National Science Foundation

Brightwater Tools, headquartered in Vermont, is a woman-led startup specializing in sustainable sanitation solutions. The company has developed a unique, building-scale wastewater nutrient recovery system that transforms high-strength wastewater into natural, nutrient-rich fertilizer. This process not only reduces harmful algal blooms by minimizing nutrient discharge into waterways but also promotes a circular economy by recycling valuable resources. Brightwater Tools' system comprises three proprietary pieces of equipment, each facilitating key wastewater processes and available for individual or combined sale. The company aims to become a significant equipment provider in this industry, with a strong customer base expected as it completes prototype and beta testing.

Agrology is an agricultural technology company that provides real-time data and predictive insights to help growers measure and improve the ecological and agronomic effects of regenerative and sustainable farming practices. The company tracks soil health, microbial activity, carbon cycles, nitrous oxide emissions, net ecosystem exchange, and microclimatic conditions to help growers link regenerative practices to verified greenhouse gas reductions and ecological benefits, support soil carbon sequestration, and generate carbon credits. Its system is designed to help farmers resist and adapt to climate change while monitoring greenhouse gases and informing sustainable farming decisions.

Clemson University is a land-grant institution in Clemson, South Carolina, established in 1889. It offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs and emphasizes education and research, fostering innovation and preparing students for successful futures. Faculty and students engage in projects related to agriculture, education, and social issues, contributing to industries such as education, agriculture, and community development.

OmniVis is a biotechnology company specializing in pathogen detection. It offers an integrated portable platform that rapidly and accurately identifies pathogens in various environments, reducing the need for labor-intensive lab testing.

Brightwater Tools, headquartered in Vermont, is a woman-led startup specializing in sustainable sanitation solutions. The company has developed a unique, building-scale wastewater nutrient recovery system that transforms high-strength wastewater into natural, nutrient-rich fertilizer. This process not only reduces harmful algal blooms by minimizing nutrient discharge into waterways but also promotes a circular economy by recycling valuable resources. Brightwater Tools' system comprises three proprietary pieces of equipment, each facilitating key wastewater processes and available for individual or combined sale. The company aims to become a significant equipment provider in this industry, with a strong customer base expected as it completes prototype and beta testing.

Uniphage is a biotechnology company specializing in the development of safer and more efficient alternatives to traditional pesticides in plant agriculture. It leverages artificial intelligence and bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) to predict and combat specific bacterial infections. The company's primary focus is on citrus greening, a devastating disease costing the U.S. over $2 billion annually. By employing AI algorithms, Uniphage accelerates the discovery of effective and safe bacterial viruses, aiming to reduce the use of harmful fungicides, bactericides, and antibiotics, thereby minimizing risks to human health and the environment.

Yard Stick develops a handheld device that measures soil carbon levels in real-time. This enables evidence-based regenerative farming practices, improving soil health, increasing farmer income, and combating climate change by sequestering carbon.

Hardshell Labs focuses on developing innovative, internet-controlled devices aimed at environmental conservation and wildlife protection. The company creates a network of remotely operable, artificial intelligence-enhanced rovers designed to deter bird pests from agricultural crops and various facilities, thereby minimizing avian damage. These devices are particularly valuable in protecting crops from ravens and crows, as well as in mitigating infestations at landfills and composting sites. Hardshell Labs also conducts predation research on endangered juvenile desert tortoises, assessing threats posed by avian predators, and engages in laser research for agricultural applications. Through these initiatives, the company provides humane and commercially viable solutions to wildlife management challenges, supporting both environmental conservation and agricultural productivity.

Lepidext is a company based in Lexington, Kentucky, founded in 2015 by Angelika Fath-Goodin and Bruce Webb. It specializes in pest control technology aimed at managing Lepidoptera populations, particularly targeting pests like the corn earworm. The company develops bio-pesticides that are species-specific, safe, and effective, providing an alternative to genetically modified plants and chemical pesticides. By leveraging a deep understanding of insect biology and collaborating closely with farmers, Lepidext seeks to enhance crop security and promote agricultural prosperity. Its innovative approach allows for improved pest management strategies, benefiting farmers and contributing to sustainable agricultural practices.

Farther Farms is a food company focused on sustainable produce and innovative preservation. It provides locally sourced, organic, non-GMO fruits and vegetables and uses technology to improve environmental impact and flavor. The company also develops shelf-stable alternatives to traditionally frozen foods by applying high-pressure processing with dense carbon dioxide at moderate temperatures, a method designed to prevent spoilage without preservatives, chemicals, or genetic modification. This approach aims to reduce costs across the food system, including processing, distribution, and retail, while ensuring convenient, high-quality products for consumers.

Coreless Technologies specializes in the design and manufacture of hollow metal nanoparticles aimed at improving the performance of nano-enabled devices. The company utilizes a continuous flow process to produce these nanoparticles, allowing for precise control over their size, shape, and optical properties. This technology is particularly beneficial for military applications in potentially contaminated areas, providing essential support in environments with limited healthcare access. Additionally, Coreless Technologies' innovations extend to agricultural sectors, where they facilitate the detection of plant-based diseases, thereby enhancing overall farming efficiency and safety.

FrostDefense, founded in 2018 and based in Champaign, Illinois, specializes in developing innovative frost protection solutions. The company focuses on creating environmentally friendly biofertilizers and patented sprayable compounds designed to combat early spring frost, particularly in vineyards and specialty fruit crops. By offering these frost protection products, FrostDefense aims to help vineyard owners prevent frost damage, thereby enhancing crop yield and improving labor management and mechanized farming operations.

