Industrial

The global food system is creaking — creating an impetus for global agriculture companies to invest in new solutions. Corporates took part in agtech deals worth a record $18bn last year. But are they investing fast enough?

Access Industries, Pfizer and SR One were among the investors in a $125m round for Nimbus Therapeutics while Aerwins agreed a reverse takeover.

Alphabet led a $1bn round for its Verily subsidiary while Kimco Realty and The Silverman Group were part of Gotham Greens’ $310m series E.

Corporates have dramatically slowed down the rate at which they invest in startups, except in these two sectors.

Investment is building again in the sector after a lull, but big companies are hedging their bets on which type of aircraft will work best.

Hanwha Group took part in a $250m round for Carrot General Insurance while JP Morgan Chase helped lift LetsGetChecked’s series D to $170m.

The former investment manager of Syngenta Group Ventures plans to expand the CVC arm of FMC Corporation, a US agriculture company.

Lab-grown milk is becoming commercially viable — and studies have shown that consumers aren’t averse to it. So, is it time for corporate investors to back these startups?

SoftBank, Bristol Myers Squibb and Hitachi were among Arsenal Biosciences’ $220m round while MegaChips led a $140m round for Morse Micro.

SHV and DELA took part in an $80m round for Lightyear while Tata Sons provided $40m in funding for Tata 1mg.

Alternative batteries and green steel get corporate backing, while the dairy industry cleans up its footprint and satellites go hyperspectral.