Continental Grain Company

Continental Grain Company, founded in 1813 and based in New York, is a prominent privately held firm specializing in the food and agriculture sectors. The company initially started as a grain trading business in Arlon, Belgium, and has since expanded its operations to include diversified investment activities focused on protein-based businesses. By partnering with exceptional management teams, Continental Grain seeks to create long-term value and pursue strategic growth opportunities worldwide. Its investment groups, including CGC Ventures and a middle market investment division, enable the company to explore new avenues for growth within the global food and agriculture landscape. With a strong entrepreneurial legacy and a commitment to financial success, Continental Grain Company aims to positively impact its employees and business partners.

Steven Colliau

VP

Paul J. Fribourg

Chairman and CEO

Zack Fuss

VP

Ari Gendason

Chief Investment Officer

Fritz von Guionneau

VP

Devin McLaughlin

Senior Associate

Ryan Oksenhendler

Principal, Corporate Investments

Torren Peebles

Associate

Carlos Poblete

Co-Head & Principal

Ignacio Sanz

Co-Head & Principal

Ani Sefaj

Senior Associate

Kevin Thorson

VP

Peter Webel

Principal

Past deals in AgTech

Sentera

Series C in 2023
Sentera is provides decision support and insights to growers, advisors, and enterprise customers. Our products use machine learning, modeling, and data sciences tools to gather data, organize it, and quickly turn it into insights that improve outcomes for growers, advisors, and retailers. We deliver the best insights from high-resolution drone imagery, satellites, field equipment, and other sensors, and combine it with advanced modeling and analytics tools at scale.

Brightseed

Series B in 2022
Brightseed, Inc. is a biotechnology company that specializes in discovering clinically beneficial molecules found in plants through its innovative Forager platform. Founded in 2017 and based in San Francisco, California, the company employs artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to screen plant genes, identifying the most effective sources for addressing various health conditions. By uncovering naturally occurring compounds with potential health benefits, Brightseed aims to enhance the quality of life and support chronic disease management. The company’s mission is to strengthen the connection between people and plants, ultimately facilitating a healthier future for individuals and communities.

MycoTechnology

Series E in 2022
MycoTechnology utilizes fungi-based food-processing platforms to transform the flavor and value of agricultural products. The platform can be used to solve a variety of challenges faced by the food, beverage, and flavor industries. MycoTechnology has released ClearTaste, an all-natural, GMO-free, organic bitter blocker that is Kosher and Halal certified. ClearTaste improves the flavor of various agricultural products. MycoTechnology also engages in fermenting agricultural products with strains of gourmet fungi. The company offers myceliated chocolate as well as robusta and arabica coffee beans. It develops and licenses technology to the industry to naturally improve the flavor of robusta and arabica coffee. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is based in Aurora, Colorado.

Agrolend

Series A in 2022
Agrolend was born to revolutionize the agribusiness sector for small and medium size farmers in Brazil, giving them access to sustainable credit that is needed to finance the development of their production and incentivize investment in equipment/technology. We help farmers to increase their productivity and profitability. Using cutting edge technology and an innovative credit analysis, Agrolend provides loans without any physical guarantees such as farms or grains. Our target is to avoid the slowness of the traditional banking system as this is a major problem for farmers looking for additional credit.

Agroberries

Venture Round in 2022
Agroberries is a vertically integrated producer, marketer, and global distributor of fresh berries, catering year-round to a blue-chip customer base of leading retailers throughout the world.

Plasma Nutrition

Series A in 2021
Transforming the performance of protein powders through our patent-pending Ingredient Optimization process to increase sustainability and improve health outcomes.

Agot

Convertible Note in 2021
AI Restaurant Manager

Yuan Yao Nong Ye

Venture Round in 2021
Yuan Yao Nong Ye is a group of companies that mainly focuses on feeding raw materials in the agriculture and animal husbandry sector. It also has businesses in big data trade, biological fermentation, and industrial internet sectors.

Pivot Bio

Series D in 2021
Pivot Bio is a biotechnology company founded in 2010 and based in Emeryville, California. The company specializes in advancing crop nutrition through a deep understanding of the microbiome. By leveraging engineering principles and data science, Pivot Bio develops innovative solutions that utilize naturally occurring microbes to enhance crop yield and quality. Their proprietary ON Technology aims to provide essential nutrients to crops, specifically focusing on enabling microbes to fix and supply nitrogen for corn. This approach seeks to offer a sustainable alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers and pesticides, helping farmers improve their yields while addressing the nutritional needs of the growing global population. Through collaboration and communication, Pivot Bio is dedicated to transforming agricultural practices and contributing to a healthier planet.