RanchCheck is a technology company that specializes in developing sensor equipment aimed at enhancing ranch management. Its innovative solutions focus on tank monitoring and pump control, allowing ranchers to conserve water and fuel while saving time and reducing vehicle maintenance. By enabling the early detection of water-related issues, RanchCheck's technology provides ranchers with greater peace of mind. This remote monitoring capability facilitates effective oversight of ranch activities and resources, ultimately supporting the efficient operation of ranching enterprises.

FarmSense provides an agricultural pest monitoring platform that uses smart insect traps with optical sensors and real-time analytics. The system employs a patented algorithm to capture flying insect signals in the field, classify pests, and transmit categorized data alongside environmental information. This enables early detection and informed pest-control decisions, supporting reduced pesticide use and improved crop yields while lowering labor requirements.

Spekciton Biosciences specializes in biophotonic measurement systems and services aimed at enhancing agricultural performance and sustainability. The company develops innovative technologies that enable the rapid and precise detection of plant stress and viability, providing farmers with essential insights for improving crop management. Additionally, Spekciton offers biosensors designed to quickly identify soil and water contamination, supporting environmental health and agricultural productivity. Through its advanced measurement solutions, the company contributes to a better understanding of bioprocesses, ultimately aiding in the cultivation of resilient and sustainable crops.

Labby Inc. is a technology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializing in smartphone-based optical spectrometry for agricultural applications. Founded in 2017, Labby develops an artificial intelligence-driven platform that translates raw optical data into actionable insights, primarily for farmers and dairy processors. Its flagship product allows for rapid and precise testing of milk composition, facilitating early mastitis detection and enabling timely intervention. Additionally, Labby's technology is applicable across various sectors, including the detection of spoilage, adulterants, and contamination in the supply chain, as well as providing analytics for tracking harvest cycles and meteorological data mapping. The company also caters to the beer and wine industries, offering portable testing devices for quality control and counterfeit detection, serving a diverse clientele that ranges from large breweries to homebrewers.

AgroSpheres, LLC is a biotechnology company based in Charlottesville, Virginia, that specializes in innovative pesticide delivery technologies for the agriculture industry. Founded in 2016, AgroSpheres develops engineered bio-particles designed to deliver pesticide-degrading enzymes, which help to minimize waiting periods between pesticide application and harvest. The company employs a unique platform technology that enhances the performance of various crop protection products, including fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides. By utilizing bioengineering and industrial fermentation techniques, AgroSpheres creates biodegradable encapsulation solutions that aim to reduce harmful pesticide residues on plants, ultimately promoting healthier agricultural practices and improving the overall well-being of crops.

Biko Biolabs is a research company founded in 2020 in Somerville, Massachusetts, that explores the intersection of plastic waste and regenerative agriculture. The organization develops biodegradable alternatives to non‑recyclable plastics, investigates the environmental impact of microplastics, and employs fungi‑based processes to upcycle textile waste. Its work supports circular economy practices and seeks to enhance sustainability and self‑sufficiency for traditionally marginalized communities.

Tender Food is a startup developing plant-based and cultured meat alternatives. Founded by Harvard researchers, they use novel technology to spin plant proteins into fibrous structures resembling real meat's texture.

Eden Concepts is a precision agriculture technology development and consulting firm based in Lenoir City, Tennessee, established in 2018. The company focuses on enhancing farm productivity for small-scale farmers by developing innovative agricultural technologies tailored for vegetables and specialty crops. Its precision systems are designed to prepare and plant germinated seeds, replacing the traditional methods of growing and transplanting seedlings. By improving soil health and offering greater flexibility in crop selection, Eden Concepts aims to streamline farming operations, helping farmers reduce labor costs and energy consumption.

Founded in 2016, Amber Agriculture develops IoT-based sensor solutions for automated grain storage monitoring and management. Its technology helps farmers protect and optimize their crops, reducing waste and enabling better market timing.

CelluDot is a biotechnology company developing innovative suspension and emulsion technologies. Its core platform aims to tackle agrochemical drift, offering farmers an affordable and effective adjuvant that minimizes vapor and particle drift of herbicides like dicamba.

SoilSerdem is a data-driven agricultural technology company that develops high-resolution soil fertility maps using an optimized soil sampling method and machine learning with remotely sensed data. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Ames, Iowa, the company provides turnkey, scalable informatics that generate fine-resolution soil maps to support farmers and agronomists in precise, profitable, and sustainable farm management. Its maps integrate laboratory and field measurements with satellite and other remote sensing data to address core map creation needs, enabling automated workflows and improved operational efficiency. SoilSerdem focuses on turning soil data into actionable insights for crop management and soil health, helping users optimize input use and make informed decisions at the field level.

AgraFilms is a biotechnology company focused on mitigating crop loss through sustainable, natural solutions. Founded in 2019 and based in Madison, Wisconsin, the company develops biocontrol approaches that utilize amoebic biocontrol to promote crop health and reduce the need for synthetic antibiotics and pesticides. Its technology aims to prevent the spread of agricultural diseases and to protect crops by offering an all-natural method to address environmental and health challenges associated with crop damage, delivering long-term solutions for farmers.

