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Switzerland’s Zurich the Hashgraph Group (THG), a Swiss venture capital and technology firm, has announced a strategic investment in AgNext Technologies, a UAE-based agritech leader that uses blockchain and artificial intelligence to improve food quality, safety, and transparency. This is a significant step towards revolutionising the global agri-food ecosystem.
AgNext’s Global Expansion and Vision
AgNext, a company with operations in India, Europe, the Middle East, and the US, is leading the way in addressing inefficiencies in food supply chains with blockchain-enabled traceability tools and AI-powered quality evaluation. THG also participated as a strategic partner in the company’s most recent round of funding, which was headed by Novo Holdings. On behalf of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings oversees assets worth more than $150 billion.
Backed by Global Capital and MENA Growth Strategy
The investment builds on AgNext’s growing global presence, following its $21 million Series A round in 2021, led by Alpha Wave Incubation (AWI)—the venture arm of Abu Dhabi’s ADQ, managed by Falcon Edge. That funding paved the way for AgNext’s first international office in Abu Dhabi, positioning the company as a key driver in the digitization of quality-led food trade across the MENA region.
Hedera Integration to Revolutionize Traceability
Now, with backing from THG, AgNext is poised to embed Hedera’s distributed ledger technology (DLT) into its suite of assurance and traceability solutions. This integration is expected to provide real-time, tamper-proof data on food quality and origin, powered by smart contracts that eliminate middlemen and reduce costs for supply chain stakeholders.
A Timely Solution to Global Food Waste
“In a world where nearly one-third of all food is lost or wasted annually—at an estimated cost of $230 billion—technology is critical to solving this crisis,” said Taranjeet Bhamra, Founder and CEO of AgNext. “We’re thrilled to have THG join us on our mission. Their expertise in Hedera and blockchain technology will strengthen our efforts to create trusted, AI-driven platforms that bring greater transparency and efficiency to the agri-food industry.”
From Manual Checks to Real-Time AI Assessment
Food loss contributes considerably to global greenhouse gas emissions and resource waste, making it an environmental problem in addition to a humanitarian and economic one. Conventional quality inspections are costly, time-consuming, and subjective. By replacing manual lab testing with patented AI technologies that offer immediate, on-the-spot assessments, AgNext tackles this issue and builds trust throughout the food supply chain.
Strategic Collaboration for Web3-Driven Innovation
Stefan Deiss, Co-Founder and CEO of The Hashgraph Group, emphasized the significance of the partnership: “Our mission is to empower real-world innovation using Hedera’s enterprise-grade capabilities. With AgNext, we see an incredible opportunity to combine AI and DLT to reshape the agri-tech landscape with scalable, Web3-enabled solutions.”
New Joint Venture in Switzerland to Power Global Expansion
The collaboration will also launch a joint venture in Switzerland, focused on delivering co-branded, Hedera-integrated embedded devices to clients worldwide. These devices will form the foundation of a new generation of smart, secure, and fully traceable food systems.
A Shared Vision for Transparent, Scalable AgriTech
Anindya Roychowdhury, Head of Global Partnerships at THG, added: “AgNext’s rapid growth and vision for the future align perfectly with our goals. Together, we’ll harness the power of Hedera’s carbon-negative, quantum-resistant infrastructure to bring trust, speed, and sustainability to global agriculture.”
Hedera’s Leading Role in Enterprise-Grade Blockchain
Governed by a council of more than 30 global organizations—including Google, IBM, Dell, TATA, and EDF—Hedera sets itself apart with its unique Hashgraph consensus algorithm, offering unparalleled performance, energy efficiency, and cost predictability.
Forging the Future of Food Supply Chains
AgNext and The Hashgraph Group’s collaboration marks a revolutionary advancement in agri-tech by fusing blockchain technology with state-of-the-art artificial intelligence to create future food systems that are safer, smarter, and more sustainable.
