AgLaunch envisions a transformed regional agriculture and food economy centered around farmers, innovation, and equity. AgLaunch attracts, creates, and grows agtech startups, facilitates the development of new agriculture and food value-chains, and builds collaborative farmer networks, with a commitment to intentional inclusion. We focus on attracting, starting, growing, and supporting new agriculture companies and initiatives to revitalize our rural and urban communities and create new pathways for diversity. Now is the time to support business development, mentor diverse young talent, and find new approaches to farming.

AgLaunch Accelerator

Founded in 2007 by the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, Innova is a pre-seed, seed and early-stage investor focused on starting and funding high-growth companies in the Biosciences, Technology and AgBio fields across the state of Tennessee. Innova links capital with great ideas to create groundbreaking products and services.  At Innova we invest in start-up companies, help them grow, and then assist them in linking with established corporations for licensing, buy-outs or further investments. We provide the synergy of experienced management, market expertise and venture capital to accelerate the development of new products and services into viable business units that can stand on their own and then take their place with a mature market leader, if desired.  Whether an innovation is still on the drawing board or stalled in the market place the Innova staff has the expertise, skills, and experience to envision and create a functioning business unit that is prepared to thrive in the market place. Technical know-how, market-proven staffing, and ''just-right'' funding assure the greatest chance possible for success.

Innova Memphis

Prolific Earth Sciences

We are a woman founded and majority owned company in the growing regenerative agriculture market.  We have a product - microBIOMETER(r) that easily and cheaply allows soil stewards to assess the impact of regenerative practices on soil  health.  We believe with more research we can also be a valuable tool in assessing carbon sequestration.

microBIOMETER is an on-site soil testing tool developed by Prolific Earth Sciences to measure microbial biomass and fungal to bacterial ratio in soil samples. The test, which takes approximately 20 minutes to complete, uses a patented method to extract microbes from soil particles. Users mix soil with a proprietary reagent solution, place drops of the mixture on a test card, and scan the card using a smartphone app. The app analyzes the color intensity of the microbes compared to a color comparator on the test card, providing results in micrograms of microbial carbon per gram of soil and fungal to bacterial ratios.

microBIOMETER

Why is microBIOMETER® the best test for soil health?

Testing for Soil Microbes at Home | Microbiometer | RMBA

Microbial Biomass Soil Testing Kits & Equipment USA

test microBIOMETER Starter kit

Technology for a regenerative future in agriculture

Regenerative Agriculture Platforms

microBIOMETER is an on-site soil testing tool developed by Prolific Earth Sciences to measure microbial biomass and fungal to bacterial ratio in soil samples. The test, which takes approximately 20 minutes to complete, uses a patented method to extract microbes from soil particles. Users mix soil with a proprietary reagent solution, place drops of the mixture on a test card, and scan the card using a smartphone app. The app analyzes the color intensity of the microbes compared to a color comparator on the test card, providing results in micrograms of microbial carbon per gram of soil and fungal to bacterial ratios.
The company claims that microBIOMETER is faster, less expensive, and more accurate than traditional laboratory tests, as it allows for immediate testing of soil samples without the risk of microbial die-off during transport. The test has been validated through computerized analysis of microscopic images, showing a 95% correlation with the area of microbes in these images. microBIOMETER is designed to help users assess soil health, monitor the effectiveness of soil management practices, and make informed decisions about fertilizer use and soil amendments.

Croptimal is an Israeli agricultural technology company that provides real-time and accurate testing services for plant tissue, soil, and water directly in the field. The company's innovative solution significantly reduces the time for analysis from the traditional 10 days to just 10-60 minutes, revolutionizing the agricultural testing methodology. Croptimal's technology is based on Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) spectroscopy, which it adapted for precision agriculture applications. The company offers a comprehensive service that includes sample collection, preparation, analysis, and agronomist-reviewed recommendations, all delivered to farmers within a day. This rapid turnaround enables farmers to make timely decisions on fertilizer application and crop management.
Croptimal's service aims to optimize crop nutrition by analyzing macro and micro elements in plant tissues, soil, and water. The company employs an automated sampling process that follows a strict protocol, ensuring consistency and eliminating human error. The collected samples are tested in either mobile or regular laboratories, with all data sent to a cloud database. This database also incorporates meteorological information from local weather stations. An algorithm then correlates weather and fertilizer data to produce customized protocols adapted to the grower, region, and local conditions.
Key customers and partnerships
Croptimal works directly with farmers, offering seasonal agreements that cover sampling and testing frequency, types of tests, and precise sampling locations. The company has partnered with Netafim, a global leader in irrigation solutions, recognizing the potential benefits for growers worldwide. Croptimal's services are particularly valuable for farmers dealing with unstable weather conditions and rising production costs, as it allows them to calculate optimal fertilizer quantities and timing based on accurate, real-time data.