Pomodyne is a technology company founded in 2019 and based in Mountain View, California, focused on revolutionizing fruit crop cultivation. By leveraging plant biotechnology and controlled environment agriculture, Pomodyne aims to tackle critical issues such as climate change, food safety, and food security. The company's innovative approach seeks to transform agricultural practices, enabling a more sustainable and efficient cultivation of fruit crops. Through its advancements, Pomodyne aspires to contribute significantly to the future of the agriculture industry.

Benchmark Labs is a San Francisco-based company specializing in AI-driven weather forecasting systems tailored for the agricultural sector and other industries. The firm provides asset-specific weather information that enhances operational efficiency and infrastructure reliability amidst changing weather conditions. By utilizing IoT sensor technology, Benchmark Labs delivers accurate forecasts that are essential for optimizing renewable energy generation and managing water resources. Its innovative platform enables clients to navigate weather variability effectively, ensuring smoother operations across various applications.

OmniVis is a biotechnology company specializing in pathogen detection. It offers an integrated portable platform that rapidly and accurately identifies pathogens in various environments, reducing the need for labor-intensive lab testing.

GreenSight develops a commercial drone platform for autonomous data collection. Its full-stack product combines custom hardware, software, advanced sensors, and data analytics to provide actionable insights in agriculture, energy, construction, and infrastructure sectors. The company initially focused on the golf course industry, offering daily agricultural analytics services and labor management solutions.

Aspiring Universe offers geospatial intelligence to enhance agricultural businesses.

Founded in 2017, TRIC Robotics develops autonomous robotic technology for agricultural applications. Its primary focus is on creating a non-chemical pesticide alternative for strawberry farms.

Tortuga AgTech specializes in agricultural automation, using robotics and AI to perform labor-intensive tasks such as harvesting. Their mission is to enhance farming methods for a healthier society and ecosystem by enabling growers to produce better, more sustainable crops.

BENANOVA develops safer antimicrobial products and eco-friendly materials for disinfectant, cosmetic, agricultural, and textile applications. Its Environmentally-benign Nanoparticles provide high efficacy with a degradable design, offering environmentally friendly replacements for silver nanoparticle antimicrobials and the potential to reduce chemical use in crop protection by up to 90%. The company also uses lignin-based, biodegradable materials from bio-renewable sources to support sustainable agriculture and specialty textiles, combining strong performance with reduced environmental impact.

Theion Agriculture develops fertilizer additives to accelerate the growth of leafy greens grown in indoor farms worldwide. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Iowa City, Iowa, the company’s additives can be applied to a range of crops, including leafy greens, legumes, and maize, enabling farmers to improve crop yields.

FloraPulse develops precision irrigation technology for orchards and vineyards, based on patented microsensors and stem water potential measurements. The company offers a micro tensiometer system that directly measures plant water status in fruit and nut crops, delivering daily readings and science-based irrigation recommendations. Originating from researchers at Cornell University with decades of experience, FloraPulse helps growers increase productivity, reduce costs, and better manage risk by optimizing water use. The solution provides farmers with continuous field insights and weekly reports on water stress history to fine-tune irrigation strategies and improve crop health and yield.

Combplex employs remote monitoring technology to deliver digital agriculture and big data benefits to commercial beekeepers. Its laser-based mite control system alerts beekeepers to colony issues, enabling them to prioritize care for affected colonies.

Kalion is an industrial biotechnology company focused on producing glucaric acid and S-3 hydroxybutyrolactone (3-HBL) from renewable feedstocks via traditional, green fermentation using microbes developed with proprietary synthetic biology techniques. Based in Milton, Massachusetts, the company targets chemicals for industrial, material, and pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications, enabling customers to replace oil-based materials with purer, bio-based inputs. Kalion was established in 2010 and operates to scale sustainable fermentation processes that convert renewable resources into valuable specialty chemicals.

Plastomics is a biotechnology company focused on chloroplast genetic engineering to enhance crop yields and nutritional quality. Its technology platform enables precise insertion of beneficial traits into chloroplasts, reducing cross-pollination and shortening breeding timelines. The company employs gene stacking and rapid breeding approaches to develop biotech crops with a broader set of traits, addressing industry challenges in seed development. Plastomics' approach is applicable across multiple crops and trait areas, supporting commercial trait expression while aiming to lower production costs. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri.

OmniVis is a biotechnology company specializing in pathogen detection. It offers an integrated portable platform that rapidly and accurately identifies pathogens in various environments, reducing the need for labor-intensive lab testing.

Innatrix is an agricultural biotechnology company focused on developing innovative biological and chemical solutions to address crop diseases, pests, and weeds that are otherwise difficult to manage. Utilizing patented protein evolution technology, the company has established a peptide and RNA interference delivery platform that offers eco-friendly alternatives for crop protection. Innatrix's proprietary automated platform facilitates protein engineering through continuous laboratory evolution and advanced techniques such as phage display. This technology empowers researchers with enhanced control, reporting, recording, simulation, and remote access capabilities, thereby advancing the field of agricultural biotechnology and promoting sustainable farming practices.

Capro-X is an ag-tech company focused on sustainability in the dairy industry. It develops fermentation bioprocess technology to convert acid whey, a dairy waste stream, into valuable products such as bio-oils, biofuels, and bioplastics, while producing clean water. The WheyAway treatment uses naturally occurring, non-GMO microbes to upgrade dairy waste on site at the point of generation. By upcycling acid from dairy waste, Capro-X helps dairy producers reduce waste and improve sustainability and yield over time. Founded in 2017 and based in Ithaca, New York, Capro-X serves dairy processors seeking to turn waste streams into value.

