Miraterra Acquires Soil DNA Startup Trace Genomics to Boost Soil Health Insights

By Agroempresario.com 

Canadian agtech company Miraterra has taken a significant step forward in soil health measurement by acquiring Trace Genomics, a California-based startup specializing in soil DNA sequencing. This strategic acquisition includes Trace Genomics’ full intellectual property portfolio, existing products, and its analytical laboratory located in Ames, Iowa.

Miraterra CEO Nate Kelly shared with AgFunderNews that adding Trace Genomics’ capabilities “significantly enhances our understanding of soil health.” This move positions Miraterra as a stronger player in delivering advanced soil biology insights to growers, agronomists, and the wider agricultural community.

The Promise of Soil DNA Sequencing

Trace Genomics has built its reputation around cutting-edge soil DNA sequencing technology that reveals the biological complexity beneath farmers’ fields. By decoding the soil microbiome, the company provides actionable data that helps optimize crop decisions, ultimately promoting sustainability and improving profitability. Compared to traditional soil testing, which primarily measures chemical and mineral content, DNA-based soil analysis offers a more holistic view of soil health.

However, the premium cost of these advanced tests has made widespread farmer adoption challenging. The agtech sector focused on soil biology has faced recent uncertainties, evidenced by mergers like that of Pattern Ag and EarthOptics in 2024. Some industry experts, including Shane Thomas of Upstream Ag, have characterized such deals as reactive responses to tough market conditions.

Trace Genomics’ Journey and Market Realities

Co-founder and CEO of Trace Genomics, Poornima Parameswaran, reflected on the company’s path in a recent LinkedIn post. “Trace’s journey took a different path than we originally envisioned,” she said. Acknowledging “real market headwinds in agtech,” Parameswaran expressed pride in the team’s accomplishments and the trust earned from customers.

She added, “When it became clear that independent growth wasn’t sustainable, our focus shifted to finding the right home for the work.” Trace Genomics had raised significant funding over the years, including a $10.5 million Series B round in 2024 led by S2G Ventures, Ajax Strategies, and Rabo Ventures, and previous rounds backed by Stage 1 Ventures, AgFunder, and Refactor Capital.

Parameswaran remains optimistic about the acquisition, stating, “I’m hopeful Miraterra’s acquisition will give the platform a meaningful next chapter, one that continues to deliver science-backed value to the people who grow our food.”

Integrating Soil Biology with Advanced Spectroscopy

Miraterra has developed a compact instrument employing advanced Raman spectroscopy, a laser-based technique that analyzes molecular composition. This device measures multiple aspects of the “soil-to-table” chain, including plant tissue, organic carbon, sugars, and vitamins. The acquisition of Trace Genomics allows Miraterra to combine mineralogical, hydrological, and biological soil health data for a comprehensive soil profile.

Tom Chi from At One Ventures, an early investor in Miraterra, highlighted the significance of this integration. “Miraterra’s capability, combined with Trace Genomics, fills out the full suite of all three elements of soil health, and can do so at a massively improved cost structure,” he said.

The addition of Trace Genomics’ Ames lab will enable Miraterra to quickly validate the functionality of its Raman spectroscopy instrument. Nate Kelly explained this will accelerate delivering measurement solutions to lab partners and reduce the company’s time to revenue. Furthermore, the acquisition introduces a new revenue stream for Miraterra through expanded soil testing services.

Serving Existing Customers and Growing Forward

Miraterra plans to maintain service continuity for Trace Genomics’ existing customers while leveraging the Ames-based lab team to broaden its offerings. The combined technologies and expertise position Miraterra as a leader in providing accessible, reliable soil health measurements across the agricultural value chain.

In an industry where precision and sustainability are becoming critical, this acquisition signals growing recognition of biological soil testing’s importance and the value of integrating diverse scientific approaches.