Feb. 4 / 2021
Originally presented on The Modern Acre by FarmTogether Damien Hajduk, Ph.D., is the CTO and COO of Crop Enhancement, a San Jose-based startup that works at the intersection of materials science and biology to bring new and effective solutions to agriculture that help growers protect their crops and the environment, while meeting the global need […]
READ MOREFeb. 4 / 2021
Originally published in Forbes by Jennifer Kite-Powell Michael Lavin, founder and managing partner of Germin8 Ventures, says over the past decade, consumers have shifted their mindset around food in exciting ways. “Whereas we once favored convenient nutrition at low-cost, over time we have placed greater importance on clean labels and wholesomeness, and now consumers want functional, health-supportive […]
READ MOREFeb. 4 / 2021
Originally published in IFT by Dale Buss Tomorrow’s grain rows, vegetable fields, and specialty crop groves will be much busier places than the relatively passive acreage of yesterday. On the surface, sensors built into crops will signal soil conditions; digital irrigation systems will precisely direct water streams; and robotic guardians will pull weeds. In the […]
READ MOREJan. 20 / 2021
Originally published in New Atlas by Ben Coxworth While pest insects can have a devastating effect on crops, pesticides can likewise cause a great deal of damage to the environment. That’s where CropCoat comes in, as it’s designed not to kill harmful insects, but to “hide” plants from them instead. Created by California-based startup Crop […]
READ MOREJun. 18 / 2020
Crop Enhancement Appoints Industry Veteran Jean Pougnier to CEO Pougnier brings more than 30 years of global experience as a senior agtech executive to lead the next phase of growth SAN JOSE, Calif.— Jun 17, 2020: Crop Enhancement Inc., an innovator of sustainable plant-based crop-protection products that protect or enhance crop yields, announced the appointment of […]
READ MOREApr. 20 / 2020
Our patented CropCoat® technology helps coffee growers control the coffee berry borer, which threatens the livelihoods of coffee growers worldwide
READ MOREApr. 14 / 2020
Crop Enhancement Raises $8M Series B to Help Growers Protect Crops with Safe Coatings Additional funding enables agtech innovator to capitalize on near-term opportunities to bring much-needed sustainable solutions to market; investors include Spruce Capital Partners/MLS, 1955 Capital, Phoenix Venture Partners, Cavallo Ventures, Davinia Investment Ltd., and Alexandria Ventures SAN JOSE, Calif.— Apr. 14, 2020: […]
READ MOREMar. 26 / 2020
Crop Enhancement raises $8m Series B to support trials for its ‘safer chemistry’ pesticide coating “When you think about putting a film around something in the food space, you most likely think about packaging or perhaps one of the growing number of shelf life enhancement startups that coat produce in a special material to stop […]
READ MOREDec. 11 / 2019
Crop Enhancement Expands Leadership Team with Chief Business and Technology Officers Jean Pougnier joins agtech innovator as chief business officer, Dr. Damian Hajduk moves to chief technology officer; Crop Enhancement’s CropCoat® product performs in field trials on coffee and almond crops SAN JOSE, Calif.— Dec. 11, 2019: Crop Enhancement Inc., an innovator of sustainable agrochemical […]
READ MOREApr. 23 / 2019
Crop Enhancement provides a pathway to improving how we grow food and will have a lasting impact on today’s food production chain. But what are the regulatory hurdles that must be overcome in order to get to market? Today, I sat down with Jerry Hjelle, Ph.D, D.A.B.T., an expert in food safety and global […]
READ MOREJan. 31 / 2019
Q&A with Mike Wilbur, Kevin Chen on Cavallo Ventures’ Latest Bet “With its investment, Cavallo Ventures aims to accelerate the development of Crop Enhancement’s breakthrough crop protection technology in the United States — particularly for the production of high-value fruit and vegetable crops. CropLife chatted with both Mike Wilbur, President and CEO of Cavallo Ventures, […]
READ MOREJan. 22 / 2019
Cavallo Ventures Makes Strategic Investment in Crop Enhancement to Advance Sustainable Agriculture The venture capital arm of Wilbur-Ellis–a recognized leader in the marketing and distribution of crop protection, precision agriculture technology, seed and nutritional products–aims to accelerate the application of sustainable crop protection technologies for high-value fruit and vegetable crops SAN JOSE, Calif.—Jan 22, […]