EarthSense develops autonomous agricultural robotics and AI software to improve farming productivity and sustainability. Its flagship TerraSentia robot is a compact, teachable platform that integrates on-board computation and multiple sensors for plant phenotyping and field data collection. The company offers an extensible platform that enables data-driven crop development, field scouting, and decision support to address labor shortages, weather variability, and the need to reduce chemical inputs. The platform gathers under-canopy data to support product development, crop research, and precision agriculture, helping growers obtain actionable insights, monitor weed pressures including herbicide resistance, and optimize management practices. EarthSense emphasizes a climate-smart approach by enabling more efficient use of inputs, improving soil and plant health, and facilitating scalable innovation in farming. The company is based in Champaign, Illinois.

Brightwater Tools, headquartered in Vermont, is a woman-led startup specializing in sustainable sanitation solutions. The company has developed a unique, building-scale wastewater nutrient recovery system that transforms high-strength wastewater into natural, nutrient-rich fertilizer. This process not only reduces harmful algal blooms by minimizing nutrient discharge into waterways but also promotes a circular economy by recycling valuable resources. Brightwater Tools' system comprises three proprietary pieces of equipment, each facilitating key wastewater processes and available for individual or combined sale. The company aims to become a significant equipment provider in this industry, with a strong customer base expected as it completes prototype and beta testing.

PhylloTech is a biotechnology company focused on producing difficult-to-manufacture proteins and antibodies using a continuous plant expression system based on Nicotiana tabacum. This innovative method allows proteins to be secreted onto the leaf surfaces, where they can be efficiently recovered through a simple washing process with an extraction buffer, thereby eliminating the need for extensive purification. This approach significantly lowers production costs and facilitates rapid scalability, enabling the output of target proteins from tens of thousands of plants. The company's environmentally-friendly system requires only light, water, and fertilizer, making it suitable for cultivation in greenhouses or fields using existing agricultural practices. Additionally, PhylloTech is developing solutions to combat plant diseases by utilizing enzymes to manage bacterial pathogens, which may enhance crop yields and provide alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Through these technologies, PhylloTech aims to contribute to sustainable agriculture by producing high-quality proteins in a renewable manner.

FarmSense provides an agricultural pest monitoring platform that uses smart insect traps with optical sensors and real-time analytics. The system employs a patented algorithm to capture flying insect signals in the field, classify pests, and transmit categorized data alongside environmental information. This enables early detection and informed pest-control decisions, supporting reduced pesticide use and improved crop yields while lowering labor requirements.

EarthSense develops autonomous agricultural robotics and AI software to improve farming productivity and sustainability. Its flagship TerraSentia robot is a compact, teachable platform that integrates on-board computation and multiple sensors for plant phenotyping and field data collection. The company offers an extensible platform that enables data-driven crop development, field scouting, and decision support to address labor shortages, weather variability, and the need to reduce chemical inputs. The platform gathers under-canopy data to support product development, crop research, and precision agriculture, helping growers obtain actionable insights, monitor weed pressures including herbicide resistance, and optimize management practices. EarthSense emphasizes a climate-smart approach by enabling more efficient use of inputs, improving soil and plant health, and facilitating scalable innovation in farming. The company is based in Champaign, Illinois.

BENANOVA develops safer antimicrobial products and eco-friendly materials for disinfectant, cosmetic, agricultural, and textile applications. Its Environmentally-benign Nanoparticles provide high efficacy with a degradable design, offering environmentally friendly replacements for silver nanoparticle antimicrobials and the potential to reduce chemical use in crop protection by up to 90%. The company also uses lignin-based, biodegradable materials from bio-renewable sources to support sustainable agriculture and specialty textiles, combining strong performance with reduced environmental impact.

OmniVis is a biotechnology company specializing in pathogen detection. It offers an integrated portable platform that rapidly and accurately identifies pathogens in various environments, reducing the need for labor-intensive lab testing.

Root AI, Inc. is a Woburn, Massachusetts-based company that develops artificial intelligence-powered robots specifically designed for indoor farming. Founded in 2018 by Joshua Lessing and Ryan Knopf, Root AI focuses on creating intelligent robotics that assist growers in building advanced agricultural systems. The company’s flagship product, the Virgo 1, is an autonomous robot capable of harvesting tomatoes without causing bruising and is equipped with advanced vision systems to better assess ripeness than human workers. Root AI aims to enhance efficiency in indoor farming, enabling growers to produce high-quality, chemical-free produce while optimizing operational processes.

S4 Mobile Laboratories operates mobile soil laboratories that automate real-time detection, analysis, and 3D mapping of chemical signatures underground. These labs collect data globally, offering accurate on-site analysis without the need for lab work, reducing costs and delays. Their primary goal is to enhance methods for promoting healthy soils and increasing carbon sequestration, thereby aiding in atmospheric carbon dioxide reduction. This service benefits the agricultural community by providing quick, affordable measurements of soil organic carbon.

FrostDefense, founded in 2018 and based in Champaign, Illinois, specializes in developing innovative frost protection solutions. The company focuses on creating environmentally friendly biofertilizers and patented sprayable compounds designed to combat early spring frost, particularly in vineyards and specialty fruit crops. By offering these frost protection products, FrostDefense aims to help vineyard owners prevent frost damage, thereby enhancing crop yield and improving labor management and mechanized farming operations.

