InnerPlant, founded in 2018, develops genetically modified soybeans that emit a fluorescent signal when under stress, such as fungal infections. The company utilizes hyperspectral satellite data to monitor these crops over large areas, moving away from ground-based sensors.
The company conducted its first demonstration in Argentina between December 2023 and March 2024 using the EnMAP satellite and the DESIS instrument on the ISS. These assets successfully identified 10 acres of calibrator plants engineered to glow constantly.
A second demonstration occurred in summer 2024 across North Dakota, Missouri, and Iowa. In this trial, engineered plants were mixed with commercial crops to test detection capabilities at the pixel level.
InnerPlant currently provides actionable data to farmers, serving between 160 and 180 customers as of summer 2026. The company is working toward FDA deregulation, which is expected by 2030, to allow for the commercial planting of these crops.