READ MOREJan. 22 / 2019
Cavallo Ventures Makes Seven Figure Investment In Pesticide Disruption Cavallo Ventures, the venture capital arm of global agribusiness company Wilbur-Ellis, has just announced a seven figure investment in agricultural technology startup Crop Enhancement, Inc. The California-based company makes CropCoat, a unique protective coating being touted as an alternative to more toxic pesticides on the market. “In trials we’ve completed, our […]
READ MORENov. 27 / 2018
New Mode of Action to Stop Insects Agriculture has seen its fair share of new startup companies in the last five years. With billions being invested in new ideas, a lot of brainpower is being put toward a range of new ideas. Recently, Farm Progress talked with Kevin Chen, CEO, Crop Enhancement, a venture-capital-funded company […]
READ MOREOct. 8 / 2018
What does Marcus Meadows-Smith see in Crop Enhancement? “As veterans of the biopesticide industry go, Marcus Meadows-Smith is a heavy hitter. His résumé is packed with transformative business performance at several major companies (Bayer, AgraQuest, Chemtura, among others). Currently the CEO of BioConsortia Inc., Meadows-Smith has just taken a role on the board of directors […]
READ MORESep. 20 / 2018
CropCoat Uses Unique Film to Protect Cocoa from Pests “If you are a lover of chocolate, coffee, or both, you will appreciate the effectiveness of a new mode of action to prevent damage to coffee and cocoa pods by soft-bodied insects. And eventually, the same technology could benefit corn and soybean growers, too. CropCoat, a […]
READ MORESep. 10 / 2018
Cargill Boosts Cocoa Productivity and Quality Using Crop Enhancement’s Sustainable Crop Production Technology Indonesian cocoa growers in Cargill’s extensive network are eager to expand their use of this effective, farmer-friendly solution that reduces the need for synthetic pesticides SAN JOSE, Calif.—September 10, 2018: Crop Enhancement Inc., an innovator of sustainable agrochemical products for […]
READ MOREAug. 21 / 2018
Envisioning the Future of Crop Protection “One of the biggest challenges facing farmers — and many consumers — is how to control destructive insects, diseases, and weeds while avoiding or reducing the negative effects associated with using agrochemicals. There is growing support for new products and methods that address these issues, and there are a […]
READ MOREJul. 31 / 2018
Crop Enhancement Appoints Marcus Meadows-Smith as Independent Director As Crop Enhancement prepares to launch its first crop protection product, Meadows-Smith to advise on value-creation strategies SAN JOSE, Calif.—July 31, 2018: Crop Enhancement Inc., an innovator of sustainable agrochemical products for enhancing crop yields, has appointed Marcus Meadows-Smith to its board of directors. As […]
READ MOREJul. 12 / 2018
There’s Hope on the Horizon for Pesticide-Averse Consumers “When it comes to what we eat, the demands of conscious consumers are clear: They expect ethically produced and sourced food that is healthy, safe and affordable. Many of those consumers would be surprised to hear that the move away from toxic pesticide use is not a […]
READ MOREJun. 30 / 2018
Crop Enhancement Presents at Agtech Nexus USA In June, we were invited to speak at the Agtech Nexus USA 2018 conference in Boston. Produced by Global AgInvesting, this event convened leading agribusinesses, investors, tech companies and other stakeholders from around the country to discuss trends and opportunities in the expanding agtech sector. The focus of […]
READ MOREJun. 7 / 2018
Pest Management: 10 Companies to Watch in 2018 “Successful crop production isn’t dependent on any single aspect of cropping systems management, but rather many different factors that combine to produce optimal, harvestable yields. A key component in profitable yields is effective pest management. Harmful organisms create damage in many different ways and have the potential […]
READ MOREMay. 31 / 2018
Crop Enhancement: Using Materials Science to Replace Toxic Pesticides with Smarter, Safer Solutions “This post is part of our Future of Agriculture series in which we interview the leading founders and executives who are on the front lines of the industry to get a better understanding of what problems the industry is facing, what trends […]
READ MOREMay. 25 / 2018
