Google’s X, a moonshot factory, recently announced its latest graduate, Heritable Agriculture, a data- and machine learning-driven startup focused on improving crop growth. The firm claims that plants are highly efficient systems powered by sunlight and water, but the agricultural industry has a significant environmental impact.
Heritable Agriculture is using artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze massive datasets and provide actionable instructions for growers to improve crop production. Founder and CEO Brad Zamft, a physics PhD, joined Google X in 2018 after spending time at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and a venture-backed startup.
The company’s approach involves analyzing plant genomes to identify combinations that can improve crop yields, water requirements, and carbon storage capacity. Heritable’s models were tested on thousands of plants in specialized growth chambers and field work locations in California, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
Zamft explains that while CRISPR-fueled gene editing may play a role in the future, Heritable is currently focusing on conventional methods to breed crops with climate-friendly traits. The team is prioritizing commercialization, but Zamft did not reveal specific timelines or partners. Google has invested an undisclosed amount of equity in the company.
Heritable Agriculture aims to address global issues related to agriculture, such as greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. By leveraging machine learning and data analysis, the startup seeks to bring sustainable practices to the 12,000-year-old industry.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/02/google-x-spins-out-heritable-agriculture-a-startup-using-ai-to-improve-crop-yield