The Van Trump Report

Agriculture

Bayer and BP Bet on “Camelina” for Renewable Fuel Growth

Bayer and BP are aiming to move “camelina” from a niche oilseed into a larger-scale biofuel feedstock. The new partnership comes as the market is still searching for low-carbon, non-food-based inputs for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. The crop is being positioned as an intermediate crop that can fit between main commodities, rather than …

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Carbon Removal Industry Bets on US Energy Dominance to Survive

In a striking pivot that could determine the fate of a multi-billion-dollar sector, the carbon removal industry has rebranded itself not as a climate savior, but as a powerhouse for American energy dominance. Just weeks after President Trump’s Energy Department gave the green light to major Biden-era projects, executives are pitching direct air capture (DAC) …

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“Detector Dogs” Can Now Sniff Out Crop-Killing Pests

Spotted lanternflies have quickly become one of the most concerning invasive species in the US, threatening vineyards, orchards, and hardwood trees across multiple regions. As agricultural agencies and businesses look for effective ways to contain the spread, an unexpected but highly effective solution is gaining traction: detector dogs. Detector dogs are already well known for …

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Are Record Beef Prices Creating “Demand Destruction”… or Will More GLP1 Users Keep Demand Supported?

Beef prices are at nose-bleed levels and there is no relief in sight. The pressure comes from a combination of the smallest U.S. cattle herd in decades, border disruptions that have sidelined Mexican feeder cattle, and strong competition for limited supplies all along the supply chain. The result is a market testing how much consumers …

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IMPORTANT to THINK ABOUT – Historical Look At The Railroad… and How AI Might Be Similar

This is a somewhat long read, but I’ve been spending a ton of time lately thinking about how AI might disrupt agriculture and how many of my ag-related investments could be impacted. I tried to drag together a lot of my thoughts, and I feel like the comparison between AI and the railroad is somewhere …

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Mars Rover Tech Hits the Corn Belt: TerraBlaster Brings Real-Time NPK Mapping to Tractor Speed

For most corn, soybean, or wheat growers, soil sampling is one of those necessary evils: you pay good money, wait days or weeks for lab results, and still end up with 2.5-acre grid maps that smooth over real variability and leave money on the table, or worse, in the wrong spot.  TerraBlaster, a startup led …

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How “Questr Automation” Plans to Turn Agtech Into Local Jobs

Farmers have more technology at their fingertips than ever. Yet, adoption of precision ag and other high-tech solutions remains a lot slower than industry expectations. Some of that may be down to a lack of skilled technicians where they are needed most – rural America. “Questr Automation” wants to change that by training local technicians …

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The Invisible Crisis: Why the Hormuz Shock is Reshaping Crop Protection

I wanted to share a perspective from Matt Crisp, a friend, entrepreneur, and veteran in the biological crop protection space. Matt, who cofounded Querecus, explains why the current petrochemical crisis is creating a massive strategic premium for the next generation of crop protection tools. His analysis is worth considering for anyone looking to separate short-term …

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