Veridi Combines Nematodes and AI to Solve Europe’s $55 Billion Soil Biodiversity Crisis

By Agroempresario.com
Soil degradation is costing Europe around $55 billion annually, and innovative solutions are urgently needed to address this mounting environmental and agricultural challenge. One startup, Veridi Technologies, is pairing cutting-edge artificial intelligence with age-old soil health indicators—nematodes—to deliver a revolutionary soil diagnostics tool.

Nematodes, microscopic worms found in all soils, play a vital role in the ecosystem. Some feed on bacteria and fungi, supporting nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition. Others can be harmful parasites to crops, animals, or humans. According to Ziad Matar, Veridi’s cofounder and CEO, the diversity and abundance of nematodes in soil offer an excellent indication of overall soil health.

“If any major disturbances happened to the soil in the last several years, this is directly reflected in nematode population numbers and diversity,” says Matar.

Traditionally, analyzing nematodes requires tedious microscopy, with experts manually identifying and counting hundreds of these tiny organisms under high magnification. The process is expensive, time-consuming, and increasingly bottlenecked by a shortage of nematode specialists. Veridi aims to change that.

Together with cofounder Richard Janissen and support from former Bayer Vegetable Seeds CEO Joachim Schneider, Veridi developed an automated platform that leverages machine learning and precision microscopy to analyze nematodes at scale.

“By not needing experts, we democratize the whole thing—anybody can do it,” says Schneider. “Large agricultural corporations, consultants, and even public institutions can now access reliable soil health diagnostics.”

Veridi’s process involves extracting a nematode solution from soil, placing it under an automated microscope, and using AI to identify and count the various nematode species. “Within three clicks,” Matar says, “you scan the sample and get results.”

This automation means Veridi’s system can plug seamlessly into existing laboratory workflows and deliver real-time insights into soil conditions. The platform also integrates with agronomic models, offering specific recommendations on crop protection, soil amendments, and planting strategies.

The innovation arrives at a pivotal moment for European agriculture. The European Commission recently introduced the Soil Monitoring Law, which mandates landowners and users to assess and improve soil health over time. “Everybody responsible for soil will need to track its status and develop a plan for improvement,” says Schneider.

That’s where Veridi’s value becomes especially clear. By streamlining and scaling diagnostics, the company enables governments, researchers, and farmers to analyze more samples, more frequently, and at a fraction of the cost.

“Veridi makes soil health accessible, available, and cheap,” Schneider adds. The platform is reportedly 10 times cheaper than conventional analysis methods and 10–20% more accurate thanks to its AI-driven precision.

Beyond biodiversity diagnostics, Veridi’s platform can also identify harmful parasitic nematodes, allowing farmers to take early action to protect their crops. These insights are essential for minimizing crop loss and optimizing soil management practices in a changing climate.

Veridi is already collaborating with laboratories conducting soil biodiversity work, including governmental agencies. “Governments are deeply concerned about soil degradation and its consequences for food security,” says Matar. “There’s strong demand for scalable, science-based solutions.”

In recognition of its innovation, Veridi received a €2.5 million grant from the European Union’s EIC Accelerator in early 2024. The funding will be used to accelerate research and development, expand operations in key markets, and hire more engineers and scientists. It will also support the production and distribution of more units of Veridi’s automated microscopes.

For a continent grappling with widespread soil degradation and the pressures of climate change, Veridi’s technology offers a promising path forward. By making advanced soil diagnostics more efficient and accessible, the company is helping pave the way for more sustainable and data-driven farming practices across Europe.

In Matar’s words, “Our goal is to empower everyone—from small farmers to national governments—to understand and improve their soil. Because healthier soil means a healthier planet.”