The Harvest is a series covering insights, updates, and developments in agriculture.

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In today’s breakdown:
1. Gas Fermentation: A Green Revolution in Food and Feed?
2. NASA inspired soil analysis
3. Methane-Powered Tractors. Cleaner, Quieter, and Ready for North America?
4. Saving Farmland from Solar Panels
5. PFAS Removing Technology
Contrarian Corner: Big Ag Is the Real Innovator, Not the Startups

1. Gas Fermentation: A Green Revolution in Food and Feed? (More)

Why it matters. Gas fermentation uses gases like methane instead of sugars to grow microbes, offering a sustainable way to produce protein for food and feed while reducing land and water use.

How it works

• Companies like Calysta grow methanotrophs (bacteria that feed on methane) to create protein-rich biomass.

• Methane, oxygen, and ammonia are combined in fermenters, producing protein continuously for weeks.

The benefits

• Efficiency: Produces 1,000 kg of protein per hour with minimal land and water.

• Sustainability: Reduces reliance on arable land and animal farming.

• Scalability: Continuous fermentation allows long campaigns with fewer interruptions.

The challenges

• Costs: Specialized equipment and renewable methane are expensive.

• Logistics: Accessing clean, renewable gases like biogas or synthetic methane is still a hurdle.

Applications

• Aquaculture: Replacing fishmeal in shrimp and salmon diets.

• Pet food: A sustainable alternative to animal and insect protein.

• Future potential: Human food, offering protein and nutrients like Vitamin B12.

The bottom line. Gas fermentation could revolutionize protein production, but scaling renewable gas sources is critical for long-term success. Calysta’s progress in China and plans for expansion show promise, but the industry must overcome cost and logistics challenges to deliver on its green promise.

2. NASA Inspired Soil Analysis (More)

The big picture. Healthy soil is crucial for farming, but old ways of testing soil are costly, slow, and not always accurate. EarthOptics is using new technology to help farmers better understand and take care of their soil.

Why it matters

• EarthOptics uses both actual soil samples and special sensors called GroundOwl. These give farmers detailed maps showing how packed their soil is, how much carbon it holds, what nutrients it has, how wet it is, and more.

• Farmers can avoid unnecessary plowing and use just the right amount of materials, which saves money and keeps soil healthy.

• The company helps farmers earn money by measuring the carbon in their soil, which they can sell as credits or use for tax breaks.

The backstory. EarthOptics started in 2018, first called GroundTruth Ag. They were inspired by how NASA studies soil on Mars. They use special tools like ground-scanning radar and LIDAR to measure how packed soil is, which is important for farming that helps fight climate change.

What's new

• The company joined with Pattern Ag to make a computer model of soil called a "digital twin". This shows farmers everything about their soil - what it's made of, what chemicals are in it, and what tiny living things are there.

• They're doing a lot of work: checking 10,000 soil samples every day and making maps of 100,000 acres each month.

Carbon focus. EarthOptics is great at measuring carbon in grasslands and ranch lands. They help landowners know how much carbon they have, so they can join programs that pay for storing carbon.

They also won the 2021 AGCO Innovation Challenge Award, beating over 100 AgTech startups.

3. Methane-Powered Tractors. Cleaner, Quieter, and Ready for North America?

The big news. New Holland launched its first methane-powered tractor in the U.S. The T6.180 looks like any other tractor, but under the hood, it’s running on methane instead of diesel.

Why it matters

• Methane burns cleaner than diesel, cutting particulate emissions by 98% and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by up to 15%.

• The methane engine is much quieter, making it more pleasant for operators.

• New Holland says farmers can save 30% on operating costs compared to diesel.

How it works

• The tractor uses methane sourced from biodigesters, landfills, or even natural gas infrastructure.

• Farms with methane digesters can use their own fuel, boosting self-sufficiency.

• All you need is a compression station to refuel, which New Holland helps set up with rebates.

The catch

• The T6.180 costs about 30% more than its diesel counterpart, which starts at $150,000.

• Infrastructure is limited. For example, Pennsylvania has only 31 methane digesters on farms.

• Expanding filling stations and offering grants will be key to making this technology more accessible.

Why methane? New Holland has been exploring alternative fuels since the 1990s, starting with hydrogen prototypes. Methane proved more practical due to its availability and lower carbon footprint. It’s one of the cleanest fuels available and works well for farms with natural gas access.

What’s next

• New Holland is showcasing the T6.180 at farm shows and dealerships across the U.S. to generate interest.

• Early adopters, like dairies with biodigesters, are the most likely buyers.

• State and federal support for infrastructure could help grow the market.

Bottom line. Methane-powered tractors could change how farms fuel their equipment. While the market is small now, this cleaner, cost-saving option has big potential for farms ready to embrace, what could be, the future of energy.

4. Saving Farmland from Solar Panels(More)

The problem. Solar panels are taking over farmland. While only 0.14% or 1.25 million acres of U.S. farmland is used for solar farms, much of it is high-quality cropland. This worries farmers because once land is compacted or drainage is changed, it might never be farmable again.

The solution. A startup called Aetherflux has a bold idea—put solar panels in space. Instead of using farmland, their satellites will collect solar energy and send it to Earth using infrared lasers.

Why this matters

• Protects farmland: No need to use valuable cropland for solar farms.

• Sustainable energy: Space-based solar could generate clean energy without harming rural communities.

• Future-proof: Even if solar demand grows, farmland stays safe.

How it works

• Aetherflux plans to launch small satellites into low Earth orbit.

• These satellites will collect solar energy and beam it back to Earth.

• Their first test mission is set for 2025 or 2026, using a small satellite that will transmit power to the ground.

What’s next. The first test will aim to power small devices. If it works, Aetherflux hopes to scale up and eventually power neighborhoods.

Big picture. This technology could start with defense projects, like powering remote military bases, but could expand to shipping and other industries. If successful, space-based solar could end the farmland vs. solar debate entirely.

Why it’s exciting. Baiju Bhatt, co-founder of Robinhood, is leading Aetherflux. With billions in personal wealth, he’s funding the project himself. This means the company can focus on making the technology work without relying on outside investors.

5. PFAS Removing Technology (More)

Why it matters. PFAS are chemicals that don't break down in nature and can hurt people and the environment. These "forever chemicals" can get into water, dirt, and food that we grow. They can also harm farm animals. For farmers, PFAS is a hidden danger that could hurt their crops, make their soil less healthy, and make people worried about buying their food.

What's happening. Chromafora, a company from Sweden that works on cleaning up pollution, has gotten €22.5 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB). This money will help them put their PFAS-cleaning technology in more places across Europe. They will start in Belgium and Sweden and then spread to other countries. Their cleaning systems come in shipping containers, making them easy to move around.

While they're starting by cleaning up places like garbage dumps, this new technology could really help farmers who need clean water for their crops.

By the numbers

• Scientists have found PFAS pollution in soil and water all over Europe, including many farming areas.

• Chromafora's special cleaning method, called SELPAXT, can remove both small and large PFAS molecules, which is usually very hard to do.

• The money from the bank is a special kind of loan that helps the company grow while keeping control of their business.

Why this is different. Chromafora uses special filters and chemicals in small, movable systems that can quickly be set up where they're needed, like at landfills. This is better than old ways of cleaning water because it stops the pollution where it starts.

What's next. If Chromafora does well, they could spread their cleaning systems all over the world. This could show others how to fight PFAS pollution and encourage more people to invest in clean technology.

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