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The Spray Drone Revolution in Agricultural Retail
Agricultural spray drones have reached an important point. The market for crop-spraying drones is estimated to reach $3.41 billion by 2025, and there are over 400,000 DJI Agriculture drones in use throughout the world, a 90% rise since 2020. This means that agricultural retailers can no longer ignore this technology.
The Revolution of Scale
The Sprayhawk from Rotor Technologies is the world's largest agricultural drone. It can carry 110 gallons and spray over 240 acres per hour, which is as good as what standard planes can do but at a far lower cost. Rotary wing drones now make up 62.1% of the market, showing that adaptability is more important than speed in real life.
The Chance to Sell
For agricultural retailers, spray drones are a turning point in their strategy. In 2024, the crop spray segment was the biggest part of the agricultural drone industry. This shows that farmers care more about application technology than monitoring systems. Retailers who offer drone services can stand out from the crowd and make more money by using precision application.
Photo by DRONE EFT on Unsplash
The Problem of Integration
Retailers who win won't only buy drones; they'll also use them as part of a full range of services. More and more modern spray drones have AI-powered systems and work with farm management platforms. This means that shops need to learn new technological skills and ways to provide service.
With an 82.3% market share in 2024, outdoor farming segments are clearly showing that spray drones are not replacing traditional retail services; they are becoming necessary parts of competitive ag retail operations. It's not a question of whether to use this technology; it's a question of how quickly stores can learn how to use it profitably.
Beyond the Unicorn Myth
The $1B Illusion
For years, AgTech has been measured against the same yardstick as Silicon Valley startups: can it scale fast enough to become a billion-dollar company? Critics argue this is a flawed expectation. Unlike consumer apps, agriculture deals with biology, weather, and supply chains that move at a different pace. The Substack piece “The $1B Lie” calls out this mismatch, showing how forcing AgTech into a unicorn mold stifles innovation rather than fueling it.
The Cinderella Argument
Yet, as Fast Company points out, AgTech still has its “Cinderella” opportunities—unpolished gems that, if given the right support, can transform food systems and deliver real returns. The catch is timing: investors need to recognize that the biggest impacts often come from incremental improvements rather than explosive, app-style growth.
Photo by Lucas van Oort on Unsplash
Framing The Question
The problem is reframed in Sarah Nolet's LinkedIn article. Is AgTech a good fit for venture capital? No, she asks. What kind of capital is best for AgTech? This is a different kind of investment: it is patient, specialised, and in line with the cycles of agriculture. There are plenty of good ideas in the business, but it lacks structures that reward progress made over decades, not quarters.
Test of Venture Capital
This is echoed in the blunt title of "Why VCs Are Dumb" (Medium): traditional VCs often get it wrong in businesses where growth takes time. Focussing too much on speed and exits can make more noise than progress. AgFunderNews gives us more information by telling us that venture capital isn't about being patient, and in agrifoodtech, this fact often clashes with farmers' slower adoption curves.
A New Investment Playbook
The way to move forward is not to give up on AgTech, but to rewrite the rules. That implies more mixed financing, working with businesses and cooperatives, and even getting money from the government to take on risk. Instead of how quickly they reach $1 billion, we should look at how well they solve genuine problems for farmers, like keeping yields stable, fighting illness, and making inputs more efficient.
AgTech doesn't need fairy-tale unicorns; it needs consistent, long-term investors who know how farming works. We can find AgTech's genuine worth by changing the story from "how big, how fast" to "how real, how lasting." This will change our food system from the ground up.
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What has to be broken before you can use it?
Europe's Blue Gold Rush
As farmers in Europe face the triple threat of rising temperatures, degraded soil, and shrinking arable land, a new agricultural system is subtly but surely taking shape. The most revolutionary agricultural breakthrough since the Green Revolution—vertical ocean farming, which involves cultivating seaweed and shellfish in three-dimensional underwater columns—is about to take place, and Europe is in a prime position to spearhead this blue revolution.
The numbers are staggering. According to a World Bank study, farming seaweeds in just 1% of the world's oceans—about 100 million acres—could create 50 million jobs Europe, with its extensive coastlines and maritime expertise, could capture a massive share of this emerging economy. Recent modeling suggests that even considering logistic constrains, model results indicate a potential yearly production of over 8.5 million tonnes of seaweed across EU seas alone.
The Shift Towards Sustainability
What really sets Vertical Ocean Farming apart isn't just how big it can get—it's all about being sustainable. Mussels and other shellfish totally outshine land-based food. They don’t need any inputs at all—no feeds, no fertilisers, and no fresh water—so they’re really the most sustainable way to produce food on the planet. This isn't just a small step forward; it's a whole new way of thinking. We're moving from traditional farming on land, which uses a lot of resources, to marine systems that not only produce food but also help make our oceans healthier.