Sentera

Series C in 2021
Sentera is provides decision support and insights to growers, advisors, and enterprise customers. Our products use machine learning, modeling, and data sciences tools to gather data, organize it, and quickly turn it into insights that improve outcomes for growers, advisors, and retailers. We deliver the best insights from high-resolution drone imagery, satellites, field equipment, and other sensors, and combine it with advanced modeling and analytics tools at scale.

EAVISION

Series C in 2021
EAVISION is a smart hardware company focusing on the development and manufacturing of autonomous drones for agricultural applications. The company specializes in industrial and fully autonomous agricultural drones that leverage artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, and machine vision technologies. These innovations enable the automation of plant protection operations, such as pesticide spraying and fertilization, thereby improving efficiency and safety for agricultural businesses. Additionally, EAVISION offers advanced capabilities in binocular visual perception, AI autonomous control, and intelligent machine equipment, along with a commercial corn emasculation test system. The company also manages a venture capital fund aimed at investing in innovative projects within China.

Bushel

Series C in 2021
Bushel Inc. is a technology company based in Fargo, North Dakota, that specializes in developing software solutions for the agricultural sector, particularly for grain companies and growers. Founded in 2011, Bushel provides an automated mobile app platform designed for grain elevators and cooperatives, enabling them to connect with growers and deliver real-time information. The platform integrates with grain elevator accounting systems, allowing growers to access vital data such as contracts, scale tickets, cash bids, and market information directly on their mobile devices. This streamlined communication empowers growers to make informed decisions quickly, enhances their ability to track grain deliveries, and simplifies the management of contracts. By eliminating the reliance on paper slips and ensuring real-time updates, Bushel facilitates a more efficient and transparent business relationship between growers and grain facilities.

Agrolend

Seed Round in 2021
Agrolend was born to revolutionize the agribusiness sector for small and medium size farmers in Brazil, giving them access to sustainable credit that is needed to finance the development of their production and incentivize investment in equipment/technology. We help farmers to increase their productivity and profitability. Using cutting edge technology and an innovative credit analysis, Agrolend provides loans without any physical guarantees such as farms or grains. Our target is to avoid the slowness of the traditional banking system as this is a major problem for farmers looking for additional credit.

Vestaron

Series B in 2021
Vestaron Corporation is a biotechnology company that specializes in developing, manufacturing, and selling peptide-based biologic crop protection products. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, with a research and development center in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Vestaron offers a range of bioinsecticides including Spear-T for thrips in vegetables and ornamentals, Spear-Lep for various fruits and vegetables, and Leprotec for field use. The company's products are designed to enhance the safety, efficacy, and sustainability of agricultural practices while being safe for humans, birds, fish, and pollinators. By utilizing peptides derived from spiders, Vestaron aims to provide innovative solutions for agriculture, animal health, and commercial pest control applications.

Ukko

Series B in 2021
Developer of immunity-boosting proteins designed to improve the lives of people who suffer from food allergies and gluten-related disorders. The company's technology uses artificial intelligence, immunology, computational biology, and protein engineering to make safe proteins that do not trigger an immune response, enabling physicians to prescribe to people products that are safe to consume.

Phospholutions

Series A in 2021
Phospholutions has developed a patented technology to alleviate the environmental impact of phosphorus fertilizer. Current commercial products aim to deliver phosphorus more efficiently to the plant within the soil and reduce unwanted losses to the environment, ultimately minimizing the effect on water quality.

Agrolend

Seed Round in 2021
Agrolend was born to revolutionize the agribusiness sector for small and medium size farmers in Brazil, giving them access to sustainable credit that is needed to finance the development of their production and incentivize investment in equipment/technology. We help farmers to increase their productivity and profitability. Using cutting edge technology and an innovative credit analysis, Agrolend provides loans without any physical guarantees such as farms or grains. Our target is to avoid the slowness of the traditional banking system as this is a major problem for farmers looking for additional credit.

