Google’s X "Moonshot Factory" Announces Latest Graduate: Heritable Agriculture
A New Approach to Sustainable Agriculture
Google’s X "moonshot factory" this week announced its latest graduate, Heritable Agriculture, a data- and machine learning-driven startup aiming to improve how crops are grown.
The Problem with Traditional Agriculture
Plants are incredibly efficient and impressive systems, but agriculture puts a massive strain on the planet and its resources. It accounts for around 25% of anthropogenic greenhouse emissions, is the planet’s largest consumer of groundwater, and can lead to soil erosion and water pollution via pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals.
Heritable Agriculture’s Solution
The newly independent startup is approaching these global issues by analyzing massive datasets through artificial intelligence and machine learning. Founder and CEO, Brad Zamft, a physics PhD, used his expertise to develop a machine learning model that analyzes plant genomes to determine combinations that might improve yields, while lowering water consumption and raising carbon storage capacity.
Testing the Models
The models were tested on thousands of plants, grown to those specifications within a "specialized growth chamber" at X’s Bay Area headquarters. The researchers also conducted field work at sites in California, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
No Plans for Genetic Modification
Heritable Agriculture has no plans to explore mutagenesis, a GMO process that utilizes either chemicals or radiation to create crop mutations. Zamft adds, however, that CRISP-fueled gene editing will eventually play a role in making plants "programmable." For now, however, the company is focused on more conventional methods.
Commercialization and Funding
The executive adds that the team is most immediately focused on commercializing the technology. Zamft did not reveal anything in the way of specific timelines or commercial partners. Heritable has fittingly raised a seed round, featuring FTW Ventures, Mythos Ventures, and SVG Ventures. Google is also an investor, with an undisclosed amount of equity in the young company.
Conclusion
Heritable Agriculture’s innovative approach to sustainable agriculture has the potential to revolutionize the way crops are grown, making it possible to produce more food while reducing the environmental impact of agriculture.
FAQs
Q: What is Heritable Agriculture?
A: Heritable Agriculture is a data- and machine learning-driven startup aiming to improve how crops are grown.
Q: What is the problem with traditional agriculture?
A: Traditional agriculture puts a massive strain on the planet and its resources, accounting for around 25% of anthropogenic greenhouse emissions, consuming large amounts of groundwater, and leading to soil erosion and water pollution.
Q: How does Heritable Agriculture’s approach differ from traditional agriculture?
A: Heritable Agriculture uses machine learning to analyze plant genomes and develop models that can improve yields while lowering water consumption and raising carbon storage capacity.
Q: Will Heritable Agriculture use genetic modification?
A: No, Heritable Agriculture has no plans to explore mutagenesis, but may eventually use CRISP-fueled gene editing to make plants "programmable."
Q: Who has invested in Heritable Agriculture?
A: Heritable Agriculture has raised a seed round from FTW Ventures, Mythos Ventures, and SVG Ventures, and has an undisclosed amount of equity from Google.
