This investment supports BinSentry’s continued global expansion.

BinSentry, a Canadian agtech company transforming animal feed logistics through advanced sensor technology, has announced a US$50mn Series C funding round led by Lead Edge Capital.

This investment supports BinSentry’s continued global expansion as the agriculture sector shifts towards AI, automation, and data-driven decision-making.

The company develops AI-powered, solar-operated sensors paired with a proprietary software platform that enables real-time feed inventory monitoring with 99% accuracy. Designed to replace manual feed checks, these self-cleaning sensors give animal agriculture companies reliable visibility into on-farm feed levels—helping to prevent outages, eliminate waste, and streamline operations.

BinSentry’s platform also features a mobile dashboard that enables better forecasting and planning for feed mills and livestock producers. The company currently supports industry leaders across North America and Brazil, including Cargill, Hanor, and Wayne-Sanderson Farms, and monitors over 40,000 bins.

Aaron Darr, principal at Lead Edge Capital said,“We’ve been closely monitoring parts of the agriculture supply chain that have historically been underserved by software in anticipation of large agricultural companies needing better tools for cost savings, forecasting, and operational efficiency. BinSentry is exactly the kind of company we look for: a proven business with real customer traction using AI, real-time data, and automation to solve critical problems. As the agtech sector matures, companies like BinSentry with strong fundamentals and clear ROI are best positioned to lead the next wave of innovation.”

Earlier this year, BinSentry and Cargill formalised a partnership making Cargill the exclusive distributor of BinSentry’s feed inventory platform in Brazil. The company reports strong performance, doubling growth year-over-year while maintaining a 0% churn rate—an indicator of both customer satisfaction and product reliability.

By improving supply chain visibility, BinSentry helps agricultural firms tackle issues such as inaccurate data, misaligned budgets, transportation inefficiencies, and poor feed conversion ratios. Its insights allow users to make faster, better-informed decisions that improve profitability.

Ben Allen, CEO of BinSentry said,“At BinSentry, our mission is to bring innovation, precision and visibility to one of agriculture’s most overlooked but critical challenges: feed logistics. “Our best-in-class sensors ensure large agricultural companies, feed mills, and their customers get the right feed at the right time, every time. With the support of our investors, we’re continuing to expand globally and offering our customers flexible options like a lifetime product warranty and no upfront costs. We’re proud to partner with Lead Edge Capital as we continue helping some of the largest agricultural companies in the world operate more efficiently, safely, and profitably.”

To further strengthen its leadership, Paul Bell—former Dell executive and experienced global operator—will join BinSentry’s Board of Directors.

With agtech investments on the rise, particularly in biotech and precision technologies, BinSentry’s momentum reflects broader trends driving growth in the global agricultural innovation space.

The initiative has a strong focus on paddy cultivation. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The Government of Odisha, India, through its Directorate of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment (DAFE), has partnered with India-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to pilot a farmer-centric carbon market

The Carbon Standards for Incentivizing Farmers for Regenerative Agricultural Practices (CSIFRA) project was launched in 2023 and is being implemented in the districts of Sambalpur, Bargarh, and Subarnapur in Odisha, India. It ties in with the Indian Government’s Voluntary Carbon Market scheme and aims to integrate smallholder farmers into carbon markets

The initiative involves testing regenerative farming practices under real field conditions, with a strong focus on paddy cultivation. It aims to establish scientifically validated carbon standards by precisely measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the farm level.

Dr Himanshu Pathak, director general of ICRISAT, noted the project has the potential to generate income for farmers through carbon credits, while advancing climate-resilient agricultural practices.

“Agriculture is often criticised for its GHG emissions, yet our agri-food systems—our very source of sustenance—suffer the worst of climate change. Carbon credits can reverse this trend, empowering farmers to be both climate-responsible and more profitable,” he said.

Carbon farming involves agricultural practices designed to capture and store atmospheric CO₂ in soil and plant biomass while reducing on-farm GHG emissions. Key practices include no-till or reduced-till, cover cropping, crop rotation, agroforestry, compost and biochar application, precision nutrient and water management.

Engaging farmers

In a series of awareness sessions, farmers and agriculture officials were introduced to the workings of carbon markets and the benefits they offer, as well as the impact of regenerative practices on rice yields, soil carbon levels, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Farmers also shared their success stories. One reported that green manuring improved his soil health and allowed him to reduce inorganic fertilizer use, while another observed lower fertilizer costs, fewer irrigation cycles in Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR) plots, and yields comparable to traditional transplanted paddy.