FarmSense provides an agricultural pest monitoring platform that uses smart insect traps with optical sensors and real-time analytics. The system employs a patented algorithm to capture flying insect signals in the field, classify pests, and transmit categorized data alongside environmental information. This enables early detection and informed pest-control decisions, supporting reduced pesticide use and improved crop yields while lowering labor requirements.

Coreless Technologies specializes in the design and manufacture of hollow metal nanoparticles aimed at improving the performance of nano-enabled devices. The company utilizes a continuous flow process to produce these nanoparticles, allowing for precise control over their size, shape, and optical properties. This technology is particularly beneficial for military applications in potentially contaminated areas, providing essential support in environments with limited healthcare access. Additionally, Coreless Technologies' innovations extend to agricultural sectors, where they facilitate the detection of plant-based diseases, thereby enhancing overall farming efficiency and safety.

Farm Vision Technologies is a startup focusing on development and commercialization of computer vision systems to enable growers of high value crops — such as fruits, berries, and nuts — to monitor the count, size and health of their plants.

NutraMaize is an Indiana-based AgBioScience company specializing in the commercialization of a non-GMO corn variety that is both more nutritious and better tasting. Its proprietary corn possesses a deep orange color due to its high carotenoid content, offering consumers potential health benefits such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

EnGeniousAg is a manufacturer specializing in the production of innovative soil and water management solutions. The company develops and deploys low-cost, field-based nutrient sensors, providing real-time, instant readout measurements to enhance agronomic management practices. By offering these technologies, EnGeniousAg aims to increase grower profitability and sustainability, while minimizing environmental impact.

AgroSpheres, LLC is a biotechnology company based in Charlottesville, Virginia, that specializes in innovative pesticide delivery technologies for the agriculture industry. Founded in 2016, AgroSpheres develops engineered bio-particles designed to deliver pesticide-degrading enzymes, which help to minimize waiting periods between pesticide application and harvest. The company employs a unique platform technology that enhances the performance of various crop protection products, including fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides. By utilizing bioengineering and industrial fermentation techniques, AgroSpheres creates biodegradable encapsulation solutions that aim to reduce harmful pesticide residues on plants, ultimately promoting healthier agricultural practices and improving the overall well-being of crops.

WISRAN specializes in smart data and process management technology focused on real-time water measurement and management. The company develops a cloud-enabled software platform that collects data from various equipment, such as pumps, to provide insights into operations and business intelligence. This technology serves smart cities, equipment manufacturers, utilities, and regulators, aiming to enhance efficiency, identify new revenue opportunities, and reduce costs. Additionally, WISRAN offers a SaaS-based agtech platform that utilizes tablets equipped with accelerometers and GPS for agricultural equipment. This feature allows farmers to gather telematics data, ultimately improving worker productivity and optimizing agricultural machinery logistics.

Integrative Economics develops instrument designs for optical insect detection in agricultural settings. The company was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.

Insight Sensing is a company that specializes in remote sensing technology for agriculture. It develops systems that provide crop performance indicators, enabling agronomists and farming businesses to effectively manage field variability. The technology delivers calibrated, timely, map-based, and actionable information, which assists in the optimal application of fertilizer. By leveraging data-driven insights, Insight Sensing aims to enhance crop management practices, ultimately helping farmers maximize their profitability.

NanoSUR, headquartered in Miami, Florida, is a biotechnology company specializing in the development and commercialization of innovative, eco-friendly crop protection solutions. The company's core product line is based on RNA technology, aiming to minimize environmental impact while ensuring effective crop cultivation for farmers.

N-Sense develops a real-time soil nitrate sensor system attachable to farm implements. This enables farmers to accurately measure nitrates, facilitating precise application of nitrogen fertilizers, enhancing farm profitability, and reducing environmental impact from excessive fertilizer use.

Agrology is an agricultural technology company that provides real-time data and predictive insights to help growers measure and improve the ecological and agronomic effects of regenerative and sustainable farming practices. The company tracks soil health, microbial activity, carbon cycles, nitrous oxide emissions, net ecosystem exchange, and microclimatic conditions to help growers link regenerative practices to verified greenhouse gas reductions and ecological benefits, support soil carbon sequestration, and generate carbon credits. Its system is designed to help farmers resist and adapt to climate change while monitoring greenhouse gases and informing sustainable farming decisions.

FarmSense provides an agricultural pest monitoring platform that uses smart insect traps with optical sensors and real-time analytics. The system employs a patented algorithm to capture flying insect signals in the field, classify pests, and transmit categorized data alongside environmental information. This enables early detection and informed pest-control decisions, supporting reduced pesticide use and improved crop yields while lowering labor requirements.

Tortuga AgTech specializes in agricultural automation, using robotics and AI to perform labor-intensive tasks such as harvesting. Their mission is to enhance farming methods for a healthier society and ecosystem by enabling growers to produce better, more sustainable crops.

Root AI, Inc. is a Woburn, Massachusetts-based company that develops artificial intelligence-powered robots specifically designed for indoor farming. Founded in 2018 by Joshua Lessing and Ryan Knopf, Root AI focuses on creating intelligent robotics that assist growers in building advanced agricultural systems. The company’s flagship product, the Virgo 1, is an autonomous robot capable of harvesting tomatoes without causing bruising and is equipped with advanced vision systems to better assess ripeness than human workers. Root AI aims to enhance efficiency in indoor farming, enabling growers to produce high-quality, chemical-free produce while optimizing operational processes.

