InnerPlant: Listening to Crops from the Air

Shely Aronov and Rod Kumimoto on amplifying signals from plants so that we can tend to them.

Originally appeared in TechCrunch InnerPlant grows with new John Deere-backed millions for sustainable farming

The world is headed for a food shortage by 2050 as its population increases, so anything to make it easier for farmers to grow food will go a long way.

That’s what InnerPlant founder and CEO Shely Aronov is trying to do with her startup that uses plant physiology to gather loads of data to make farming more efficient and sustainable. Or more simply, uses sensing and satellite technologies so plants can “talk” to their growers.

Shely Aronov and Rod Kumimoto started the Davis, California-based company in 2018 and spent much of the past four years in R&D mode developing genetically engineered crops that give off early “signals,” for example, of when they are thirsty, have a pest attack or need nitrogen so farmers can act quickly.

And by knowing all of this before it becomes a crisis, InnerPlant helps farmers reduce the amount of chemical pesticides needed or harvests lost to pathogens.

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Shely Aronov

Rod Kumimoto

CO-FOUNDERS

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