Google X's "Lunar Factory" recently announced the independent development of a new startup, Heritable Agriculture. This new company is dedicated to using data and machine learning technology to improve the way crops grow. In a statement, Heritable Agriculture mentioned that plants are efficient and astonishing systems: "Plants are solar-powered, carbon-negative self-assembling machines that rely on sunlight and water for survival."
However, agriculture places immense pressure on the Earth and its resources, accounting for about 25% of greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activities. It is the largest consumer of groundwater globally, and the use of chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers often leads to soil erosion and water pollution.
As a brand new independent startup, Heritable Agriculture aims to help address these global issues by analyzing vast datasets. Founder and CEO Dr. Brad Zamft stated that while data collection is relatively straightforward, the real challenge lies in converting this data into actionable instructions to help farmers bring this 12,000-year-old industry into the 21st century.
Zamft's inspiration came from his experiences as a program officer at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, followed by his role as Chief Scientist at the venture-backed TL Biolabs. He joined Google X at the end of 2018 and quickly became the project lead for Heritable. He emphasized the use of machine learning technology to analyze plant genomes and identify combinations that could improve crop production.
For instance, by understanding plant genomes, Heritable can breed crops with climate-friendly traits to increase yields, reduce water needs, and enhance carbon storage in roots and soil. The company has tested thousands of plants in its dedicated growth chambers located in the San Francisco Bay Area and conducted fieldwork in California, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
Although gene editing techniques, such as CRISPR, may play a role in Heritable's plans in the future, Zamft emphasized that the company is currently focused on traditional breeding methods rather than genetic modification. He stated that there is a pressing market demand for improved breeding, and Heritable is working to help farmers select suitable parent plants for mating, rather than using biotechnology to directly develop crops.
Currently, Heritable has completed a round of seed funding, with investors including FTW Ventures, Mythos Ventures, and SVG Ventures, and Google has participated with an undisclosed stake.