Crop Enhancement Presents at the AGRI Tech Venture Forum by Kevin Chen Crop Enhancement was selected to present as a showcase company at the recent AGRI Tech Venture Forum. Held each year in Toronto, this event is among the calendar highlights of any agtech company looking to connect with customers, partners, and investors. The conference […]
READ MOREMay. 1 / 2018
Following Positive Agricultural Field Trials, Crop Enhancement Expands Go-To-Market Team Rodrigo Bermudez to Spearhead Global Business Development, Nandang Holil to Lead Commercialization in Indonesia SAN JOSE, Calif.—May 1, 2018: Crop Enhancement Inc., an innovator of sustainable agrochemicals for enhancing crop yields, has strengthened its go-to-market team with the appointment of two experienced agricultural […]
READ MOREJan. 10 / 2018
[dt_highlight color=”” text_color=”” bg_color=””]by Kevin Chen[/dt_highlight] 2017 was a pivotal year for Crop Enhancement, and we exited the year well positioned for 2018. During the course of the year, we focused our efforts on three initiatives: strengthening the company structurally; product and field development; and market education. In this blog, I’ll take you through […]
READ MORENov. 21 / 2017
On October 25th, 2017, Crop Enhancement CEO Kevin Chen introduced CropCoat® to attendees at the annual partnership meeting of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) in Washington, D.C., receiving public recognition from a top chocolate manufacturer. Each year, this event brings leaders from industry, government, nonprofits and academia together to share new developments in the global […]
READ MORENov. 15 / 2017
Crop Enhancement Presents at Entomological Society of America (ESA) Conference On November 8th, 2017, Crop Enhancement Global Field Development Manager Eric Flora introduced our CropCoat® product to attendees at Entomology 2017, the annual conference of the Entomological Society of America (ESA), in Denver, Colorado. Eric began with an overview of CropCoat and explained how it […]
READ MOREOct. 12 / 2017
How China can support its increasing demand for organic, fresh, and safe food “China’s government has set ambitious goals to improve the sustainability of its vast agricultural sector. But farmers won’t adopt sustainability practices unless new technologies also increase their profits. Meanwhile, important factors are intensifying the urgency of the problem in China:” Read the […]
READ MOREOct. 11 / 2017
Ag Disruptor to Watch: Crop Enhancement Has Unique Approach “Editor’s note: This piece is part of our cover story, “The Disruptors,” appearing in the November/December issue of AgriBusiness Global. CropCoat, the signature product of San Jose, California start-up Crop Enhancement, doesn’t quite fit into any of the typical crop protection categories. In fact, it works like […]
READ MOREJul. 24 / 2017
Connected to Origin: Technology’s role in a sustainable supply chain “The prevalence of specialty coffee continues to drive consumer interest in both bean quality and ethical sourcing. Many coffee drinkers associate higher-priced beans and upscale retail experiences with greater social and environmental responsibility at the farm level. However, the growing number of ways in which […]
READ MOREJul. 10 / 2017
Q&A With Crop Enhancement Advisory Board Member and Agribusiness Leader Mary Shelman We recently announced the formation of our advisory board, a group of talented individuals who will help inform and guide our business strategy, and provide useful industry connection. One of the three members of this board is Mary Shelman, who is well […]
READ MOREJun. 29 / 2017
Studying Seasons of Agricultural Growth, Berkeley Students Grow Themselves Guest post by BEACN The Bay Area Environmentally Aware Consulting Network (BEACN) is a student-run environmental consulting firm at UC Berkeley that undertakes semester long projects with innovative and progressive clients. During the fall of 2016, we created a database of 50 crops that could […]
READ MOREJun. 27 / 2017
Crop Enhancement Appoints VP R&D, Builds Go-To-Market Team as AgTech Materials Science Pioneer Expands Industry Focus Dr. Damian Hajduk heads up R&D; Mark Russell and Eric Flora spearhead market- and field-development efforts; Marcus Meadows-Smith, Mark Phillipson, and Mary Shelman to advise on business strategy CAMBRIDGE, MA.—June 27, 2017: Crop Enhancement Inc., an innovator of […]
READ MOREJun. 19 / 2017