Brightseed

Venture Round in 2020
Brightseed, Inc. is a biotechnology company that specializes in discovering clinically beneficial molecules found in plants through its innovative Forager platform. Founded in 2017 and based in San Francisco, California, the company employs artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to screen plant genes, identifying the most effective sources for addressing various health conditions. By uncovering naturally occurring compounds with potential health benefits, Brightseed aims to enhance the quality of life and support chronic disease management. The company’s mission is to strengthen the connection between people and plants, ultimately facilitating a healthier future for individuals and communities.

Greenlight Biosciences

Series D in 2020
GreenLight Biosciences is a biotechnology company that specializes in RNA-based solutions for agricultural and pharmaceutical applications. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Medford, Massachusetts, with an additional location in North Carolina, the company utilizes its Unconstrained Metabolism technology platform to convert renewable substrates into valuable chemicals and fuels. This platform allows for significant flexibility and control in the production process. GreenLight is also focused on developing RNA products aimed at improving crop management, plant protection, and animal health, while advancing vaccine development and pandemic preparedness. In addition to these applications, the company is working on mRNA-based vaccine candidates targeting seasonal and pandemic influenza, as well as other emerging viruses, to enhance public health. Through its innovations, GreenLight aims to provide sustainable solutions that contribute to global food security and health.

MycoTechnology

Series D in 2020
MycoTechnology utilizes fungi-based food-processing platforms to transform the flavor and value of agricultural products. The platform can be used to solve a variety of challenges faced by the food, beverage, and flavor industries. MycoTechnology has released ClearTaste, an all-natural, GMO-free, organic bitter blocker that is Kosher and Halal certified. ClearTaste improves the flavor of various agricultural products. MycoTechnology also engages in fermenting agricultural products with strains of gourmet fungi. The company offers myceliated chocolate as well as robusta and arabica coffee beans. It develops and licenses technology to the industry to naturally improve the flavor of robusta and arabica coffee. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is based in Aurora, Colorado.

Pivot Bio

Series C in 2020
Pivot Bio is a biotechnology company founded in 2010 and based in Emeryville, California. The company specializes in advancing crop nutrition through a deep understanding of the microbiome. By leveraging engineering principles and data science, Pivot Bio develops innovative solutions that utilize naturally occurring microbes to enhance crop yield and quality. Their proprietary ON Technology aims to provide essential nutrients to crops, specifically focusing on enabling microbes to fix and supply nitrogen for corn. This approach seeks to offer a sustainable alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers and pesticides, helping farmers improve their yields while addressing the nutritional needs of the growing global population. Through collaboration and communication, Pivot Bio is dedicated to transforming agricultural practices and contributing to a healthier planet.

Bushel

Series B in 2019
Bushel Inc. is a technology company based in Fargo, North Dakota, that specializes in developing software solutions for the agricultural sector, particularly for grain companies and growers. Founded in 2011, Bushel provides an automated mobile app platform designed for grain elevators and cooperatives, enabling them to connect with growers and deliver real-time information. The platform integrates with grain elevator accounting systems, allowing growers to access vital data such as contracts, scale tickets, cash bids, and market information directly on their mobile devices. This streamlined communication empowers growers to make informed decisions quickly, enhances their ability to track grain deliveries, and simplifies the management of contracts. By eliminating the reliance on paper slips and ensuring real-time updates, Bushel facilitates a more efficient and transparent business relationship between growers and grain facilities.

Vestaron

Series B in 2019
Vestaron Corporation is a biotechnology company that specializes in developing, manufacturing, and selling peptide-based biologic crop protection products. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, with a research and development center in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Vestaron offers a range of bioinsecticides including Spear-T for thrips in vegetables and ornamentals, Spear-Lep for various fruits and vegetables, and Leprotec for field use. The company's products are designed to enhance the safety, efficacy, and sustainability of agricultural practices while being safe for humans, birds, fish, and pollinators. By utilizing peptides derived from spiders, Vestaron aims to provide innovative solutions for agriculture, animal health, and commercial pest control applications.

MycoTechnology

Series C in 2019
MycoTechnology utilizes fungi-based food-processing platforms to transform the flavor and value of agricultural products. The platform can be used to solve a variety of challenges faced by the food, beverage, and flavor industries. MycoTechnology has released ClearTaste, an all-natural, GMO-free, organic bitter blocker that is Kosher and Halal certified. ClearTaste improves the flavor of various agricultural products. MycoTechnology also engages in fermenting agricultural products with strains of gourmet fungi. The company offers myceliated chocolate as well as robusta and arabica coffee beans. It develops and licenses technology to the industry to naturally improve the flavor of robusta and arabica coffee. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is based in Aurora, Colorado.

