OneSoil

High-Level Overview

OneSoil is a precision agriculture platform that leverages satellite imagery, machine learning, and proprietary algorithms to help farmers monitor crops remotely, optimize inputs like seeds and fertilizers, and boost yields while reducing costs.[1][2][3][4] It serves farmers, agricultural consultants, companies, governments, and organizations worldwide by solving inefficiencies in traditional farming through data-driven insights, such as NDVI monitoring, variable-rate application (VRA) maps, and productivity zone identification, covering over 56 million hectares of arable land used by more than 300,000 farmers.[3][5][7] Key products include the free OneSoil Scouting app for field monitoring, the web app for planning, the subscription-based OneSoil Pro for advanced VRA tools, the OneSoil Yield app launched in 2022 for trial analysis using six years of vegetation data, and OneSoil Map for global crop visualization.[1][3][4][5]

The platform's growth stems from real-world data from over 1,500 VRA experiments across 200,000+ hectares since 2011, enabling sustainable practices amid climate challenges like drought and food security issues.[3][4][5]

Origin Story

OneSoil emerged from extensive field trials starting in 2011, where the team conducted over 1,500 VRA experiments on more than 200,000 hectares to refine precision farming methods, forming the foundation for its tools.[3] Founded formally in 2018, the company is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, with an office in Poland and global R&D operations across Europe; it positions itself as a digital product company backed by investors like Almaz Capital.[1][2][4][5] While specific founders are not detailed in available sources, CEO Morten Schmidt has highlighted its evolution from proprietary ground-truth data and machine learning to apps that make precision farming accessible without expensive hardware.[3][5] Early traction came from free tools drawing in 300,000+ users and major arable land coverage, transitioning to paid analytics for agribusinesses.[2][5]

Core Differentiators

• Free Core Tools with Freemium Model: Basic web and mobile apps (Scouting, NDVI monitoring, weather, crop rotation) are free globally, lowering barriers to precision farming; Pro subscription unlocks advanced VRA, yield prediction, and analytics scaled by hectares.[2][3][7]
• Satellite and AI-Powered Insights: Uses Sentinel-2 imagery (10m resolution) for real-time NDVI, CCCI, NDRE indices, auto-field/crop detection, productivity zones, and VRA maps; integrates 6+ years of proprietary data for accurate, actionable recommendations.[1][3][4][6]
• Specialized Apps for Scale: OneSoil Yield (2022) analyzes trials with topography and soil data; OneSoil Map (launched ~2022) visualizes 13 crops across 59 countries at field/regional levels using Mapbox, aiding governments on food security.[1][5][8]
• Proven, Hardware-Light Approach: Draws from 1,500+ experiments; supports GPS integration, weather sensors, and GIS without mandating complex machinery, emphasizing ease and cost savings on inputs.[3][6]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

OneSoil rides the precision agriculture wave, fueled by climate change, population growth, and food security demands, where satellite tech and AI enable sustainable resource use amid drier, hotter conditions.[4][5][6] Timing aligns with open Sentinel-2 data availability and ML advancements, allowing global scalability without proprietary satellites, unlike competitors like SatSure or Phytech.[1][6] Market forces favoring it include rising input costs, regulatory pushes for sustainability, and big data's role in agribusiness—OneSoil influences the ecosystem by providing real-time insights to 5% of world arable land, partnering with firms, non-profits, and governments for disaster response and yield optimization.[2][5] It democratizes agtech for smallholders via free apps, accelerating adoption in emerging markets.[3][7]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

OneSoil is poised to expand its global footprint through enhanced AI for more crops, regions, and climate-adaptive features like advanced drought modeling, building on OneSoil Map's scale.[5][8] Trends like AI-driven ag insurance, supply chain transparency, and IoT-sensor integration (e.g., its weather devices) will shape its path, potentially growing Pro subscriptions as farms digitize amid 2030 sustainability mandates.[4][6] Its influence may evolve from farmer tools to enterprise/government platforms, amplifying food security impacts—echoing its core mission to transform agriculture profitably and sustainably, one field at a time.[4]