Google X's latest spin-off, Heritable Agriculture, has emerged as an independent company with funding from FTW Ventures, Mythos Ventures, and SVG Ventures' Sunrise and Pioneer funds. The company combines AI and advanced plant breeding techniques to develop more resilient and productive crops.
Key Points
- AI-powered platform aims to enhance crop yields while reducing water use
- Developed at Google X using specialized growth chambers and field testing
- Early results show potential to speed up tree improvement 400x faster
Led by CEO Brad Zamft, the company uses machine learning to analyze plant genomes and identify traits that enhance yields, reduce water consumption, and increase carbon storage. "To keep pace with the world's growing population, we need smart, sustainable ways to increase food production," Zamft said in a company statement.
The technology was developed at Google X's moonshot factory using specialized growth chambers with automated photography systems to monitor plant development. Field studies in California, Wisconsin, and Nebraska validated the technology's effectiveness in real-world conditions.
Unlike companies focused on genetic modification, Heritable Agriculture decodes natural plant biodiversity. Their approach addresses critical agricultural challenges - the sector currently accounts for nearly half of habitable land use and 70 percent of global groundwater withdrawals.
The company has partnered with ArborGen to improve loblolly pine trees for sustainable forestry. John Hartnett, founder and CEO of SVG Ventures/Thrive, noted, "By combining cutting-edge AI with deep expertise in plant biology, they are fundamentally reimagining how we improve crops to meet the growing demands of a changing planet."
As Heritable Agriculture transitions from Google X to an independent company, it aims to expand its partnerships across agriculture and forestry while refining its AI models for practical farming applications. Financial details of the funding round were not disclosed.