More than 50 stakeholders participated in the sessions, with over 40% expressing willingness to adopt carbon farming practices. Participants recommended forming farmer cooperatives to ease market access and called on policymakers to integrate carbon farming into existing agricultural schemes.

These changes resulted in a significant increase in grain yield.

Scientists have successfully transferred a gene from sunflowers to rice, significantly increasing its grain yield and enhancing its resistance to drought and salt stress.

This breakthrough research, led by Zhejiang Normal University in China, offers promising potential for developing climate-resilient crops.

The gene in question, known as HaGLK, plays a crucial role in the development of chloroplasts, where photosynthesis occurs. It also helps plants cope with harsh environmental conditions, such as drought and salinity. Sunflowers are known for thriving in arid and saline environments, which led researchers to hypothesise that transferring the HaGLK gene to rice could provide similar stress tolerance.

"We hypothesize that overexpression of the HaGLK gene in rice may enhance its tolerance to salt stress, drought resistance, and photosynthetic capacity. To test this hypothesis, we constructed the overexpression of HaGLK rice transgenic plants and analysed their photosynthetic performance, agronomic traits, and stress resistance," said the research team.

By inserting the HaGLK gene into rice plants, the researchers compared the modified plants with a control variety, Zhonghua 11. The modified rice showed higher levels of chlorophyll, larger chloroplasts, and an improved photosynthetic rate. These changes resulted in a significant increase in grain yield, with improvements of 13.06% and 12.60% in two separate transgenic lines.

The study also found that the gene did not interfere with overall plant development. In fact, it led to some physical changes, including wider leaves and longer panicles. The higher yield was primarily attributed to an increased number of grains per panicle. While the shape of the grains changed slightly, there was no significant difference compared to the control variety.

In addition to the yield boost, the HaGLK-modified rice also showed improved resistance to drought and salt stress. The plants developed longer roots and stems during germination, experienced less wilting, and had higher survival rates compared to the unmodified variety. Furthermore, the HaGLK-modified rice was better able to close its stomata quickly, reducing water loss and helping the plant survive in harsh conditions without sacrificing photosynthesis.

The findings suggest that the HaGLK gene could be a valuable tool in developing high-yield, resilient rice varieties suited to challenging environmental conditions. "Future research should aim to elucidate the mechanisms by which heterologous HaGLK expression modulates photosynthetic efficiency and stress responses in rice," the researchers concluded.

Mangrove afforestation and seagrass restoration.

Taiwan has approved two new blue carbon methodologies aimed at enhancing mangrove and seagrass ecosystems to help meet its net-zero emissions target by 2050

These new carbon reduction strategies - Mangrove Afforestation and Seagrass Restoration - were developed collaboratively by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the Ocean Affairs Council (OAC).

A "carbon sink" is a natural system that absorbs more carbon dioxide (CO₂) than it releases, playing a vital role in tackling climate change by reducing greenhouse gases. Taiwan’s new methodologies will now calculate and manage the carbon stored in mangroves and seagrasses, both of which are considered blue carbon sinks.

The Mangrove Afforestation methodology involves planting mangroves in designated areas, such as abandoned salt pans, fish farms, and reservoirs, to increase carbon storage in the ecosystem. According to the MOA, the site must have been free from industrial activities for at least two years before the project begins. Moreover, the initiative should not interfere with existing industries to avoid negatively impacting local livelihoods. The species of mangrove used must be suitable for the local conditions. Developers are also required to manage hydrology, sediment, salinity, and water quality to optimise growth and carbon capture while preventing the overgrowth of mangroves.

Similarly, the Seagrass Restoration methodology focuses on planting seagrass in marine and coastal areas, including artificial wetlands. Like the mangrove strategy, developers must ensure the right conditions for seagrass growth, managing water movement, sediment, salinity, and water quality. Marine life can only be removed from the area if necessary to protect the seagrass.

Before starting, developers must verify land use legality, conduct environmental assessments, and hold public consultations. All findings must be documented.

Taiwan is committed to using blue carbon ecosystems to achieve its net-zero target by 2050. The government hopes these new methodologies will encourage more organisations to take part in blue carbon projects. A 2023 study found that seagrass beds cover around 5,481 hectares in Taiwan, while mangroves span 681 hectares.

In addition to the new blue carbon methods, Taiwan has also added three new agricultural carbon offset methodologies since 2024. The MOA continues to refine these strategies to help companies access voluntary carbon credits.