InnerPlant
Overview
InnerPlant is an ag-tech company based in Davis, California, founded in 2018 by Shely Aronov and Rod Kumimoto. It revolutionizes crop monitoring by enabling plants to emit optical signals when stressed due to factors like pathogens, nutrient deficiencies, or drought. These signals are detected through advanced technologies such as satellites, helping farmers make data-driven decisions to enhance productivity and sustainability. As of October 2024, InnerPlant has successfully raised $60 million in total funding, with significant rounds from prominent investors, including John Deere and Coutts Agro.
Recent Developments
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August 2024: InnerPlant secured $30 million in a Series B funding round led by Coutts Agro and Systemiq Capital. The funds will aid the expansion of its soybean signals technology, refinement of its CropVoice platform, and broader R&D initiatives. This decision is seen as instrumental to broadening InnerPlant's crop applicability to other major crops like corn.
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March 2024: InnerPlant was recognized as one of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2024 by Fast Company, marking a significant achievement reflecting the company's contributions to the agricultural technology sector.
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February 2024: InnerPlant launched the CropVoice platform, designed to offer soybean farmers early warning signals about fungal pressures, aiding in preemptive management strategies and resource optimization.
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December 2023: InnerPlant married efforts with John Deere and Syngenta to advance precision agriculture technologies. This partnership focuses on producing plant-level disease management systems utilizing InnerPlant's biosensor traits to detect and address plant stress signals.
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September 2023: InnerPlant was granted $300,000 by the United Soybean Board to fuel its satellite technology aimed at detecting crop stress signals, highlighting advances in plant stress data collection from space.
Company Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Founding Date | 2018 |
| Headquarters | Davis, California, USA |
| Founders | Shely Aronov, Rod Kumimoto |
| Revenue | Not publicly disclosed |
| Profits | Not publicly disclosed |
| Key Investors | John Deere, Systemiq Capital, Bison Ventures, Coutts Agro |
| Industry | AgriTech, Biotechnology |
| Number of Employees | 49 |
Early History
InnerPlant was conceived from an idea inspired by plant biosensor technology, initially developed by professors at Tel Aviv University. Shely Aronov, who was keen on ag-tech innovations with significant environmental impacts, connected with these biosensors and translated them into agricultural solutions. Partnering with co-founder Rod Kumimoto, the company focused on genetically engineering plants to act as bio-sensors. Their initial commercial product, InnerSoy, was developed to detect stress from fungal infections in soybeans, setting the forefront for their unique approach in ag-tech solutions.
Company Profile and Achievements
InnerPlant specializes in creating genetically engineered crops that communicate their needs, revolutionizing the agility and precision of modern agriculture. This approach includes embedding engineered traits in plants, enabling them to signal their physiological status under stress. The company's breakthroughs lay in their ability to detect these plant signals via optical technologies that integrate with existing satellite systems, allowing large-scale and cost-effective plant monitoring.
- **Achievements: **
- Developed the first bioluminescent plant adapted for satellite detection.
- Partnered with leading industry firms such as John Deere to expand applications of its See & Spray technology.
- Recognized on Fast Company's list of most innovative companies multiple times, affirming its pivotal role in advancing crop communication tools.
- Established strategic collaborations for research and technology development with major industry players including Syngenta and GROWMARK.
Current Operations and Market Position
InnerPlant currently focuses on commercializing its genetic plant sensors through products like InnerSoy, targeting major crops susceptible to fungal infections. Their technology integrates satellite-enabled monitoring systems, leveraging partnerships with John Deere and Syngenta for broader distribution, deployment, and innovation. InnerPlant has positioned itself competitively within the ag-tech market, especially in the predictive and precision agriculture sectors where early detection of crop stress plays a crucial role in mitigation and optimization of inputs.
Conclusion
InnerPlant stands at the forefront of agricultural innovation by integrating biotechnology and data science to address pressing agricultural challenges. Its solutions enable efficient crop management, reduce unnecessary chemical usage, and enhance yield resilience against environmental stresses, positioning it as a significant player poised to influence the future landscape of sustainable agriculture. With continued strategic partnerships and technological advancements, InnerPlant is likely to expand its influence across the global agriculture industry, promoting more sustainable and productive farming practices.