Greenlight Biosciences

Venture Round in 2019
GreenLight Biosciences is a biotechnology company that specializes in RNA-based solutions for agricultural and pharmaceutical applications. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Medford, Massachusetts, with an additional location in North Carolina, the company utilizes its Unconstrained Metabolism technology platform to convert renewable substrates into valuable chemicals and fuels. This platform allows for significant flexibility and control in the production process. GreenLight is also focused on developing RNA products aimed at improving crop management, plant protection, and animal health, while advancing vaccine development and pandemic preparedness. In addition to these applications, the company is working on mRNA-based vaccine candidates targeting seasonal and pandemic influenza, as well as other emerging viruses, to enhance public health. Through its innovations, GreenLight aims to provide sustainable solutions that contribute to global food security and health.

Pivot Bio

Series B in 2018
Pivot Bio is a biotechnology company founded in 2010 and based in Emeryville, California. The company specializes in advancing crop nutrition through a deep understanding of the microbiome. By leveraging engineering principles and data science, Pivot Bio develops innovative solutions that utilize naturally occurring microbes to enhance crop yield and quality. Their proprietary ON Technology aims to provide essential nutrients to crops, specifically focusing on enabling microbes to fix and supply nitrogen for corn. This approach seeks to offer a sustainable alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers and pesticides, helping farmers improve their yields while addressing the nutritional needs of the growing global population. Through collaboration and communication, Pivot Bio is dedicated to transforming agricultural practices and contributing to a healthier planet.

SmartAHC

Series A in 2018
SmartAHC was incubated by Nanyang Technological University. It has attracted a batch of leading investors, including Smart World Group Incubator, National Research Foundation of Singapore, Greenmeadows accelerator, Singapore Spring, private investor Mr. Koh Boon Hwee, Hong Tai(Chengdu) Foundation, Hong Pu Foundation, Wise info and Continental Grain Company Venture.

Sentera

Series A in 2018
Sentera is provides decision support and insights to growers, advisors, and enterprise customers. Our products use machine learning, modeling, and data sciences tools to gather data, organize it, and quickly turn it into insights that improve outcomes for growers, advisors, and retailers. We deliver the best insights from high-resolution drone imagery, satellites, field equipment, and other sensors, and combine it with advanced modeling and analytics tools at scale.
RiceBran Technologies is a specialty ingredient company that specializes in the production and marketing of nutrient-dense products derived from rice and other small grains, as well as by-products from the milling process. The company transforms raw rice bran into stabilized rice bran (SRB) and a range of high-value derivatives, including RiBalance, RiSolubles, RiFiber, and ProRyza products. These products are rich in oil, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fibers, and antioxidants, enhancing the nutritional value of various consumer products. Additionally, RiceBran Technologies markets its SRB products as feed ingredients within the animal nutrition sector. The company serves a diverse clientele, including food and animal nutrition manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers, both in the United States and internationally. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, RiceBran Technologies was previously known as NutraCea before rebranding in October 2012.

MycoTechnology

Series B in 2017
MycoTechnology utilizes fungi-based food-processing platforms to transform the flavor and value of agricultural products. The platform can be used to solve a variety of challenges faced by the food, beverage, and flavor industries. MycoTechnology has released ClearTaste, an all-natural, GMO-free, organic bitter blocker that is Kosher and Halal certified. ClearTaste improves the flavor of various agricultural products. MycoTechnology also engages in fermenting agricultural products with strains of gourmet fungi. The company offers myceliated chocolate as well as robusta and arabica coffee beans. It develops and licenses technology to the industry to naturally improve the flavor of robusta and arabica coffee. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is based in Aurora, Colorado.

Modern Meadow

Series B in 2016
Modern Meadow, LLC is a biofabrication company established in 2011 and headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. The company specializes in producing animal-free leather and other cultured products, such as meat alternatives, through innovative methods that eliminate the need for animal slaughter. By utilizing living cells and fermentation-based processes, Modern Meadow develops lightweight materials that provide superior color, performance, and durability, while also promoting lab-to-brand traceability. Their approach significantly reduces the inputs of land, water, energy, and chemicals, contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions. This focus on sustainability enables customers to maintain the quality and appearance of materials without relying on petrochemical inputs or animal-derived substances.