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Agriculture

The company's innovative technology focuses on preserving pollen for future use.

PowerPollen, an agtech company based in Iowa, has unveiled its latest technological advancement: autonomous pollination robots designed to address pollination challenges in crops like corn, wheat, and rice

The company's innovative technology focuses on preserving pollen for future use, which helps growers adapt to environmental challenges such as extreme weather and droughts, factors that can disrupt seed production.

Founded in 2015 by Jason Cope and Todd Krone, PowerPollen uses a patented method to store pollen, ensuring its viability for extended periods—a crucial advantage given that pollen can survive in the natural environment for only a short window, from five minutes to an hour. This preserved pollen can then be applied to crops when needed, improving the chances of successful pollination.

The company's autonomous robots, introduced during a field demonstration, are battery-powered and equipped with a precision sprayer, GPS for tracking, and machine vision to help navigate farm rows. These robots can operate in fleets and are adaptable to both large fields and smaller farms (down to five acres). This development opens up possibilities for future functionalities, as the robots can collect valuable data during pollination, further improving efficiency and accuracy.

As extreme weather events such as droughts or heavy rains impact pollination, PowerPollen’s robots allow farmers to apply preserved pollen during the key reproductive phase. This precision helps counter disruptions, ensuring that crops are properly fertilized despite adverse conditions.

PowerPollen’s expansion goes beyond corn; the company is actively working on wheat and rice hybrid seed production, aiming to make these crops more cost-effective and profitable for farmers. Despite a downturn in venture capital investments in agtech, the company continues to drive innovation, with €22.5 million in recent funding to support its future growth.

Jason Cope emphasised, "Venture capital money is a little allergic, if you will, right now to agtech, but agtech is a foundational aspect of how we feed the world."

As per the reports, 98.5 percent of cropland across the territory is now either damaged or inaccessible.

A new satellite-based analysis by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) has revealed an alarming collapse of agricultural capacity in the Gaza Strip.

According to the report, 98.5 percent of cropland across the territory is now either damaged, inaccessible, or both—leaving just 1.5 percent, or 232 hectares, available for cultivation. This marks a drastic drop from April 2025, when 4.6 percent of land (688 hectares) was cultivable.

With Gaza’s population exceeding two million, the sharp decline in cropland availability presents a dire picture of food insecurity. Satellite data also shows that 12.4 percent of farmland, though physically intact, cannot be accessed due to restrictions and designated “no-go” zones, limiting the ability of farmers to restart local food production.

This dramatic reduction is not just the result of conflict-related destruction, but also the wider collapse of essential farming infrastructure. Irrigation systems, farm equipment, roads, storage facilities, and market access have been either destroyed or rendered non-operational. The ongoing conflict, coupled with severe restrictions on humanitarian aid and movement, has made conditions nearly impossible for any form of agricultural recovery without urgent external intervention.

Rein Paulsen, director of FAO's emergencies and resilience said,“To prevent further suffering, we need to prioritize urgent humanitarian access and invest in restoring Gaza’s local agrifood production systems, markets, and infrastructure. This includes both regaining safe access to farmland and rehabilitating land and assets damaged by the conflict.” 

This assessment follows the recent alert from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), issued on July 29, warning that the worst-case famine scenario is currently underway in Gaza. The situation is deteriorating rapidly. Data shows that 39 percent of the population are now going days without any food, while over 500,000 people – nearly a quarter of Gaza's residents – are facing famine-like conditions. The remainder of the population is also experiencing acute food insecurity, with many at emergency levels of hunger.

In light of the worsening crisis, FAO, WFP, and UNICEF are calling for an immediate and sustained ceasefire to halt the violence, enable the safe release of hostages, and allow life-saving humanitarian aid to reach all areas of Gaza. They stress the need for unhindered access through all available crossings, the revival of commercial supply chains to restock local markets, and the urgent protection of civilians and aid workers. Rebuilding health, water, and sewage infrastructure is also critical. Long-term stability will rely on investment in local food systems, revitalising bakeries, markets, and farming activities to support Gaza’s recovery.

Agritechnica 2025, the world's leading trade fair for agricultural machinery.

As climate change continues to impact global agriculture, regenerative farming is emerging as a viable solution to build climate resilience.

Agritechnica 2025, the world's leading trade fair for agricultural machinery, will place regenerative agriculture at the forefront, featuring a dedicated programme of expert discussions and international best-practice showcases.

Regenerative agriculture focuses on enhancing soil health through practices like reduced tillage, permanent soil cover, diverse crop rotations, and extensive cover cropping. These techniques are designed to stabilise soil functions, increase carbon storage, and improve water retention, all of which are crucial for maintaining productivity amid unpredictable weather patterns.

While regenerative agriculture doesn’t have a single, universally agreed-upon definition, its flexible framework allows farmers to incorporate individual practices gradually, making it adaptable to a wide range of agricultural contexts. This adaptability is especially important as the European Union pushes for reduced use of fertilisers and crop protection products, creating a need for more sustainable farming practices.

"Regenerative agriculture has become a global priority," says Dr. Bruno Görlach, Division Manager of Crop Production and Field Operations at DLG. "Farmers around the world are seeking practical solutions to climate-related challenges, and regenerative practices offer a flexible, science-based approach. At DLG, we’ve already taken action in Germany by offering a classification guide on the subject. The spotlight on soil health at Agritechnica 2025 is a further step in informing international farmers about the potential of regenerative systems and supporting their transition with technical expertise and practical know-how."

