U.S. venture capital firm SVG Partners has announced that Sun World Innovations has joined its THRIVE program as a corporate partner, in a mission to advance agriculture technologies globally. 

The agriculture technology and licensing arm of California-based fruit grower and marketer Sun World International joins Verizon, JV Smith, Land O’Lakes, Driscoll’s Berries, Taylor Farms, Wells Fargo, Western Growers Association, the City of Salinas, Panasonic, Yamaha Motor Ventures, and PMA in the program.

The partnership signifies the company’s long-term commitment to nurturing emerging agriculture technology startups and advancing new technologies in the specialty crop sector, according to a release.

Sun World Innovations is currently exploring technologies in crop input, water, harvest and labor efficiencies, along with plant breeding.

In order to accelerate solutions aimed at challenges faced by the agriculture sector, the entity will work together with SVG Partners’ THRIVE program "to identify cutting edge technologies and harness its own extensive horticultural expertise and international licensee platform with growers and marketers globally."

"We believe that emerging agriculture technologies will become even more vital to permanent specialty crop agriculture," Sun World Innovations president David Marguleas said.

"We're excited about our new affiliation with THRIVE and believe that its dynamic platform is both timely and uniquely suited to helping us and others nurture and support relevant tech start-ups."

SVG Partners and THRIVE founder John Hartnett said the company was "delighted" to welcome Sun World Innovations.

“They join an elite group of world class partners as we continue to strengthen the platform and revolutionize the future of agriculture," he said.

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