Partech leads the operation

Agritech startup xFarm Technologies has closed its €36 million Series C round. The operation was led by investment firm Partech, through its Impact Growth Fund. In 2022, it had raised €17 million in Series B.

What xFarm Technologies does

As stated on the website, xFarm Technologies is «a tech company that aims to digitize the agri-food sector, providing innovative tools that can support agricultural entrepreneurs and stakeholders in managing their companies». In terms of numbers, the startup helps 450 thousands of companies in the sector in over 100 supply chains around the world. Its product is the xFarm digital platform, a Farm Management Information System (FMIS). The team has more than 100 people.

“This is a time of profound change and great challenges for the global agri-food industry – commented Matteo Vanotti , CEO of xFarm Technologies -. We are excited to announce this funding round and we are proud to have world-class partners such as Partech, Mouro Capital, and all the other investors who have placed their trust in us”. Before the 2022 Series B, this reality had raised 3 million euros in 2019.

With the new resources of the Series C, xFarm Technologies aims to grow in various markets, strengthening itself in Europe, India, and the United States. As reported on EU Startups, the company is based in Manno, near Lugano (Switzerland), and is the result of the merger, in 2021, of xFarm and Farm Technologies. The company wants to support its partners and customers in the implementation of regenerative agriculture practices on a large scale, also exploiting Artificial Intelligence solutions.

Source: Startup Italia 

Italian universities need to rethink their strategies and leadership to unlock the full potential of their intellectual property. In fact, Italy’s tech transfer offices focus too little on promoting and commercializing innovations. Furthermore, these efforts are often confined to the regional knowledge silos, stunting the possibility of creating a unified national network for innovation.

What does Italy need to do differently? the future of tech transfer in Italy requires bold leadership and a stronger market focus. Universities must move beyond simply safeguarding their intellectual property and begin building strategic partnerships with private companies, developing spin-offs, and fostering startups. Additionally, establishing a national portfolio of patents and know-how would make Italy’s innovations more competitive on a global scale.

Italy’s untapped potential lies in Universities and research institutions and a more integrated, forward-thinking approach to tech transfer could pave the way for Italy to become a global leader in transforming scientific discoveries into economic and societal benefits.

At INNOVA, we are committed to fostering innovation and creating value from Italy’s rich intellectual property landscape. The future of Italian tech transfer is bright, but it will take strategic change and dynamic leadership to realize its full potential. Let’s work together to ensure that Italy’s innovations are not just protected but also transformed into real-world solutions that benefit the global community.

To read the full interview: Link

With the farm-to-fork strategy, the European Union recognises the need to strengthen its food production systems. As demand for fish protein increases, researchers and innovators are called to action to develop more efficient, sustainable, and resilient approaches for aquaculture. AWARE, a recently financed European research project, has two words for it: Aquaponics and Wastewater.

“Imagine a wastewater treatment plant becoming a farm”, says AWARE coordinator Dr. Fabio Ugolini, “with the right technology, we can produce fish and vegetables in every city, at Km 0, with no soil or freshwater, and with no net greenhouse gas emissions”.

Wastewater in Europe undergoes rigorous treatment and becomes reclaimed water, which can be legally discharged back in the water table or be used for irrigation. However, if extra treatment steps are applied (Advanced Tertiary Treatments) reclaimed water becomes indistinguishable from drinking water.

“There is a regulatory gap in Europe: we can use reclaimed water for agriculture but not for aquaculture and aquaponics”, continues Dr. Fabio Ugolini, “we want to lay the ground for a new policy framework in support of European aquaculture, and demonstrate the feasibility of an entirely new food value chain”.
AWARE has an ambitious objective: build the first farm in Europe that uses reclaimed water in an aquaponic system. The pilot is being installed in the town of CastellanaGrotte (Puglia, Italy) and is expected to open its doors to the public in 2026.

is being prepped to host the pilot aquaponic farm, which will become a demonstrator and a case study for reclaimed water aquaponics.
However, there are several challenges to face before the first fish can hit the plate: firstly, the reclaimed water must be devoid from all potentially harmful contaminants, including contaminants of emerging concern that are currently not regulated in the European Wastewater Directive; secondly, the aquaponic farm must yield fish and veggies that meet the most stringent safety and quality requirements; thirdly, the system must be sustainable from an environmental, social and economic perspective; lastly, the results must be strong enough to convince policymakers and consumers alike, of the benefits of using what originally was wastewater to produce edibles.

AWARE is an international effort of experts from 20 organisations including universities, research centres, companies, governmental institutions, and not-for-profits from 8 countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, the UK, Belgium, Greece, and Chile). The project started in November 2022, and is expected to produce its results by 2026.
AWARE has been financed by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions programme under Grant Agreement n° 101084245, receiving €5.1 million including a co-financing from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

It was a sunny day in Castellana Grotte in February 2023 when the representatives from the AWARE partners surveyed the site which will host the aquaponic farm.