GROWMARK and InnerPlant are partnering on a commercial pilot of InnerSoy, a soybean fungal sensor.
According to a news release, InnerPlant “genetically engineers plants to emit optical signals” in response to stressors, such as water or nutrient deficiency, or attacks from pathogens like fungi.
In the upcoming year, GROWMARK plans to establish small InnerSoy plots across the Midwest before expanding the initiative over the next three years. Positioned near existing soybean farms, the plots will identify early indications of fungal infestations. Specialized equipment, including drones and satellites, will capture and interpret the plants' signals, providing farmers with timely warnings to safeguard their crops.
The data generated from these pilot plots will contribute to enhancing InnerPlant’s machine-learning tools, bolstering agronomic intelligence.
GROWMARK Chief Operating Officer Wade Mittelstadt said the pilot “gives GROWMARK and our FS cooperatives the first ag retail access to InnerPlant’s cutting-edge technology developed to help farmers manage crop health risk.”
Jeff Bunting, GROWMARK vice president of crop protection, added, “We’re excited to understand more about InnerPlant’s capability to tap directly into plant physiology, giving crop specialists and farmers critical data they need to mitigate disease pressure as early as possible.”
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