Clemson University is a land-grant institution in Clemson, South Carolina, established in 1889. It offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs and emphasizes education and research, fostering innovation and preparing students for successful futures. Faculty and students engage in projects related to agriculture, education, and social issues, contributing to industries such as education, agriculture, and community development.

Founded in 2013, Harvest CROO specializes in developing AI-driven robotic systems for autonomous harvesting in agriculture. Headquartered in Plant City, Florida, the company aims to address labor shortages by automating pick-to-pack processes, offering real-time monitoring and analytics tools to optimize operations.

Farther Farms is a food company focused on sustainable produce and innovative preservation. It provides locally sourced, organic, non-GMO fruits and vegetables and uses technology to improve environmental impact and flavor. The company also develops shelf-stable alternatives to traditionally frozen foods by applying high-pressure processing with dense carbon dioxide at moderate temperatures, a method designed to prevent spoilage without preservatives, chemicals, or genetic modification. This approach aims to reduce costs across the food system, including processing, distribution, and retail, while ensuring convenient, high-quality products for consumers.

EarthSense develops autonomous agricultural robotics and AI software to improve farming productivity and sustainability. Its flagship TerraSentia robot is a compact, teachable platform that integrates on-board computation and multiple sensors for plant phenotyping and field data collection. The company offers an extensible platform that enables data-driven crop development, field scouting, and decision support to address labor shortages, weather variability, and the need to reduce chemical inputs. The platform gathers under-canopy data to support product development, crop research, and precision agriculture, helping growers obtain actionable insights, monitor weed pressures including herbicide resistance, and optimize management practices. EarthSense emphasizes a climate-smart approach by enabling more efficient use of inputs, improving soil and plant health, and facilitating scalable innovation in farming. The company is based in Champaign, Illinois.

OmniVis is a biotechnology company specializing in pathogen detection. It offers an integrated portable platform that rapidly and accurately identifies pathogens in various environments, reducing the need for labor-intensive lab testing.

Capro-X is an ag-tech company focused on sustainability in the dairy industry. It develops fermentation bioprocess technology to convert acid whey, a dairy waste stream, into valuable products such as bio-oils, biofuels, and bioplastics, while producing clean water. The WheyAway treatment uses naturally occurring, non-GMO microbes to upgrade dairy waste on site at the point of generation. By upcycling acid from dairy waste, Capro-X helps dairy producers reduce waste and improve sustainability and yield over time. Founded in 2017 and based in Ithaca, New York, Capro-X serves dairy processors seeking to turn waste streams into value.

Founded in 2013, KnipBio develops sustainable biotechnology solutions for animal nutrition. It specializes in creating protein-rich fishmeal replacements, notably KnipBio Meal, to serve the aquaculture industry responsibly.

Founded in 2016, Amber Agriculture develops IoT-based sensor solutions for automated grain storage monitoring and management. Its technology helps farmers protect and optimize their crops, reducing waste and enabling better market timing.

Kalion is an industrial biotechnology company focused on producing glucaric acid and S-3 hydroxybutyrolactone (3-HBL) from renewable feedstocks via traditional, green fermentation using microbes developed with proprietary synthetic biology techniques. Based in Milton, Massachusetts, the company targets chemicals for industrial, material, and pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications, enabling customers to replace oil-based materials with purer, bio-based inputs. Kalion was established in 2010 and operates to scale sustainable fermentation processes that convert renewable resources into valuable specialty chemicals.

Founded in 2013, KnipBio develops sustainable biotechnology solutions for animal nutrition. It specializes in creating protein-rich fishmeal replacements, notably KnipBio Meal, to serve the aquaculture industry responsibly.

BENANOVA develops safer antimicrobial products and eco-friendly materials for disinfectant, cosmetic, agricultural, and textile applications. Its Environmentally-benign Nanoparticles provide high efficacy with a degradable design, offering environmentally friendly replacements for silver nanoparticle antimicrobials and the potential to reduce chemical use in crop protection by up to 90%. The company also uses lignin-based, biodegradable materials from bio-renewable sources to support sustainable agriculture and specialty textiles, combining strong performance with reduced environmental impact.

Harvest Moon Automation specializes in the development of innovative farming equipment aimed at enhancing the precision of plant cultivation. The company’s inspect-and-reject solution integrates machine vision, robotics, and proprietary algorithms to assist traditional harvesters in identifying and rejecting diseased, damaged, and contaminated plants in real time. This technology enables growers to focus on the care of each individual plant, thereby improving overall crop quality. In addition to their product offerings, Harvest Moon Automation provides consulting services to support customers in developing tailored solutions for their specific agricultural needs.

AutoModality Inc. is a company that specializes in developing flight control software for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), enabling them to operate autonomously in environments where GPS signals are unavailable. Founded in 2014 and based in Syracuse, New York, AutoModality manufactures drone platforms that utilize off-the-shelf components to facilitate automated inspections. Their technology is particularly focused on the agriculture and infrastructure sectors, allowing for close-up inspections of structures such as bridges, culverts, rolling stock, and cell towers. The company's advanced navigation software and integrated sensors enable drones to approach inspection sites closely, providing real-time quality streaming from onboard cameras to handheld devices. This capability allows users to gather critical data in challenging locations that are often difficult to access. AutoModality is also recognized for its innovative contributions to the drone industry, exemplified by Team Autero, which won the 2016 DJI SDK Challenge.

