Google’s X spins out Heritable Agriculture, a startup using AI to improve crop yield

Heritable Agriculture utilizes AI for sustainable crop production and is a graduate of Google's X.

: Heritable Agriculture, spun out from Google's X, employs AI and machine learning to boost crop yield and sustainability. Led by CEO Brad Zamft, the startup analyzes plant genomes to enhance traits such as yield and water efficiency without genetic modification. Backed by investors like FTW Ventures and Google, Heritable focuses on breeding techniques to revolutionize agriculture.

Heritable Agriculture has emerged from Google's X as a startup dedicated to applying AI and machine learning to improve crop yield and sustainability. Founded by Brad Zamft, the company aims to enhance agriculture, which accounts for 25% of greenhouse gas emissions, by finding climate-friendly plant traits.

The company uses machine learning models to analyze plant genomes, focusing on conventional breeding methods rather than gene editing or GMOs. Experiments have been conducted on thousands of plants to optimize growth, utilizing specialized chambers and field sites in California, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.

Currently, Heritable is moving towards commercializing its technology, supported by investments from FTW Ventures, Mythos Ventures, SVG Ventures, and Google itself. Despite no disclosed commercial partners or timelines, the initiative aligns with Google's new strategy of spinning off promising projects from X into standalone companies.