Edacious, a Massachusetts-based startup, has developed a rapid testing and data insights platform to measure and map nutrient density in whole foods, including grains and other commodity crops. This platform has the potential to help farmers in the commodity crop space differentiate their products and increase profitability by providing actionable data on nutritional quality.
The Edacious platform offers high-throughput, low-cost testing capabilities that assess key nutrients such as fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, proteins, phytochemicals, and carbohydrates. Unlike traditional lab testing services that can cost $2,500 to $3,500 per sample, Edacious provides these analyses for just $200 per sample. Additionally, the platform contextualizes results by benchmarking crops against anonymized competitive sets and industry averages. This enables farmers to identify how their products stand out in terms of nutrient density.
Over time, Edacious collects data on 40-50 attributes related to farming practices and inputs, allowing it to provide deeper insights into how these factors influence nutritional outcomes. This data can help farmers using regenerative agriculture practices build evidence-based cases for improved soil health and nutrient density. By demonstrating superior nutritional profiles linked to specific practices or inputs, farmers may be able to command price premiums for their crops and differentiate themselves in a traditionally commoditized market.
The platform also empowers farmers to monitor their performance over time through sampling and tracking plans. This ensures consistency in delivering high-quality products while mitigating risks associated with marketing claims. Edacious is working with stakeholders across the supply chain, including genetics companies, producers, distributors, and branded food companies, to transform markets where differentiation has historically been limited.
Edacious recently closed a $8.1 million seed round led by Patagonia’s venture fund Tin Shed Ventures. The round, which was backed by Nest Family Office, Trailhead Capital, Grantham Environmental Trust’s Neglected Climate Opportunities, iSelect Capital, The First Thirty, Pelican Ag, and other private investors, will help Massachusetts-based Edacious scale up and strengthen collaborations with industry partners. At Edacious, we have the data and technology to reveal how genetics, soil health, and management practices impact nutrition in our food, said founder and CEO Eric Smith. This funding allows us to build the platform necessary to break the cycle of commoditization by empowering producers and consumers with verified, actionable data for food quality differentiation, she added.
For years now, farmers have been incentivized to prioritize yield above all else, which many believe has led to declining food quality, environmental degradation, poor nutrition, and the commoditization of food. By demonstrating that different farming practices and inputs can deliver meaningful improvements in nutrition that may command a price premium, Edacious hopes to provide a different incentive structure.
There is definitely a growing sentiment that nutrient density should be the catalyst for full food and agriculture value chain transformation, and by linking better farming practices to measurable improvements in nutrient density, Edacious offers a new incentive structure for farmers. This approach not only enhances profitability but also promotes environmental sustainability through healthier soils and regenerative agriculture methods. As more producers participate in benchmarking efforts, the platform will generate valuable insights into key drivers of nutritional outcomes, further enabling farmers to optimize their practices and differentiate their products effectively in the marketplace. Learn more about what Edacious is doing at their website HERE. (Sources: Agfundernews, Edacious)
