Marcus Richards
Massachusetts has recently emerged as a hub of innovative startups, particularly in the agriculture industry. From advanced materials to animal feed, and from sustainable farming practices to technological solutions, these startups are not only helping to address the pressing issues of climate change and food security but also creating opportunities for job growth and economic development. This year, we’ve seen the rise of several promising and ambitious agricultural startups in the state. Here are some to keep an eye on:
From Boston to North Grafton, these startups aim at providing solutions across the agricultural value chain. Some are revamping traditional methods with cutting-edge technology, improving efficiency, and increasing yields. Others are focused on sustainability, seeking to decrease agriculture’s environmental footprint and promote organic and regenerative farming. Let’s explore these startups and their contributions to the agriculture sector in more detail.
In this article, we’ll highlight startups with an inception of 2020 and later, that have their headquarters in Massachusetts and are transforming the agricultural industry with innovative solutions and approaches.
Carbonwave
Co-founded by Ben Ellis and Geoff Chapin, Carbonwave is working on creating a sustainable and regenerative platform to address CO2 sequestration, pollution, and volatility from our climate emergency. Their systems-level approach means that every part of their operation is aimed at restoring vital ecosystems and supporting resilient circular economies. Follow their journey on LinkedIn and Twitter.
BioFeyn
BioFeyn, located in Boston, was founded to improve farmed fish’s diets. The startup founded by Marie-Christine Imbert and Timothy Bouley focuses on optimizing marine ingredients so fish can get more of what they naturally get in the ocean. Through a specialized method of biodegradable nanoencapsulations, BioFeyn improves digestion, absorption, bioavailability, and delivery to target tissues in animals. Follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter.
H2Ok Innovations
Located in Cambridge, H2Ok Innovations is a promising startup in the agriculture and aquaculture industry. Founded by Annie Lu and David Lu, you can follow their journey on LinkedIn.
FeedBack Earth
Based in North Grafton, FeedBack Earth innovates by transforming unwanted food into valuable, high-quality animal feed. They promote sustainability and transform the economics and environmental footprint of the generators and farmers.
AgZen
Located in Somerville, AgZen is working on the development of pesticide sprays that stick to plants, which reduces pollution and helps farmers save on inputs.
Cell Ag @ MIT
Cell Ag @ MIT, which counsels and prepares MIT students for careers in cellular agriculture, was founded by Megan Xu. You can follow them on LinkedIn.
FogOnyx
Based in Northampton, FogOnyx is an Agritech startup aiming to bring new solutions to farming.
AgriOrigin Inc
AgriOrigin, INC., based in Marlborough, is an innovative B2B platform that deploys the latest agricultural technology helping farmers sell their products to reliable industry buyers, food processors and retailers for the fairest prices. Founded by Kunal Nayar and Rakesh Sharma, you can follow their journey on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
Yard Stick PBC
Founded by Chris Tolles, Evan Arnold, and Kevin Meissner, Yard Stick PBC located in Cambridge, is working on an innovative solution to measure soil carbon, which can help improve ecosystem health, increase farmer income, and combat climate change. Follow their work on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Vertum Technologies
Located in Boston, Vertum Technologies, co-founded by Herbert Namirski and Kaan Armagan, designs and builds robotic farming assistants that help indoor farmers increase yield and improve environmental sustainability. Follow their progress on LinkedIn.
In conclusion, this cohort of startups are making significant strides in the agriculture industry. From leveraging technology to improve farming practices to finding sustainable ways of addressing climate change, these startups are worth following as they shape the future of agriculture in the US, and potentially, the world.
