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January 29, 2025 | Tom Ballard

AgLaunch announces latest participants in its two-year accelerator program

The farmer-driven approach ensures these start-ups develop impactful, scalable solutions to agriculture’s biggest challenges.

Memphis-based AgLaunch, a leader in agricultural innovation, has unveiled eight start-ups selected by farmers to participate in its two-year AgLaunch365 Accelerator Program. This program uniquely combines tailored investments, on-farm trials, and access to valuable agricultural data to fast-track the commercialization of transformative technologies.

“Our farmer-driven approach ensures these start-ups develop impactful, scalable solutions to agriculture’s biggest challenges,” said Pete Nelson, President of AgLaunch. “This year’s cohort represents the best in labor-saving robots, rapid diagnostics, new traits, and sustainable biologics selected to help farmers now and build a bridge to a more resilient farming system.”

The newest cohort includes:

  • Barn Owl Precision Agriculture deploys the Autonomous Nano Tractor (ANT) as a service to support small farmers in securing our food supply, combating climate change, and rekindling a passion for farming. Designed for precision weeding in row crop environments, the system offers operational support throughout the farming cycle—from planting to harvest.
  • Barnwell Bio is an animal health data platform powered by wastewater analysis. By offering early identification of health trends, we help minimize livestock mortality and maximize productivity, removing guesswork from animal health management.
  • BugBiome harnesses nature’s own defenses to protect crops from pests safely and sustainably. By leveraging plant microbiomes and innovative hardware to study insect behavior, the team discovers bioprotectants that pose no harm to people or pollinators.
  • IngateyGen specializes in developing innovative peanut varieties using CRISPR genome editing technology. The acronym stands for “clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats” and is used to selectively modify the DNA of living organisms. IngateyGen’s traits improve safety and nutritional value, delivering enhanced health and wellness benefits for consumers.
  • Kalix gives farmers real-time control over animal health with rapid disease testing results delivered in just one hour—compared to the typical five to seven days required for external lab testing.
  • MicroMGx delivers nature’s solutions for global agriculture. Proprietary technology identifies novel chemicals from microbes 100 times more efficiently than traditional methods. The company’s  lead product is a naturally produced herbicide with a groundbreaking mechanism of action—the first in 35 years.
  • Mycologics offers a biofungicide manufacturing platform derived from microbial natural products, providing sustainable solutions for crop protection.
  • Rogue.ai develops the most advanced spraying drones on the market, powered by a hybrid-electric powertrain. Our technology significantly reduces operational costs while enhancing on-field productivity.

“This program is unique because it’s driven by farmers,” said Alex Forsbach, Tennessee farmer and member of the national network. “The hands-on involvement from me and my partner farmers across the U.S. ensures these technologies deliver real-world impact.”



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