Europe's Game Plan
The European Commission sees this potential. The 2024 EMFAF call for proposals is looking to fund regional flagship projects with a budget of EUR 5.7 million. These projects aim to support a sustainable blue economy in EU sea basins, focusing on Smart Specialisation, Regenerative Ocean Farming, and Algae Innovation. Honestly, this modest funding really just touches the surface of what we need to tap into a market that's expected to hit $92 billion by 2025, covering a wide variety of sectors.
Photo by Storiès on Unsplash
The GreenWave model shows that it can be commercially viable. If you've got 20 acres and a boat, you can start a farm for somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000. With that, you could produce around 60,000 kg of kelp and 250,000 shellfish every year. This kind of democratic accessibility could really change the game for coastal communities all over Europe, from the Scottish islands to the Mediterranean ports, paving the way for a new wave of ocean farmers.
The Resilience Model of Nature
What’s really interesting is the approach that involves multiple species. The farm brings together various species, like different kinds of seaweed and shellfish, to create a balanced ecosystem. This polyculture method really boosts biodiversity and helps plants stand strong against pests and diseases. Vertical ocean farms are a lot more stable because they embrace diversity, unlike monoculture agriculture, which can be pretty vulnerable to single-point failures.
Europe aims to produce 8 million tonnes of seaweed by 2030, which means we really need to ramp up these systems quickly. It's not really a matter of if vertical ocean farming will change European agriculture; it's more about whether Europe will take the lead in this change or let other areas reap the rewards.
📢 Digital Pasture
🌍 Fields & Frontiers
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A Hundred Bets on the Future of Farming: The Yield Lab just reached an impressive milestone that many venture funds aspire to: 100 portfolio companies spread across five continents, and only seven write-offs. That's a 93% survival rate in a field where failure is pretty common. Since 2015, they've managed $163 million in assets, which has sparked over $1 billion in follow-on and co-investments. They've supported a range of projects, including TerraMagna's impressive $400 million agfintech platform in Brazil and Terviva's $400 million initiative with climate-resilient Pongamia trees that produce sustainable aviation fuel. Their portfolio is impressive, showcasing some of the coolest agtech innovations out there: cell-grown bluefin tuna in Singapore, livestock solutions that tackle methane in Ireland, and AI-driven water management that helps farmers save a whopping 83 billion litres of water in India. What's the deal with that? "We've got scalable sustainability, clear paths to profitability, and solid customer traction," shares managing partner Gentiane Gorlier. "Having a solid go-to-market strategy is just as important as the technology itself." The message to founders is pretty straightforward: "Concentrate on real issues, not just tech gimmicks." It's a good idea to check in with end-users early on and make sure your business model fits how they operate and make purchases. As agtech investment slows down around the world, The Yield Lab's history shows us something important: focus on the real challenges farmers face, rather than just the buzz from Silicon Valley. Read the full story.
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The Ancient Magnet’s Hidden Secret: Buried in the shadows of time, an ancient magnet holds secrets that could change everything we know about Earth's magnetic history. Scientists have just uncovered astonishing new clues hiding within this mysterious relic, challenging long-held beliefs and cracking open a billion-year-old enigma. What forces have preserved this magnetic marvel through the ages? Could this discovery rewrite the story of our planet’s inner core and its protective shield? The answers lie in the magnetic pulse of deep time—unlocking it might alter the future of science forever. Dare to unravel the magnetic mystery that’s silent no more on Scitechdaily.
People are The 'Differentiator,' Nutrien Ag says":Nutrien Ag is developing its digital platform, Hub, into a comprehensive tool for growers to plan crops, acquire financing, and increase yields. While embracing AI to improve product suggestions and expedite operations, Nutrien emphasises the essential contributions of its 3,500 crop consultants. These professionals remain the major differentiators in assisting growers, as AI works behind the scenes to improve collaboration and give data-driven insights. Nutrien is also working to integrate digital technologies such as John Deere Operation Centre and Bayer FieldView, with the goal of empowering growers to make wiser, more lucrative, and environmentally responsible farming decisions. AgTech Navigator explores this new perspective on AI as an enabler.
Comparing Bitcoin’s Returns to Traditional Assets Over the Long Term: Over the past decade, Bitcoin has outperformed traditional assets like gold, stocks, and real estate, delivering substantial long-term returns despite its volatility. This growth is driven by increasing adoption and limited supply, making Bitcoin a unique store of value. However, its price can fluctuate widely, requiring cautious portfolio balance for investors. For AgTech investors in Europe looking to diversify, Bitcoin’s strong historical performance provides an attractive complement to traditional holdings. Detailed comparative data is available on Coindesk.
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An egg
