Miraterra purchases DNA soil company Trace Genomics due to unsustainable independent growth
**Miraterra Acquires Trace Genomics: A Stepping Stone in the Evolution of Soil DNA Sequencing**
The agricultural industry is witnessing a significant shift, as Canadian agtech company Miraterra acquires California-based Trace Genomics. This merger marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of soil DNA sequencing, a technology that offers a holistic approach to soil analysis [1][2][3].
Founded in 2015, Trace Genomics has been at the forefront of soil DNA sequencing technology, uncovering the biological complexity of soil by decoding the soil microbiome. Their innovative approach provides detailed soil intelligence, including nitrogen, phosphorus levels, and data on over 225 pathogens across more than 70 crops [1][2]. This advanced technology offers actionable insights for growers and agronomists, going beyond traditional soil testing methods that focus mainly on chemical and mineral content [1][3].
Miraterra, established in 2022, initially focused on soil health measurement using Raman spectroscopy for rapid chemical and mineral analysis. By acquiring Trace Genomics, including its full intellectual property, products, and analytical lab in Iowa, Miraterra is now able to combine mineralogical, hydrological, and biological measurements of soil health into a comprehensive platform [1][3][4].
The acquisition reflects a market trend towards consolidation and integration, combining advanced sensor-based analysis with genomic sequencing to provide a fuller picture of soil health. Miraterra’s strategy reflects an ambition to transform agricultural decision-making towards more sustainable and profitable farming by unlocking deeper soil and plant insights with scalable, cost-effective technology [4][1].
However, the sector faces challenges such as the premium cost of these tests, which has made widespread adoption among farmers slower. This has led to some industry consolidation and strategic moves, such as the merger of Pattern Ag and EarthOptics in 2024 [1][2].
Despite these challenges, the acquisition of Trace Genomics by Miraterra is expected to accelerate the delivery of measurement solutions, reduce time to revenue, and create a new revenue stream for Miraterra [5]. Miraterra will continue serving Trace's existing customers while expanding services through the Ames-based lab team [6].
Poornima Parameswaran, cofounder of Trace Genomics, noted that the company's journey took a different path than originally envisioned. Despite the market headwinds in agtech, Trace Genomics is proud of what they built and the trust they earned from customers who believed in their vision [7].
Miraterra's Raman instrument, now enhanced with Trace Genomics' technology, can measure mineralogical, hydrological, and biological elements of soil, offering a powerful tool for growers and agronomists [8]. This technology helps them understand the biological complexity beneath their fields and make decisions for crops based on the information, leading to increased sustainability and profitability compared to conventional soil-testing methods [9].
In summary, the acquisition of Trace Genomics by Miraterra represents a significant step in the evolution of soil DNA sequencing, combining biological and chemical soil insights under unified platforms to meet grower needs for precise, sustainable soil management tools [1][2][3][4].
| Aspect | Details | |-------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Key Players | Miraterra (Canada), Trace Genomics (USA), others like Pattern Ag/EarthOptics | | Technology | Soil DNA sequencing (Trace Genomics); Raman spectroscopy and sensor tech (Miraterra) | | Market Trend | Consolidation and integration of soil biology and mineralogical analysis | | Challenges | Premium cost of DNA soil tests limiting farmer adoption; economic pressures in agtech | | Strategic Outcome | Miraterra enhances portfolio to offer holistic soil health insights across biology and chemistry| | Impact | Improved actionable data for growers; advances toward sustainable, profitable agriculture |
Sources: [1] https://www.agfundernews.com/agtech-news/miraterra-acquires-trace-genomics-to-combine-raman-spectroscopy-and-soil-dna-sequencing [2] https://www.seedworldag.com/2025/07/20/miraterra-acquires-california-based-trace-genomics/ [3] https://www.agriculture.com/news/miraterra-acquires-trace-genomics [4] https://www.farmprogress.com/technology/miraterra-acquires-trace-genomics [5] https://www.agfundernews.com/agtech-news/miraterra-acquires-trace-genomics-to-combine-raman-spectroscopy-and-soil-dna-sequencing [6] https://www.seedworldag.com/2025/07/20/miraterra-acquires-california-based-trace-genomics/ [7] https://www.agriculture.com/news/miraterra-acquires-trace-genomics [8] https://www.farmprogress.com/technology/miraterra-acquires-trace-genomics [9] https://www.agriculture.com/news/miraterra-acquires-trace-genomics
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