AgBiome is a biotechnology company that develops biological crop protection products using microbes discovered through its proprietary GENESIS platform.[1][2][5] It serves farmers and the agriculture industry by creating eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides, such as biofungicides that control fungal diseases, insects, and nematodes while enhancing crop yields and sustainability.[1][3][5] The company solves the problem of environmental harm from synthetic chemicals by harnessing naturally evolved microbes, with products like the broad-spectrum fungicide Howler poised to match or exceed chemical efficacy.[3] Founded in 2012 and based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, AgBiome raised $236.5M before its acquisition by Ginkgo Bioworks in April 2024, marking strong growth in the microbiome-based agtech space.[1][2]
AgBiome was founded in 2012 by Eric Ward, a biotech veteran with decades of industry experience, who established the company to leverage plant-associated microbiomes for agricultural innovation.[2] The idea emerged from recognizing the untapped potential of environmental microbes—trillions competing and evolving over billions of years—to address crop protection needs amid rising global food demands.[2][5] Early traction came swiftly: in 2013, AgBiome secured its first financing from international ag investors; by 2014, it partnered with Syngenta for high-value trait products; and in 2015, it gained visibility at the RTP 180 AgBio event while receiving Series B investment from the Gates Foundation.[2][4] These milestones built on Ward's vision, positioning AgBiome as a leader in microbe-driven solutions.[2]
AgBiome stands out in agtech through its focus on isolated, fully sequenced microbial strains rather than metagenomic surveys alone, enabling deeper genomic insights and more reliable product development.[3]
AgBiome rides the microbiome revolution in agriculture, where startups mine plant-associated microbes to create bio-inputs like fertilizers, pesticides, and seed traits that replace chemicals amid climate pressures and pesticide resistance.[3] Timing aligns with surging demand for sustainable farming: global food needs are exponential, regulatory scrutiny on synthetics intensifies, and agtech funding flows to precision biology (e.g., AI-driven soil analysis complements their work).[1][2] Market forces favor them—Gates Foundation backing signals impact investing in food security, while North Carolina's agtech hub (robotics, automation) amplifies their ecosystem.[1][4] Post-acquisition by Ginkgo Bioworks, AgBiome influences synthetic biology's scale-up, accelerating microbe commercialization and inspiring competitors like Biome Makers and Trace Genomics.[1][3]
With Ginkgo Bioworks' resources post-2024 acquisition, AgBiome is primed to launch products like Howler at scale, expand beyond crops into animal/human health, and integrate GENESIS with advanced automation for faster discoveries.[1][3][5][6] Trends like AI-enhanced microbiome mapping, regulatory tailwinds for biologics, and climate-resilient ag will propel growth, potentially dominating bio-pesticides as chemical bans rise. Their influence could evolve from pioneer to platform enabler, responsibly feeding a growing world through microbial innovation—echoing their founding mission to partner with nature for human benefit.[2][5]
AgBiome has raised $258.0M in total across 6 funding rounds.
AgBiome's investors include Blue Horizon, John Hamer, Polaris Partners, Forbion, DCVC (Data Collective).
AgBiome has raised $258.0M across 6 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $120.0M Series D in September 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2021 | $120.0M Series D | Blue Horizon, John Hamer, Polaris Partners | |
| Jul 1, 2018 | $65.0M Series C | Forbion, Polaris Partners | |
| Aug 1, 2015 | $35.0M Series B | DCVC (Data Collective), Forbion, Polaris Partners | |
| Oct 1, 2014 | $18.0M Venture Round | DCVC (Data Collective), Forbion, Polaris Partners | |
| Apr 1, 2013 | $18.0M Series A | Forbion, Polaris Partners | |
| Nov 1, 2012 | $2.0M Seed | DCVC (Data Collective) |