Croptimal

Regen Farmer specializes in developing regenerative agroforestry systems. The company engages in various projects aimed at implementing sustainable agricultural practices that combine trees and shrubs with crops or livestock. This approach to farming seeks to enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, and create more resilient ecosystems. Regen Farmer collaborates with a diverse range of clients to design and implement these agroforestry systems, tailoring their solutions to meet specific needs and environmental conditions. The company's work contributes to the growing field of regenerative agriculture, which focuses on restoring and improving the natural resources used in farming while maintaining productive agricultural systems.

Regen Farmer

SmartCloudFarming is a company that provides advanced soil intelligence services to agricultural businesses worldwide. The company utilizes artificial intelligence and machine learning to create detailed 3D soil maps, offering insights up to 30 cm deep. These maps include comprehensive information on minerals, soil organic carbon, and texture. SmartCloudFarming's technology allows for accurate carbon stock measurement at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional soil lab alternatives, reportedly at just 0.1% of the price per hectare. The company offers two main solutions: LAIM for local analysis and GEAIM for global analysis, both capable of providing soil perspectives within 24 hours, depending on the location and area fragmentation. In addition to soil mapping, SmartCloudFarming's services include retrospective organic soil carbon analysis and site-specific analytics. The company's technology enables farms to optimize pesticide application, adjust crop distribution, and create customized fertilizer plans. SmartCloudFarming was founded in early 2019 by plant biotechnologist Michele Bandecchi, with the aim of revolutionizing sustainable farming and soil intelligence. The company has since developed and patented deep-learning models that form the core of its services. Looking ahead, SmartCloudFarming plans to expand its product offerings to include crop yield forecasting and soil biodiversity analysis, with the broader goal of enhancing agricultural supply and ensuring food security.

SmartCloudFarming

Teralytic offers a technology platform for farmers to obtain detailed soil quality data through a single probe. The company's device is equipped with 26 sensors that provide information on soil moisture, salinity, and NPK (nitrogen/phosphorus/potassium) levels at three different depths. Additionally, the probe measures aeration, respiration, air temperature, light, and humidity. As of January 2022, the company aimed to consolidate its offerings into a single device capable of adapting to changing requirements.

Teralytic

Agrology is a Predictive Agriculture technology company that offers a comprehensive platform to help farmers monitor and manage various aspects of their agricultural operations. The company's flagship product, the Agrology Platform, utilizes machine learning to provide real-time data and insights on soil carbon, smoke taint, drought, irrigation optimization, nanoclimate threats from extreme weather, and pest and disease outbreaks. In March 2023, Agrology launched the Arbiter Carbon Monitoring System, which continuously monitors and quantifies soil carbon flux for farmers. This system allows growers to track soil carbon sequestration, soil composition changes, and receive alerts for significant soil or atmospheric events that impact carbon levels. The Agrology platform also covers other critical areas such as heat waves, soil health, regenerative practices, and greenhouse gas monitoring. The company emphasizes ease of use, with sensor nodes that can be installed in under 10 minutes and data accessible via a mobile app. Agrology operates on a subscription-based model, which includes installation and warranty replacement of sensors, real-time monitoring, and secure data access. As of March 2023, the Arbiter Carbon Monitoring System subscription started at around USD 600 per month. Agrology is structured as a Public Benefit Corporation, with a mission to advance equality in agriculture, reduce environmental impact, and secure the global food supply in the face of climate change.
Key customers and partnerships
Agrology's customer base includes several prominent names in the agriculture and wine industry. Braga Fresh, a leading organic grower, announced in March 2023 that they were using the Agrology Arbiter System to track and quantify soil carbon in real time, having installed it in July 2022 as part of a regenerative trial program. Additionally, Silver Oak and Emeritus Vineyards were reported to be trialing the Arbiter system at that time.

Agrology

Platforms using IoT devices and machine-learning algorithms to measure and analyze soil carbon levels

Platforms using IoT devices and machine-learning algorithms to measure and analyze other key soil parameters, such as fertility, moisture content, temperature, and nutrient concentrations

Platforms providing farm planning, landscape designing, and consultation services to create awareness of the transition to regenerative agriculture

Platforms using AI and machine learning to monitor regenerative practices such as cover cropping, crop rotation, and no-till operations. Certain platforms also support farmers financially via carbon credits to adopt regenerative practices

Platforms supporting the process of promoting soil health through soil carbon removal (soil carbon sequestration) via photosynthesis or by employing live microalgae

Platforms connecting farmers, investors, resource providers, and other stakeholders related to regenerative agriculture

Regenerative agriculture platforms use AI and ML for soil analytics

IoT-enabled sensors are used in for soil analysis

Uses data analytics and sensors and related technologies to provide soil insights

Provides solutions to maximize efficiency in regenerative agriculture value chain

microBIOMETER

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