Agtech startup “TerraBlaster” has developed a system that utilizes lasers to perform one of farmers’ least favorite tasks – soil sampling. The core technology uses “Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy” (LIBS), a method originally developed for NASA’s Mars missions to “blast” soil with laser pulses. By breaking molecules into ions and detecting their spectral “fingerprints,” the system can test soil nutrients in real-time.
TerraBlaster CEO Jorge Heraud says the laser-based soil-analysis system enables farming operations to glean faster insights about their fields and save significant amounts in fertilizer costs. Heraud also calls it “the number one opportunity in agtech right now.”
Agricultural operations spend about $250 billion per year on fertilizer and about $100 billion of that is wasted due to overuse, Heraud points out in a recent interview with AgFunder. That means less profit for farmers and more expensive food for consumers, in addition to other ill effects like water contamination. A system that can, in real time, analyze when and where to put fertilizer could mitigate against many of these negative effects, says Heraud.
NASA’s LIBS technology was developed by Impossible Sensing for various missions, including the Mars rover. NASA used LIBS to analyze the elemental composition of Martian rocks and soil by firing a laser at the surface to create a plasma, then measuring the emitted light spectrum to identify elements present. TerraBlaster adapted the LIBS technology for terrestrial use based on the same principles – using a laser to excite atoms in the soil and reading the resulting light signature.
Farmers and agronomists can use the TerraBlaster sensor by dragging it through the soil with an ATV or tractor. The sensor opens a small channel about six inches deep and analyzes the soil as it moves, generating a map of nutrient levels across the entire field. This technology allows for immediate, data-driven decisions on where and how much fertilizer to apply, no lab tests required.
“Depending on what you’re measuring, you can apply whatever is needed right then,” Heraud notes. “Not as a separate task but as part of the planting path.”For example, a farmer could apply nitrogen based on what they are measuring at the same time that the nitrogen is being applied. When done in-season, it can be very impactful, as the nitrogen is used by the plant immediately.
Heraud officially joined TerraBlaster as full-time CEO in May 2025, bringing with him a wealth of experience. He spend over a decade at precision farming company “PTx Trimble” before co-founding “Blue River Technologies.” You may recall that Blue River was acquired in 2017 by John Deere for its “See & Spray” technology for $305 million.
Heraud spent seven years as VP of automation and autonomy at Deere, then stepped away to start his own consulting business. One of the companies he was advising was TerraBlaster and he was so enticed by the potential that he signed on as CEO.
“I like opportunities that are huge in both financial impact and environmental impact,” he tells AgFunderNews. “TerraBlaster is going after fertilizer, probably the largest expense for farmers worldwide, and can also be very good for the world and good for the farmer. It saves time, saves money, increases yields, and reduces waste.” Learn more about TerraBlaster at its website HERE. (Sources: AgFunder , Phys.org, Upstream Ag Insights)
Agtech startup “TerraBlaster” has developed a system that utilizes lasers to perform one of farmers’ least favorite tasks – soil sampling. The core technology uses “Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy” (LIBS), a method originally developed for NASA’s Mars missions to “blast” soil with laser pulses. By breaking molecules into ions and detecting their spectral “fingerprints,” the system can test soil nutrients in real-time.
TerraBlaster CEO Jorge Heraud says the laser-based soil-analysis system enables farming operations to glean faster insights about their fields and save significant amounts in fertilizer costs. Heraud also calls it “the number one opportunity in agtech right now.”
Agricultural operations spend about $250 billion per year on fertilizer and about $100 billion of that is wasted due to overuse, Heraud points out in a recent interview with AgFunder. That means less profit for farmers and more expensive food for consumers, in addition to other ill effects like water contamination. A system that can, in real time, analyze when and where to put fertilizer could mitigate against many of these negative effects, says Heraud.
NASA’s LIBS technology was developed by Impossible Sensing for various missions, including the Mars rover. NASA used LIBS to analyze the elemental composition of Martian rocks and soil by firing a laser at the surface to create a plasma, then measuring the emitted light spectrum to identify elements present. TerraBlaster adapted the LIBS technology for terrestrial use based on the same principles – using a laser to excite atoms in the soil and reading the resulting light signature.
Farmers and agronomists can use the TerraBlaster sensor by dragging it through the soil with an ATV or tractor. The sensor opens a small channel about six inches deep and analyzes the soil as it moves, generating a map of nutrient levels across the entire field. This technology allows for immediate, data-driven decisions on where and how much fertilizer to apply, no lab tests required.
“Depending on what you’re measuring, you can apply whatever is needed right then,” Heraud notes. “Not as a separate task but as part of the planting path.”For example, a farmer could apply nitrogen based on what they are measuring at the same time that the nitrogen is being applied. When done in-season, it can be very impactful, as the nitrogen is used by the plant immediately.
Heraud officially joined TerraBlaster as full-time CEO in May 2025, bringing with him a wealth of experience. He spend over a decade at precision farming company “PTx Trimble” before co-founding “Blue River Technologies.” You may recall that Blue River was acquired in 2017 by John Deere for its “See & Spray” technology for $305 million.
Heraud spent seven years as VP of automation and autonomy at Deere, then stepped away to start his own consulting business. One of the companies he was advising was TerraBlaster and he was so enticed by the potential that he signed on as CEO.
“I like opportunities that are huge in both financial impact and environmental impact,” he tells AgFunderNews. “TerraBlaster is going after fertilizer, probably the largest expense for farmers worldwide, and can also be very good for the world and good for the farmer. It saves time, saves money, increases yields, and reduces waste.” Learn more about TerraBlaster at its website HERE. (Sources: AgFunder , Phys.org, Upstream Ag Insights)
