Tech advances transform agriculture sector

Apr 08, 2024

By Farms.com

The AgTech industry celebrates significant achievements with Agco and Trimble's joint venture, Seso's funding milestone, and Edible Garden’s production evolution. Agco's collaboration with Trimble through the PTx Trimble venture aims to bring cutting-edge precision agriculture solutions across various farming equipment, marking a step forward in global agricultural innovation.

Seso’s newly acquired $26 million in Series B funding spotlights the urgent need for efficient labor management solutions in agriculture. The company plans to expand its platform to include essential services such as payroll and banking, directly addressing the sector's labor challenges.

Meanwhile, Edible Garden is taking a bold step by moving its potted herb production to its own facilities. This decision not only aims to reduce costs and improve profit margins but also reflects the company’s commitment to leveraging technology for operational efficiency.

These key developments reflect the ongoing transformation and growth within the AgTech sector, highlighting the industry’s commitment to innovation, efficiency, and sustainability.

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.