Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF) and SoilCares to have major impact on food security
SoilCares develops services and hardware (measuring equipment) for soil and livestock feed analysis. Its products help farmers determine the optimal amount and composition of natural or artificial fertiliser needed to grow specific crops on specific land parcels. Livestock farmers use the equipment as well, to measure the quality of their feed crops and determine how much (and which) nutrients must be added in order to optimise their livestock's diet. This offers them an opportunity to significantly improve their level of productivity and income.
SoilCares develops services and hardware (measuring equipment) for soil and livestock feed analysis. Its products help farmers determine the optimal amount and composition of natural or artificial fertiliser needed to grow specific crops on specific land parcels. Livestock farmers use the equipment as well, to measure the quality of their feed crops and determine how much (and which) nutrients must be added in order to optimise their livestock's diet. This offers them an opportunity to significantly improve their level of productivity and income.
Global impact
In light of our current challenges – providing food for a growing global population and dealing with increasing pressure on the environment – SoilCares can offer major added value. Over 30,000 farmers are expected to be able to increase their yields by 25 – 300% thanks to the recommendations issued by SoilCares. Despite this enormous potential, banks proved unwilling to take on the associated financing risk. However, DGGF was willing to offer such funding in light of the company's major potential impact.
SoilCares will be using the funds to convince farmers around the world of the major benefits offered by hand-held scanners and soil consultancy services. Farmers will also be trained in the use of measurement equipment. The company's products and services are having a major impact on food security. African countries offer especially great potential for improvements.
From soil sample to fertilisation recommendations
Once the soil or feed have been scanned locally, the data are transferred to the lab in Wageningen via a fixed or mobile data connection. The scan is then compared to thousands of prior analyses in the database, after which the resulting recommendation is sent to the user within 10 minutes. SoilCares’ earning model is based around revenues from each recommendation and the sale of hand-held-scanners and mobile laboratories (Lab-in-a-box, Liab).
Would you like to learn more about the available funding options?
SoilCares received government funding through the Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF), a programme of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl) in partnership with Atradius DSB and PwC Netherlands commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. To learn more about our potential role in realising your international ambitions, please contact us.