Key Takeaways
- EarthOptics secures $24 million in funding to expand its soil digitization and Predictive Agronomy solutions.
- The funding round includes new investors Cibus Capital, RuralWorks Partners, and Norinchukin Bank, alongside existing investors like Conti Ventures, The Production Board, and Leaps by Bayer.
- The funds will support technological innovation, geographic expansion, and the company’s position as a leader in soil insights.
- EarthOptics recently merged with Pattern Ag, combining field-based sensing and lab-based analysis for enhanced soil intelligence.
- The company’s tools aim to empower farmers and ranchers with actionable soil data to drive profitability and sustainability.
Funding to Accelerate Innovation
EarthOptics announced the completion of a $24 million financing round, led by current investors Conti Ventures and The Production Board. New participants include Cibus Capital, RuralWorks Partners, and Norinchukin Bank, with continued support from key investors such as Leaps by Bayer, S2G Ventures, Shell Ventures, CNH Ventures, Rabo Ventures, and others.
Lars Dyrud, CEO of EarthOptics, highlighted the company’s mission: “At EarthOptics, we believe that the future of farming lies in precise, data-driven insights that empower farmers and ranchers to optimize every aspect of their operations. This latest round of funding is a testament to our investors’ confidence in our vision and our ability to deliver groundbreaking solutions that transform how farmers and ranchers interact with their soil.”
The funding will enable EarthOptics to:
- Accelerate technological advancements.
- Expand geographically.
- Strengthen its position as a leader in soil intelligence.
Strategic Merger with Pattern Ag
EarthOptics’ recent merger with Pattern Ag has created a vertically integrated powerhouse in soil insights. The partnership combines EarthOptics’ proprietary field-based sensing technologies with Pattern Ag’s lab-based analysis, offering the most comprehensive soil data on the market.
Evan Savell of Conti Ventures, a key investor, commented on the merger: “A sold-out commercial trial this past spring built further conviction in a potential combination between the two companies. The merged entity provides significant value to growers through highly complementary technologies and teams.”
Transforming Soil Management
EarthOptics’ solutions aim to address the growing importance of soil health in agriculture. Alastair Cooper, Head of Venture at Cibus Capital, noted: “We believe that soil health is the next frontier where farmers and ranchers will find productivity gains, and we are excited to be contributing to the world’s leading company in soil digitization.”
The merged entity offers unmatched agronomic, carbon, and biological insights, creating a comprehensive soil intelligence platform. Steve Beck, Partner at Serra Ventures, described the merger as: “The genesis of a game-changing AgTech company that will revolutionize soil management for an entire generation.”
Scaling for the Future
With this new infusion of capital, EarthOptics is poised to scale its operations and lead the industry into a new era of agricultural intelligence. The company is focused on making soil insights accessible and actionable, driving success for farmers and ranchers globally.
Craig Herron, Managing Principal at iSelect Fund, emphasized the potential of the merger: “The additional agronomic, carbon, and biological insights from their combined offerings are light years ahead of anything else in the market.”
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