From CRISPR-edited crops and autonomous UV-C robots to microbial manufacturing, precision irrigation and evolving crop-protection technologies, agriculture is rapidly embracing new tools across the value chain.
This edition also brings key developments from India, including free horticulture training in Haryana and farm machinery subsidies of up to 50% in Madhya Pradesh.
Together, these stories highlight how technology, investment and government support are shaping a more productive, efficient and innovation-driven agricultural sector.
Let’s start…
Bayer Faces Fresh Roundup Trial as $7.25 Billion Settlement Awaits Ruling
Bayer is facing a new Missouri jury trial over claims that its glyphosate-based Roundup herbicide caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma, adding to the company’s ongoing legal challenges in the US. The trial comes as Bayer’s proposed $7.25 billion nationwide settlement remains under judicial review. Around 65,000 Roundup-related claims are still pending across US courts, despite earlier settlements resolving roughly 100,000 claims.
The current settlement aims to address most remaining and future cases through a tiered compensation system. Meanwhile, plaintiffs in the latest trial are pursuing design-defect and inadequate-testing arguments following a US Supreme Court ruling that blocked failure-to-warn claims.
Bayer continues to defend glyphosate’s safety, citing decades of regulatory reviews. The outcome of the settlement and the EPA’s ongoing glyphosate re-evaluation could significantly shape Bayer’s future Roundup liability in the US.
CRISPR-Edited Peanuts Enter First US Field Trial to Reduce Major Allergens
Gene-edited peanuts targeting three major allergy-causing proteins have entered their first commercial-scale outdoor field trial in the United States. Nurtured Nuts Co. and AgriNetica are developing peanuts edited with CRISPR to disable the genes producing Ara h 2, Ara h 6 and Ara h 7. The crop was planted in Georgia in spring 2026 and harvested in September, marking a shift from laboratory research toward field-scale production.
The companies aim to process the peanuts into products and potentially bring them to market in 2027, subject to regulatory review. However, the technology is not yet proven to make peanuts safe for people with allergies, and independent data quantifying allergen reduction has not been published.
The approach could help reduce the risk associated with accidental or trace exposure to peanuts in foods and shared environments. If successful, the innovation could open a new pathway for precision breeding to address major food-allergy challenges.
Antobot Targets 300 Autonomous UV-C Robots for Strawberry Farms in 2027
UK-based agritech startup Antobot is targeting 300 autonomous robot deployments in strawberry crops in 2027 as growers increasingly adopt UV-C technology to control powdery mildew and other fungal diseases. The robots use UV-C light to damage pathogens and reduce the need for chemical fungicide applications.
Antobot says early deployments have delivered lower chemical use, improved crop health and potential yield gains. The company is expanding across the UK, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Canada and parts of Asia through distributors and partnerships. It is also shifting from a robots-as-a-service model toward growers purchasing and operating the machines themselves.
Beyond UV-C treatment, Antobot’s robots can scout crops, monitor fruit development, forecast yields and support logistics. The startup is now seeking growth capital while exploring applications across blueberries, raspberries, vineyards, vegetables and ornamental crops.
Netafim Launches UniRam Hybrid Dripline in North America
Netafim has introduced its UniRam Hybrid dripline in North America, bringing a new irrigation system designed to reduce installation labor and improve water delivery efficiency. The system combines factory-installed pressure-compensating drippers with pre-welded external outlets, eliminating the need to punch holes in tubing during installation.
Its TurboNet labyrinth and continuous self-flushing mechanism are designed to reduce clogging when using challenging water sources or organic fertilizers. The outlets can also be capped and reopened as trees mature, providing greater flexibility for orchard irrigation. The technology is being offered for agriculture, landscaping and controlled environment agriculture across North America.
The launch follows Netafim’s global introduction of the Hybrid Dripline in 2025 as part of its precision irrigation portfolio. The company is positioning the technology as a way to save labor, improve irrigation reliability and support more efficient water and nutrient management.
Zymofix Plans €6 Million Microbial Manufacturing Plant in Belgium
Belgian biotech company Zymofix is investing €6 million to build its first industrial-scale microbial manufacturing facility in Deinze, Belgium. The plant is expected to begin production in Q4 2027 with an annual capacity of 300 tonnes, enough to support microbial products across approximately 1 million hectares.
The company also plans a potential €25 million expansion in 2028 that could increase capacity to 2,000 tonnes annually. The facility will scale Zymofix’s Zyft platform, which uses solid-state fermentation to produce bacteria, fungi and yeast for agricultural and industrial applications.
More than 170 microbial strains have already been tested on the platform, while the company currently works with over 15 customers. Its products and programmes include biostimulants, biofertilisers, biocontrol and bioremediation solutions. The investment marks Zymofix’s transition from pilot-scale technology development toward large-scale commercial microbial manufacturing.
American Vanguard Acquires Four U.S. Crop-Protection Brands from Syngenta
American Vanguard’s operating subsidiary AMVAC has agreed to acquire the U.S. rights to four established crop-protection brands from Syngenta: Caparol, Evik, Prime+ and Agri-Flex. The products serve key agricultural markets including cotton, vegetables, sugarcane, pineapple, tobacco and specialty crops.
Caparol is a residual herbicide, while Evik targets weeds in sugarcane and pineapple production. Prime+ is a plant growth regulator used for sucker control in tobacco, and Agri-Flex is an insecticide used mainly in specialty crops such as Florida citrus. The transaction includes U.S. product registrations and trademarks, with financial terms not disclosed.
American Vanguard expects the acquired brands to generate more than $7 million in annual net sales and contribute to its growth targets through 2030. The company will now work with Syngenta on registration transfers while maintaining product availability and customer service during the transition.
India Special
Haryana Offers Free Horticulture Training with Stay, Meals and Bus Fare Support
The Haryana Horticulture Department is offering free five-day training programmes in October 2026 through the Horticulture Training Institute, Uchani (Karnal). The programmes will cover fruit and vegetable processing, fruit production, nursery management, protected cultivation and polyhouse maintenance, and mushroom production.
A total of 180 seats are available across five programmes, with selection on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and can apply from any district of Haryana. Participants will receive free food and accommodation during the training, along with bus fare support through DBT.
Applications can be submitted online through the department’s training portal or in person at designated horticulture offices. Applicants must carry their Aadhaar card, bank passbook and PAN card when reporting for the training.
MP Opens Applications for Farm Machinery Subsidy Up to 50%
Madhya Pradesh has opened applications under its e-Krishi Yantra Anudan scheme for seven types of farm machinery, including fertilizer broadcasters, boom-type sprayers, reapers, sugarcane ratoon managers, ridgers and broad-bed-furrow planters. Applications are being accepted from October 3 to October 13, 2026, with a lottery scheduled for October 14.
Farmers must submit a demand draft as a mandatory security deposit, with the amount varying by machinery type. Subsidies under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization can cover up to 50% of the approved cost for small and marginal farmers, women, and SC/ST farmers, while other farmers can receive up to 40%, subject to prescribed limits.
The newly introduced Agri-Stack Farmer ID is mandatory for linking land records and applying through the portal. Applicants also need documents including Aadhaar, bank details, land records, caste certificate where applicable, and tractor registration for tractor-operated equipment.
Existing users can apply through Aadhaar OTP, while new applicants must complete biometric Aadhaar authentication through MP Online or a CSC centre. The initiative aims to support farm mechanization while making digital farmer identification a key part of the subsidy application process.