Heritable Agriculture, a pioneering startup focused on data and machine learning, emerges from Google’s X “moonshot factory” with a mission to transform agricultural practices. The company, founded by Brad Zamft, aims to enhance crop yields by analyzing plant genomes to identify optimal combinations that reduce water use and increase carbon storage. Heritable Agriculture seeks to modernize traditional agriculture, an industry responsible for about 25% of anthropogenic greenhouse emissions, without resorting to gene editing.
Heritable Agriculture has successfully raised a seed funding round, attracting investments from FTW Ventures, Mythos Ventures, and SVG Ventures, with Google also joining as an investor. This financial backing supports the company's innovative approach to improving crop production using conventional methods rather than genetic modification. Heritable's strategy involves leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to sift through extensive datasets, providing actionable insights for growers.
The journey of Heritable Agriculture began at Google X, where Brad Zamft joined in 2018 and eventually led the project that evolved into the current company. Zamft expressed the driving force behind the initiative:
"That was the mandate. The idea of how do we get better at optimizing plants stuck with me and it gained traction with the leadership. We did a very good job moving through the gauntlet that is Google X." – Brad Zamft
Heritable Agriculture's research and development include testing their models on thousands of plants grown in a specialized growth chamber at Google's Bay Area headquarters. Additionally, fieldwork has been conducted across various sites in California, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. This comprehensive testing ensures that their models are robust and applicable in diverse agricultural environments.
The company's focus remains on identifying superior breeding techniques rather than employing biotechnology to create crops. As Brad Zamft clarifies:
"We're not developing gene-edited plants, and genetic modification is not on our roadmap," – Brad Zamft
Heritable Agriculture envisions a future where plants become programmable entities, although CRISP-fueled gene editing is not currently part of their strategy. Their commitment lies in recognizing what to breed and executing improved breeding practices through detailed genomic analysis.
The role of plants in this innovative approach cannot be overstated. Heritable Agriculture appreciates the efficiency of these natural systems:
"Plants are solar powered, carbon negative, self-assembling machines that feed on sunlight and water," – Heritable
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