Groundwork BioAg produces highly concentrated mycorrhizal inoculants (Rootella) that restore fungal networks in cropland, extending root systems up to 100 × to boost yields by 5‑15 % and cut phosphorus fertilizer use by up to 50 %. The inoculants also accelerate permanent soil carbon sequestration, generating 1.5‑3.5 t CO₂e per acre per year, with a carbon‑credit program that returns up to 70 % of net credit proceeds to participating farmers.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
BFFounders
Product
Problem
Modern agriculture has degraded mycorrhizal fungi in cropland, reducing nutrient uptake, lowering yields, increasing fertilizer use, and limiting the soil’s capacity to sequester carbon. Farmers lack a scalable, cost‑effective way to restore this biological infrastructure and capture the associated climate benefits.
Solution
Groundwork BioAg supplies highly concentrated mycorrhizal inoculants (the Rootella product line) that re‑establish robust fungal networks in the rhizosphere. The inoculants extend root reach by up to 100 ×, improving phosphorus and water uptake, enhancing stress tolerance, and increasing yields by 5‑15 %. The same fungal activity drives permanent carbon storage in mineral‑associated organic matter, delivering 1.5‑3.5 t CO₂e per acre per year. Farmers can enroll in the Rootella Carbon Program, which measures, verifies, and sells the sequestered carbon, returning up to 70 % of net credit proceeds to the grower while also providing agronomic ROI.
Target Audience
Primary customers are row‑crop and grain farmers seeking higher yields, fertilizer savings, and additional income from carbon credits, as well as carbon‑credit buyers looking for verified, durable nature‑based removal.
Features
- Proprietary high‑concentration strains (up to 167,000 viable propagules g⁻¹) enable effective seed‑treatment and liquid applications at low rates.
- Formulations (powder, liquid, flakes, grow packs) integrate into existing planting workflows without equipment changes.
- Extends root systems 10‑100 ×, increasing nutrient and water acquisition and reducing phosphorus fertilizer use by up to 50 %.
- Enhances crop resilience to drought, salinity, flooding and other abiotic stresses.
- Generates durable soil carbon by catalyzing mineral‑associated organic matter formation, delivering 1.5‑3.5 t CO₂e ac⁻¹ yr⁻¹.
- End‑to‑end carbon credit program compliant with Verra VM0042 v2.0, including MRV, third‑party verification, and a 21 % buffer pool.
- Revenue‑sharing model gives growers up to 70 % of net carbon credit proceeds.