VinSense is an Indiana-based company established in March 2015, focused on developing an innovative decision support software system tailored for agricultural crop production, particularly in the wine grape growing and winemaking sectors. The platform empowers producers, field managers, and winemakers to enhance crop management decisions, ultimately improving production volume, uniformity, and quality while promoting long-term sustainability and profitability. By utilizing real-time information, predictive modeling, and advanced scientific research in soil, viticulture, and enology, VinSense enables users to make timely interventions in areas such as cover crop management, irrigation practices, and nutrient management. The software features a user-friendly visual interface that transforms complex data into actionable insights, ensuring relevance and accessibility for its users. This comprehensive approach not only aids in optimizing yield quality but also supports better environmental protection and water conservation practices.

Farm Vision Technologies is a startup focusing on development and commercialization of computer vision systems to enable growers of high value crops — such as fruits, berries, and nuts — to monitor the count, size and health of their plants.

NutraMaize is an Indiana-based AgBioScience company specializing in the commercialization of a non-GMO corn variety that is both more nutritious and better tasting. Its proprietary corn possesses a deep orange color due to its high carotenoid content, offering consumers potential health benefits such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

FloraPulse develops precision irrigation technology for orchards and vineyards, based on patented microsensors and stem water potential measurements. The company offers a micro tensiometer system that directly measures plant water status in fruit and nut crops, delivering daily readings and science-based irrigation recommendations. Originating from researchers at Cornell University with decades of experience, FloraPulse helps growers increase productivity, reduce costs, and better manage risk by optimizing water use. The solution provides farmers with continuous field insights and weekly reports on water stress history to fine-tune irrigation strategies and improve crop health and yield.

Arable Labs, Inc. specializes in developing a solar-powered Internet of Things (IoT) device equipped with advanced sensors for in-field crop monitoring. This technology allows farmers to digitize and optimize their agricultural decisions by providing critical data about the impact of weather and other factors on crop yield, quality, and harvest timing. Arable's integrated system combines unique spectral and thermal sensors with agronomic modeling and software tools, enabling users to monitor crop development and identify stressors such as water or nutrient deficiencies. The platform serves a diverse clientele, including farmers, agronomists, researchers, food processors, and agricultural enterprises, facilitating real-time insights and predictive analytics that enhance productivity and sustainability. Established in 2014, Arable is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with an additional office in Princeton, New Jersey. The company has received various accolades, highlighting its innovation in agricultural technology.

Calyx develops advanced sensor platforms that monitor various parameters in poultry farming with exceptional specificity and sensitivity. The company combines AI computer vision technology, bio-engineered sensors, and data science to address complex challenges in the poultry industry.

A biotechnology company specializing in enhancing agricultural performance through innovative biological technologies. They focus on modifying metabolic and signaling pathways in bacteria and plants to improve nitrogen use efficiency, stress tolerance, oil production, yield, and nutritional value.

Founded in 2014, Ecovia Renewables develops bio-based ingredients through a proprietary fermentation process using renewable biomass. Its product portfolio includes EcoSynth platform for biochemicals and biofuels, Ecovia biopolymers for multi-functional applications, and cellulosic biofuels derived from lignocellulosic biomass. These products serve the agriculture and personal care sectors.

Symbios Technologies is commercializing its disruptive advanced low-cost Symbios Tubular Plasma Reactor, to make more sustainable fertilizers, clean water, preserve the environment, and protect human health.

Founded in 2013, Harvest CROO specializes in developing AI-driven robotic systems for autonomous harvesting in agriculture. Headquartered in Plant City, Florida, the company aims to address labor shortages by automating pick-to-pack processes, offering real-time monitoring and analytics tools to optimize operations.

Solectrac, Inc. is a manufacturer based in Albion, California, specializing in the design and sale of electric tractors tailored for various applications, including agriculture, vineyards, equestrian centers, livestock operations, greenhouses, golf courses, and municipal projects. Established in 2012, the company's electric tractors are powered by renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional diesel vehicles in the farming sector. These tractors provide several advantages over their diesel counterparts, including reduced emissions, quieter operation, enhanced efficiency, and lower operational costs. Solectrac's electric tractors are equipped with low-speed, high-torque motors and a battery management system that utilizes high-amperage lithium battery packs, enabling them to sustain up to eight hours of use on a single charge, thereby promoting sustainable and efficient farming practices.

GlucanBio is a biotechnology company specializing in the conversion of biomass into valuable chemical products. Originating from research at the University of Wisconsin and Iowa State's Center for Biorenewable Chemicals, GlucanBio aims to produce furan derivatives such as furfural, HMF, DMF, THF, and FDCA more efficiently and cost-effectively than traditional methods. The company leverages its team's expertise in catalysis, intellectual property management, engineering scale-up, and early-stage commercialization, led by renowned catalytic chemist Jim Dumesic and industry veteran Brent Shanks. GlucanBio's innovative technology fractionates biomass under mild conditions to generate solvents directly from the feedstock, facilitating a sustainable approach for clients seeking eco-friendly alternatives.

