Agriculture
Portfolio: Integral Corporation and Nitto FC
Japan’s Integral Corporation treads lightly in the conservative agriculture space as it helps fertilizer maker Nitto FC evolve from an owner-centric culture to a more distributed power structure
Fujitsu VC unit backs rice trading platform
Fujitsu, one of Japan’s largest IT companies, is backing the world’s first digital global rice trading platform in the debut deal from its latest corporate VC fund.
Portfolio: Mandala Capital and EFRAC
Mandala Capital is helping Indian food and pharma testing laboratory EFRAC distinguish itself against a field of ragtag competitors. Personnel, networks, and technology are the critical inputs
PE-backed China Youran Dairy loses ground after $643m HK IPO
PAG Asia Capital-backed China Youran Dairy Group raised HK$4.99 billion ($643 million) through a Hong Kong IPO but then ended its trading debut below the IPO price.
Singapore food tech VC raises $25m for debut fund
Good Startup, a food tech VC set up in Singapore last year, has hit a $25 million first close on its debut fund, which will invest exclusively in alternative protein start-ups.
Sequoia, Yunfeng lead $228m round for Chinese rice brand
Shiyuedaotian, a Chinese rice brand, has raised RMB1.45 billion ($228 million) in Series B funding led by Sequoia Capital China and Yunfeng Capital. CMC Group and Taihe Capital also took part, as did existing investor GenBridge Capital.
Indonesia’s TaniHub secures $65.5m Series B
TaniHub, a platform that connects farmers with customers and other agriculture industry suppliers, has closed a $65.5 million Series B round led by MDI Ventures.
China agricultural drone company raises $30m
Chinese agricultural drone maker EAVision has raised $30 million in Series C funding led by Temasek Holdings, CITIC Agricultural Industry Fund, and Bits x Bites.
Deal focus: DCP, KKR milk new dairy opportunity
The private equity firms are backing Adopt A Cow’s combination of high-quality, high-transparency dairy products and its ability to reach young Chinese consumers through non-traditional channels
Deal focus: Cattle herding enters the app age
New Zealand’s Halter is bringing innovation to an industry that hasn’t seen many new tools since the invention of barbed wire. Blackbird Ventures is offering its support
New Zealand dairy farm management start-up raises $23m
Blackbird Ventures has led a NZ$32 million ($23.4 million) Series B round for Halter, a New Zealand-based start-up that has developed smart cow collars and an accompanying app to aid dairy farm management.
KKR, DCP back China's Adopt A Cow
KKR and DCP Capital Partners have jointly invested in Adopt A Cow, a China-based dairy farm operator that pursues a direct-to-consumer sales model underpinned by digital tools.
Amazon fund to drive India SME digitalization
Amazon has formed a $250 million fund that will invest in India-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a view to supporting nationwide business digitalization.
Hosen raises $800m for latest China food fund
China-based food and agriculture specialist Hosen Capital has closed its third US dollar-denominated fund above target at $800 million.
Deal focus: Rethinking Australia’s biggest resource
Adamantem Capital’s acquisition of carbon farming specialist Climate Friendly recognizes the increasing sophistication of the Australian carbon credit market as well as its room for improvement
Australia's Adamantem acquires carbon offset company
Australia’s Adamantem Capital has acquired a controlling stake in Climate Friendly, a local carbon offset consultancy, for an undisclosed sum.
China agricultural drone maker XAG raises $46m
XAG, a Chinese manufacturer of agricultural drones, has raised RMB300 million ($46 million) in funding from GL Ventures.
India's Ankur Capital raises $45.5m for Fund II
Indian early-stage technology investor Ankur Capital has reached an incremental close of INR3.3 billion ($45.5 million) against a target of INR3.5 billion.
CPE leads $123m round for China's Wangjiahuan
Shenzhen-based agricultural products distributor Wangjiahuan has raised RMB800 million ($123 million) in a Series B extension led by CPE.
Prosus leads $30m Series C for India agtech start-up
Prosus Ventures, formerly a VC arm of South African media conglomerate Naspers, has led a $30 million Series C round for Indian agricultural technology provider DeHaat.
TPG, Northstar commit $236m to Japfa's SE Asia dairy business
TPG Capital and Northstar have agreed to pay $236 million for an 80% stake in the Southeast Asia consumer dairy operation of Singapore-listed agribusiness giant Japfa.
Roc buys Australia grain marketing business
Australia’s Roc Partners has agreed to acquire a 100% stake in local grain storage and handling company Emerald Grain from Japan’s Sumitomo Corp for an undisclosed sum.
China agricultural drone maker XAG raises $182m
XAG, a Chinese manufacturer of agricultural drones, has raised a RMB1.2 billion ($182 million) round led by Baidu Capital and SoftBank Vision Fund II.
China's Bits x Bites hits first close on second food tech fund
Chinese food and agriculture technology investor Bits x Bites has reached a first close of $30 million on its second VC fund. The target is $70 million.