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Nina Vinot of Cybèle Agrocare argues that agriculture can learn from advances in human microbiome science by treating soil as a living system, where biological complexity drives crop nutrition and health. She highlights gaps in data, investment, and soil decontamination innovation as barriers, emphasizing the need for better measurement of soil biology and nutritional quality. Vinot points to the promise and variability of microbial inputs, the importance of understanding local soil history, and the growing threat of contaminants like microplastics and PFAS. She calls for greater integration of human health considerations into agriculture, more research, and advanced soil intelligence to unlock the full potential of microbiome-based farming.

Swiss agtech company OneSoil has launched AI Agronomist, an in-app assistant that consolidates fragmented farm data into clear, field-specific recommendations for farmers. Built on seven years of satellite intelligence and shaped by in-house agronomists, the tool uses AI to interpret various data streams and deliver actionable insights through a conversational interface, aiming to reduce the time and expertise needed to manage complex agricultural information. Targeting small- to mid-sized farmers and operating alongside existing farm management systems, AI Agronomist seeks to democratize advisory services and address labor constraints in both developed and emerging markets. The platform is already used by over a million people worldwide, with the AI-driven upgrade expected to further help farmers save costs and make better decisions.

HiveTracks, co-founded by Max Rünzel, James Wilkes, and Laura Dye, is a global startup leveraging data from bees to monitor ecosystem health and quantify biodiversity. The company offers tools for beekeepers to track hive health and for organizations to assess habitat quality, positioning bees as biosensors that provide valuable environmental insights across large areas. HiveTracks' system enables companies and landowners to measure and market their environmental impact, comply with regulations, and potentially unlock new biodiversity markets through auditable, AI-assisted data collection. The ultimate goal is to create a marketplace where changes in nature can be monetized and ecosystem resilience can be enhanced.

Saudi start-up Terraxy, a KAUST spinout, has raised $3 million in a Seed-2 round led by Wa’ed Ventures, Aramco’s venture arm, to scale its proprietary soil-regeneration technology for arid environments. The funding will enable Terraxy to move from pilot to industrial scale, including building a commercial facility in Al Zulfi, and deploy its Carbosoil soil enhancer, which claims to boost plant growth and carbon storage in degraded desert soils. The company’s dual focus on productivity and carbon capture aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and broader sustainability goals, with strong backing from research institutions and regulatory frameworks.