PhylloTech is a biotechnology company focused on producing difficult-to-manufacture proteins and antibodies using a continuous plant expression system based on Nicotiana tabacum. This innovative method allows proteins to be secreted onto the leaf surfaces, where they can be efficiently recovered through a simple washing process with an extraction buffer, thereby eliminating the need for extensive purification. This approach significantly lowers production costs and facilitates rapid scalability, enabling the output of target proteins from tens of thousands of plants. The company's environmentally-friendly system requires only light, water, and fertilizer, making it suitable for cultivation in greenhouses or fields using existing agricultural practices. Additionally, PhylloTech is developing solutions to combat plant diseases by utilizing enzymes to manage bacterial pathogens, which may enhance crop yields and provide alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Through these technologies, PhylloTech aims to contribute to sustainable agriculture by producing high-quality proteins in a renewable manner.

Arable Labs, Inc. specializes in developing a solar-powered Internet of Things (IoT) device equipped with advanced sensors for in-field crop monitoring. This technology allows farmers to digitize and optimize their agricultural decisions by providing critical data about the impact of weather and other factors on crop yield, quality, and harvest timing. Arable's integrated system combines unique spectral and thermal sensors with agronomic modeling and software tools, enabling users to monitor crop development and identify stressors such as water or nutrient deficiencies. The platform serves a diverse clientele, including farmers, agronomists, researchers, food processors, and agricultural enterprises, facilitating real-time insights and predictive analytics that enhance productivity and sustainability. Established in 2014, Arable is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with an additional office in Princeton, New Jersey. The company has received various accolades, highlighting its innovation in agricultural technology.

Bio Adhesive Alliance is a research and development organization focused on converting biomass and livestock waste management challenges in the agricultural sector into viable solutions for the construction industry. The team comprises scientists and industry experts who collaborate closely with academic institutions to address various aspects of the supply chain, including the collection, conversion, modification, characterization, and performance evaluation of biomass. The company specializes in producing bio-adhesives and bio-asphalt from sources such as swine manure, utilizing a liquefaction process that involves applying pressure and temperature, followed by filtration and post-processing. This innovative approach not only addresses waste management issues but also contributes to sustainable construction practices.

VinSense is an Indiana-based company established in March 2015, focused on developing an innovative decision support software system tailored for agricultural crop production, particularly in the wine grape growing and winemaking sectors. The platform empowers producers, field managers, and winemakers to enhance crop management decisions, ultimately improving production volume, uniformity, and quality while promoting long-term sustainability and profitability. By utilizing real-time information, predictive modeling, and advanced scientific research in soil, viticulture, and enology, VinSense enables users to make timely interventions in areas such as cover crop management, irrigation practices, and nutrient management. The software features a user-friendly visual interface that transforms complex data into actionable insights, ensuring relevance and accessibility for its users. This comprehensive approach not only aids in optimizing yield quality but also supports better environmental protection and water conservation practices.

Arable Labs, Inc. specializes in developing a solar-powered Internet of Things (IoT) device equipped with advanced sensors for in-field crop monitoring. This technology allows farmers to digitize and optimize their agricultural decisions by providing critical data about the impact of weather and other factors on crop yield, quality, and harvest timing. Arable's integrated system combines unique spectral and thermal sensors with agronomic modeling and software tools, enabling users to monitor crop development and identify stressors such as water or nutrient deficiencies. The platform serves a diverse clientele, including farmers, agronomists, researchers, food processors, and agricultural enterprises, facilitating real-time insights and predictive analytics that enhance productivity and sustainability. Established in 2014, Arable is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with an additional office in Princeton, New Jersey. The company has received various accolades, highlighting its innovation in agricultural technology.

A biotechnology company specializing in enhancing agricultural performance through innovative biological technologies. They focus on modifying metabolic and signaling pathways in bacteria and plants to improve nitrogen use efficiency, stress tolerance, oil production, yield, and nutritional value.

Stratio, Inc. is a technology company based in Palo Alto, California, that specializes in infrared sensing solutions. Founded in 2013, Stratio has developed groundbreaking products, including LinkSquare, a compact spectrometer, and BeyonSense, the first smartphone-compatible shortwave infrared camera. The company created the world's first germanium-based shortwave infrared sensor, which facilitates the development of portable and affordable infrared devices. Stratio's products are utilized globally by various partners and customers to enhance process efficiency, combat counterfeiting, ensure food safety, and support precision agriculture. The company is also focused on advancing its technology and aims to develop hyper-spectral imaging solutions in the near future.

Baicor, L.C. is a specialty fertilizer company founded in 1989 by Dr. Gene W. Miller and based in Logan, Utah. The company focuses on the research, development, and manufacturing of fertilizers tailored for various markets, including home and garden, agriculture, greenhouse growing, and golf courses. Baicor is particularly known for its production of liquid fertilizers designed for both foliar and soil applications. These fertilizers are formulated from organic and amino acids that occur naturally in plants and soil, and they are available through a global network of distributors and dealers. As of 2016, Baicor operates as a subsidiary of Brandt Consolidated, Inc.

Kalion is an industrial biotechnology company focused on producing glucaric acid and S-3 hydroxybutyrolactone (3-HBL) from renewable feedstocks via traditional, green fermentation using microbes developed with proprietary synthetic biology techniques. Based in Milton, Massachusetts, the company targets chemicals for industrial, material, and pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications, enabling customers to replace oil-based materials with purer, bio-based inputs. Kalion was established in 2010 and operates to scale sustainable fermentation processes that convert renewable resources into valuable specialty chemicals.

Founded in 2010, Pivot Bio is a biotechnology company specializing in microbial nitrogen fertilizers. It harnesses naturally occurring microbes to provide nutrients to crops sustainably, aiming to reduce the need for petrochemical fertilizers and improve crop yield.