To support emerging agricultural technology companies in Quebec, Zone Agtech has developed a partnership with SVG Ventures | THRIVE, a leading global Agrifood Venture and Innovation Platform headquartered in Silicon Valley.
When L’Assomption RCM launched Zone Agtech on February 6, 2020, it wanted to intensify the development of the agriculture of tomorrow by using innovative agricultural technologies to meet the challenges of the agri-food sector — which include vulnerability to climatic conditions, the hiring of labor, and the creation of more efficient and profitable models while reducing carbon footprints.
In less than a year, and with 40 established companies in the local area, Zone Agtech has created a network of more than 120 Quebec companies, 75 agtech partners, more than 1,600 scientists representing 24 complementary areas of expertise, 10 financial partners, four consortia, and three accelerator partners that together reach thousands of industry players.
“Quebec has all the tools to become a benchmark in agtech and plant bioproducts, nationally and globally,’’ says Sébastien Nadeau, Mayor of the City of L’Assomption, and original ideator for Zone Agtech. “A partnership of this magnitude [with SVG Ventures | THRIVE] will undoubtedly allow us to support companies with very high potential and to demonstrate high-value technologies on an international scale. It also encourages a green and sustainable economic recovery, and permits Quebec companies to take their place in international markets.’’
Since 2010, SVG Ventures | THRIVE has been advancing the future of food and agriculture through innovation. Having built a community of over 5,000 startups from 100 countries, the THRIVE platform invests, accelerates, and creates unparalleled access for entrepreneurs to scale globally to solve the biggest challenges facing the food and agriculture industries.
THRIVE’S Corporate Innovation Program also aims to connect their business partners with emerging technologies and global startups that will have the most impact on their organizations. Crunchbase recently recognized SVG as the world’s most active agtech investor, and AgFunder has recognized SVG as the world’s “Most Valuable AgriFood Accelerator.”
“Zone Agtech is a credible player in the Canadian agtech sector and we are delighted to partner with them and further expand our reach within the Canadian Agtech Ecosystem,” says John Hartnett, CEO & Founder of SVG Ventures | THRIVE. “This partnership will help facilitate our engagement with Quebec agtech companies and position us to support successful startups.”
Together, Zone Agtech and SVG Ventures | THRIVE plan to bridge Canadian and American Agrifood tech ecosystems and propel the agriculture of tomorrow.
