Knowing more about your soil typically means more samples, more time, and lots more money. That is unless you see soil differently. You can thank the U.S. heading into outer space to retrieve some soil samples for the fact that EarthOptics is now at the forefront of transforming soil measurement and analysis. Back in early 2018, co-founders, Todd Martin and John Dombrosky, both ag industry veterans, began discussing ideas that led to the creation of the company.
Being inspired by the advanced soil analysis technology used on Mars, they questioned why similar innovations weren’t being applied to benefit American farmers. In its early days and under the name GroundTruth Ag, the company collaborated extensively with MIT, leveraging various technologies and securing a license for localized ground-penetrating radar. While other companies focused on single mode sensors like LIDAR or EMI, GroundTruth Ag saw a clear opportunity in combining multiple sensors into an integrated array. This innovative approach to stacking sensor capability allowed them to collect and analyze more comprehensive soil data.
The company’s first breakthrough was in measuring soil compaction, a critical but previously difficult-to-quantify factor for farmers. At the time, there was no way to scientifically measure and map soil compaction, which in many cases led to overfilling. This new compaction offering became the gateway to climate-smart farming practices, as tilling less helps store carbon in the soil. Now, farmers can know exactly where to till and how deep. Not only do they save on costs for unnecessary tilling, but they will retain carbon in the ground for better soil health.
Today, EarthOptics leads the way with it groundbreaking GroundOwl sensor technology. This proprietary tool creates accurate, real-time data maps that reveal crucial soil attributes, including compaction, carbon content, conductivity, moisture, and nutrients. By combining physical soil samples with GroundOwl sensor data, EarthOptics delivers high-resolution maps with unparalleled accuracy, providing farmers and landowners with comprehensive insights into their soil health.
EarthOptic’s recent merger with Pattern Ag is now providing growers with a “digital twin” of their soils, providing high-resolution data on physical, chemical, and biological properties. This includes detailed information on pests, pathogens, nutrients, compaction, carbon levels, and moisture, allowing for a holistic understanding of soil health and enabling more informed decision-making in agricultural practices. Historically, soil measurement insights have been limited in scope and imprecise. This merger now has the technology in one company to tell farmers what’s in their soil with a high level of precision, and with the addition of Pattern analytics, we can offer them insights into what to plant and how to manage their most impactful decisions throughout the growing season, says CEO of EarthOptics Lars Dyrud.
On top of that, the company has established itself as a leader in carbon measurement, particularly for grassland and rangeland acreage. EarthOptics’ expertise extends to various carbon registries and soil carbon protocols, including Verra, CAR, and BCarbon. They also are enabling landowners to quantify and prove their current carbon stocks and any increases in soil carbon storage, a crucial step for participating in various carbon credit programs, including 40B/45Z biofuel tax credit programs and corporate carbon initiatives. The company’s soil quantification services are providing the foundation for new carbon revenue streams for any farmer, rancher, investor, and landowner alike.
EarthOptic’s operations have reached impressive scales, processing 10,000 physical soil samples daily and mapping 100,000 acres monthly. Their innovative approach has not gone unnoticed in the industry. The company won the AGCO Innovation Challenge Award at the 2021 World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit, beating out over 100 international AgTech startups and positioning them as a leader in agricultural technology innovation. If you are attending FARMCON in January, you will have a chance to meet the team from EarthOptics and learn more about their solutions. You can check out their website HERE.