We’re thrilled to announce that Crop Enhancement won the pitch competition for new materials startups at Plug and Play Tech Accelerator’s 2017 Summer Summit (held on June 7 at the Sunnyvale, CA, campus). The event concluded a 12-week accelerator program which enabled us to make valuable connections with Plug and Play’s corporate partners including some […]
READ MOREMay. 17 / 2017
On May 5th, 2017, Crop Enhancement CEO Kevin Chen spoke about innovation in global markets at the Silicon Valley AgTech Conference in Mountain View, CA. Now in its fourth year, the conference drew over 500 investors, entrepreneurs and customers focused on solving the most pressing challenges in agriculture. Kevin spoke about Crop Enhancement’s CropCoat® […]
READ MOREApr. 12 / 2017
Crop Enhancement was selected among 1,000 applicants to join the inaugural 20-member Food & Beverage cohort from Plug and Play Tech Center, the world’s largest startup accelerator. The three-month program brings valuable exposure to Plug and Play’s network of 200 VCs and 180 corporate partners, which include Hershey’s, Molson Coors and PepsiCo. You can read […]
READ MOREMar. 3 / 2017
Crop Enhancement was recently featured on TerraTech, a brand new weekly podcast hosted by Jim Lane that covers new technologies in the advanced bio-economy. On the show, CEO Kevin Chen and CTO David Soane discussed how Crop Enhancement uses naturally occurring materials to protect crops, thereby helping to increase crop yields and reduce toxic pesticide […]
READ MOREFeb. 17 / 2017
On September 13th, 2016, Crop Enhancement CEO Kevin Chen presented to 400 entrepreneurs and investors at the sold-out Ag Innovation Showcase in St. Louis, MO. Established in 2009, the event connects entrepreneurs and investors around the newest innovations in global AgTech and sustainable agriculture. Crop Enhancement was one of 20 companies selected to give a […]
READ MOREFeb. 1 / 2017
Power Lunch: The Path Toward Sustainable and Pesticide-Free Cacao “What if cacao production wasn’t so dependent on toxic pesticides? Is there a way to chart a course to a pesticide-free brand of cacao? A new crop protection technology, which leverages the latest scientific developments in materials science, offers a solution: a non-toxic, biodegradable crop protection […]
READ MOREJan. 6 / 2017
Guest post by BEACN The Bay-Area Environmentally Aware Consulting Network (BEACN) is a group of undergraduates who take on clients from the Bay Area and beyond for semester long projects. Our members solve everything from supply side sustainability improvements to brand strategizing and market sizing questions for environmental start ups. We work with clients, both […]
READ MORESep. 19 / 2016
“Crop Enhancement is an early-stage Boston-based company that develops non-toxic and sustained release technologies for agriculture. They recently secured $8.5 million in Series B funding. Kevin Chen, Crop Enhancement’s CEO, talked to us about how they found investors and what they are doing to overcome other challenges.” Read the full article >>
READ MORESep. 13 / 2016
1955 Capital Makes First Investment into Startup Combatting Pests in Developing Countries “Crop Enhancement, a startup using what it dubs “sustainable chemistry” to combat crop pests and increase crop yields in the tropics, has raised $8.5 million in Series B funding. The round was co-led by 1955 Capital, the VC firm that ex-Khosla partner Andrew […]
READ MORESep. 13 / 2016
This Startup Just Raised Funding to Coat Crops “It’s the brainchild of a serial entrepreneur and former UC Berkeley professor. Is the answer to feeding 9 billion people by 2050 to coat our crops? That’s the new idea by a Cambridge, Mass.-based startup called Crop Enhancement. The five-year-old company makes a thin film out of […]
READ MORESep. 13 / 2016
Agtech Startup Crop Enhancement Reaps $8.5M for Plant Coating Tech “Pesticides are a challenging agricultural problem, because rain washes them off of plants and the resulting runoff can poison other plants, animals, and water systems. Agricultural biotech startup Crop Enhancement is testing a plant protection product that could reduce pesticide use and perhaps do away […]
READ MORESep. 13 / 2016
Crop Enhancement Secures $8.5M in Series B Funding to Help Farmers Sustainably Increase Crop Yield While Minimizing or Eliminating Pesticide Use MLS Capital Fund II and 1955 Capital co-led the round, with Bandgap Ventures and initial investor Phoenix Venture Partners rounding out the syndicate CAMBRIDGE, MA.—September 13, 2016: Crop Enhancement Inc., an innovator of sustainable […]
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