At Agritechnica 2025, the DLG will showcase its “Soil Health” Spotlight in Hall 24, where the Expert Stage “Smart Efficiency” will host discussions and case studies on regenerative practices. These sessions will bring together farmers, researchers, and industry experts to explore how regenerative systems can balance sustainability with productivity.

On November 11, during Agribusiness Day in Hall 24, a panel discussion will offer international perspectives on regenerative farming. Experts will share best-practice examples from around the world and address the practical challenges of implementing regenerative systems.

Agritechnica 2025, taking place from November 9 to 15 in Hannover, Germany, is expected to attract over 2,700 exhibitors and 430,000 visitors. DLG also highlights five internationally recognised principles of regenerative agriculture: minimising soil disturbance, maintaining permanent ground cover, practising diverse crop rotations, keeping living roots in the soil year-round, and integrating livestock. While these principles are not exclusive to DLG, the organisation is actively promoting them through its expert programming and outreach to farmers.

This investment supports BinSentry’s continued global expansion.

BinSentry, a Canadian agtech company transforming animal feed logistics through advanced sensor technology, has announced a US$50mn Series C funding round led by Lead Edge Capital.

This investment supports BinSentry’s continued global expansion as the agriculture sector shifts towards AI, automation, and data-driven decision-making.

The company develops AI-powered, solar-operated sensors paired with a proprietary software platform that enables real-time feed inventory monitoring with 99% accuracy. Designed to replace manual feed checks, these self-cleaning sensors give animal agriculture companies reliable visibility into on-farm feed levels—helping to prevent outages, eliminate waste, and streamline operations.

BinSentry’s platform also features a mobile dashboard that enables better forecasting and planning for feed mills and livestock producers. The company currently supports industry leaders across North America and Brazil, including Cargill, Hanor, and Wayne-Sanderson Farms, and monitors over 40,000 bins.

Aaron Darr, principal at Lead Edge Capital said,“We’ve been closely monitoring parts of the agriculture supply chain that have historically been underserved by software in anticipation of large agricultural companies needing better tools for cost savings, forecasting, and operational efficiency. BinSentry is exactly the kind of company we look for: a proven business with real customer traction using AI, real-time data, and automation to solve critical problems. As the agtech sector matures, companies like BinSentry with strong fundamentals and clear ROI are best positioned to lead the next wave of innovation.”

Earlier this year, BinSentry and Cargill formalised a partnership making Cargill the exclusive distributor of BinSentry’s feed inventory platform in Brazil. The company reports strong performance, doubling growth year-over-year while maintaining a 0% churn rate—an indicator of both customer satisfaction and product reliability.

By improving supply chain visibility, BinSentry helps agricultural firms tackle issues such as inaccurate data, misaligned budgets, transportation inefficiencies, and poor feed conversion ratios. Its insights allow users to make faster, better-informed decisions that improve profitability.

Ben Allen, CEO of BinSentry said,“At BinSentry, our mission is to bring innovation, precision and visibility to one of agriculture’s most overlooked but critical challenges: feed logistics. “Our best-in-class sensors ensure large agricultural companies, feed mills, and their customers get the right feed at the right time, every time. With the support of our investors, we’re continuing to expand globally and offering our customers flexible options like a lifetime product warranty and no upfront costs. We’re proud to partner with Lead Edge Capital as we continue helping some of the largest agricultural companies in the world operate more efficiently, safely, and profitably.”

To further strengthen its leadership, Paul Bell—former Dell executive and experienced global operator—will join BinSentry’s Board of Directors.

With agtech investments on the rise, particularly in biotech and precision technologies, BinSentry’s momentum reflects broader trends driving growth in the global agricultural innovation space.

The initiative has a strong focus on paddy cultivation. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The Government of Odisha, India, through its Directorate of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment (DAFE), has partnered with India-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to pilot a farmer-centric carbon market

The Carbon Standards for Incentivizing Farmers for Regenerative Agricultural Practices (CSIFRA) project was launched in 2023 and is being implemented in the districts of Sambalpur, Bargarh, and Subarnapur in Odisha, India. It ties in with the Indian Government’s Voluntary Carbon Market scheme and aims to integrate smallholder farmers into carbon markets

The initiative involves testing regenerative farming practices under real field conditions, with a strong focus on paddy cultivation. It aims to establish scientifically validated carbon standards by precisely measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the farm level.

Dr Himanshu Pathak, director general of ICRISAT, noted the project has the potential to generate income for farmers through carbon credits, while advancing climate-resilient agricultural practices.

“Agriculture is often criticised for its GHG emissions, yet our agri-food systems—our very source of sustenance—suffer the worst of climate change. Carbon credits can reverse this trend, empowering farmers to be both climate-responsible and more profitable,” he said.

Carbon farming involves agricultural practices designed to capture and store atmospheric CO₂ in soil and plant biomass while reducing on-farm GHG emissions. Key practices include no-till or reduced-till, cover cropping, crop rotation, agroforestry, compost and biochar application, precision nutrient and water management.

Engaging farmers

In a series of awareness sessions, farmers and agriculture officials were introduced to the workings of carbon markets and the benefits they offer, as well as the impact of regenerative practices on rice yields, soil carbon levels, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Farmers also shared their success stories. One reported that green manuring improved his soil health and allowed him to reduce inorganic fertilizer use, while another observed lower fertilizer costs, fewer irrigation cycles in Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR) plots, and yields comparable to traditional transplanted paddy.

More than 50 stakeholders participated in the sessions, with over 40% expressing willingness to adopt carbon farming practices. Participants recommended forming farmer cooperatives to ease market access and called on policymakers to integrate carbon farming into existing agricultural schemes.

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