Biome Makers offer support and resources for farmers
The health of our planet’s soil is a foundational unit for the success of farmers and our resulting food supply. Plants grown in microbe-rich soil are more disease resistant and prosperous. Biome Makers invested in the technology to provide farmers information about how they can improve the quality of their soil in order to improve their harvests.
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Biome Makers released an updated website with a toolbox of resources for members of the public or the agricultural community. The articles, webinars and case studies allow growers, retailers and manufacturers to develop a deeper understanding of soil biology and how it affects crop development.
Related: Why regenerative agriculture will reverse climate change
The team at Biome Makers come from a diverse background in AgTech, presenting themselves as thought leaders in the industry.
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“We wanted to cultivate a space that welcomes farmers, agronomists, retailers and ag-manufacturers to develop a deeper understanding of soil biology,” stated Adrian Ferrero, cofounder and CEO at Biome Makers. “Our ultimate goal is to share our mission to optimize farming practices and improve soil health and sustainability around the globe.”
Biome Maker’s brainchild is its BeCrop technology, a scientific diagnostic system that comprehensively evaluates soil samples and provides feedback on improvements to regenerate the soil to optimal health. It works in conjunction with the farmers, who collect samples and send them into one of Biome Makers labs, located around the world. Each sample contains just four to 12 spoonfuls of soil. Samples from multiple parcels of land are collected in order to compare the differences across the land. Once at the lab, scientists run the soil through a series of DNA extraction and sequencing processes to measure health data via microbes.
Using AI technology, the team then models the function of the soil and creates an exhaustive analysis report that summarizes its nutritional value. The report breaks down the information into categories, such as bio-sustainability, health and nutrition. Then, it provides further detailed information on components such as fungus, yeast and bacteria.
This data provides the farmer the needed information to recover missing microbes and restore soil health. The goal is to enhance growers’ ability to use regenerative agriculture to their advantage by optimizing their farming practices.
It works under the widespread philosophy that hundreds of years of irresponsible farming practices continue to strip the land of nutrients. If we don’t make a change with a deep investment in regenerative farming practices, fertile fields will continue to degrade into worthless dirt. Instead, Biome Makers work with customers on four continents in 40 plus different countries to lead the way toward soil revitalization worldwide.
Their new website also highlights Biome Makers’ Non-Profit Initiatives which include Fields4ever (f4e) and BeCrop Advisors (BCA). Fields4ever is a global initiative dedicated to soil health management. Biome Makers committed $4 million to the project, which will study one million acres of land over an 18-month period. The project goals are to restore the soil health of these lands, but also to sequester carbon, decrease soil erosion and decrease nutrient loss. Biome Makers knows it can’t do it alone, so it sponsors Fields4ever and encourages public and private partners to join in the initiative.
The need for healthy soil goes well beyond simply increasing the viability of crops. Although that’s a notable cause alone, it’s important to note our critical dependence on soil on a range of levels. At its core, soil is the foundational unit for every living thing on Earth. Plants need it. Animals need it. Humans need it. Without it, nobody eats. Food production is also a huge industry, employing over a billion people around the world.
Then there are those employed along the supply chain as well. The problem is that we’re quickly reaching an imbalance. As we’ve created innovative ways to improve food production over the past several decades, it has come at a cost to the environment. Some reports claim we’ve already lost around one-third of our arable land. Biome Makers keep this knowledge at the center of its mission to merge technology with the workers in the fields to create sustainable farming practices for the long term.
Several case studies on the website outline the successes of the process, from one farmer’s 27% increase in bell pepper production to an increase in sugar cane yield in Mexico. From potatoes to avocados to olives to wine, every crop has the potential to be healthier and more prosperous.