significantly advancing its commercial strategy. In a parallel development, SOLASTA Bio’s lead peptide candidates have been designated as biochemical-like by the U.S. EPA. This classification allows the company to bypass conventional insecticide registration pathways, significantly reducing the time and cost of market entry. Shireen Davies, CEO & Co-Founder of SOLASTA Bio, commented: “These developments represent a major inflection point for SOLASTA Bio. The combination of strong patent protection and a more efficient regulatory pathway positions us exceptionally well to advance our product development and reach full commercialization within a few years. Our technology has the potential to transform the global crop protection market, and we are now one giant stride closer to realizing that vision.” Article in the first comment ?? Follow iGrow Plant Science News for more!