EarthOptics

EarthOptics is a next-generation soil mapping and measurement company that has developed a comprehensive soil intelligence platform called SoilMapper. The company specializes in providing detailed soil data for farmers and ranchers, enabling them to make informed decisions about their land management practices. EarthOptics' technology integrates remote sensing, machine learning, and conventional soil sampling methods to create high-resolution field maps that offer insights on soil compaction, carbon content, nutrient levels, and moisture.

The company's flagship product, TillMapper, measures agricultural compaction and informs custom tillage prescriptions when combined with the SoilMapper interface. Other key technologies include CMapper for high-resolution carbon and organic content mapping, and NutrientMapper for precise elemental analysis and soil health measurement. These tools provide detailed information on soil attributes such as potassium, pH, nitrogen, and phosphorus. EarthOptics also utilizes a multi-modal electromagnetic soil density measurement system called GroundOwl, which captures soil data at a rate of 16 data points per second.

As of January 2024, EarthOptics had mapped and physically measured one million acres of farmland and ranchland across four continents and 45 US states. The company was processing 10,000 physical soil samples daily and measuring and mapping 100,000 acres each month. EarthOptics had also tallied 300,000 tons of sequestered carbon, positioning itself as a leading carbon measurement company for grassland and rangeland acreage. The company's extensive data collection has allowed it to improve efficiency and reduce the number of physical samples required by a factor of five, while maintaining accuracy through its machine learning system.

EarthOptics, founded in 2018, operates with offices in Raleigh, North Carolina; Arlington and Blacksburg, Virginia; Greater Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Fayetteville, Arkansas. The company's technology aims to advance regenerative agriculture practices by providing comprehensive soil data that helps land owners reduce operational costs, nurture land sustainably, and increase carbon capture.