News

German agtech company Stenon, founded by Niels Grabbert, has raised €18 million to expand its rapid soil-testing technology globally. Inspired by Grabbert’s prior work on cancer diagnostics, Stenon's FarmLab device uses advanced sensors to deliver real-time soil data, particularly measuring nitrogen—crucial for optimizing fertilizer use and boosting yields. The system allows farmers to map soil needs quickly, addressing the limitations of traditional lab analysis, especially in fast-paced agricultural regions like Brazil and the US. Stenon is now developing an automated solution to further streamline large-scale data collection as it faces emerging competition in the field.

The UK government has pledged to maintain regulatory freedom for agricultural biotechnology, even as it negotiates closer alignment with EU food and agricultural rules under a new SPS agreement. Farming minister Stephen Morgan highlighted the UK’s progress in precision breeding, including gene-edited crops and government funding for innovative agri-tech projects, as evidence of the country’s leadership in agricultural science. The government’s £123 million initiative targets productivity and innovation across a range of technologies, while efforts are underway to help SMEs navigate regulatory requirements. Morgan emphasized the UK’s commitment to supporting innovation and attracting investment in agri-tech.

ADM cashes in on decarbonization efforts with carbon credit plan for its Columbus, Nebraska facility.