On a bright July morning outside Jerseyville, Illinois, a 90-foot sprayer rumbles across a soybean field. This time, something new is bolted to its boom: a set of AI-driven “selective spray” cameras developed by DeepAgro. Designed to pulse herbicide only where weeds are spotted, the technology promises to cut chemical use by more than 80%.
It’s a powerful example of the kind of support BioSTL is providing to startups on their journey to bring innovations to market and to the Midwest’s farm fields.
Through its AgTech Innovation program, BioSTL plays a critical role in bridging two very different worlds: global startup companies developing cutting-edge ag technologies, and the farmers who will ultimately decide whether those technologies thrive or fail. The program pairs early-stage innovators with a curated network of progressive growers, helping both sides test, refine, and scale the future of farming.
From Lab to Field, Faster
At the heart of the program is BioSTL’s Early Adopter Grower Innovation Community (EAGIC)—a vetted network of row-crop farmers willing to trial promising but unproven technologies. Each grower has a profile detailing crops, equipment, acreage, and tolerance for risk. Startups, in turn, are matched with field sites that align with their target use case.
Need a Missouri field to trial a biological nitrogen fixer or other biostimulant in corn? Want to test remote sensing capabilities for prescribing nutrient applications on Illinois corn or soybeans? BioSTL connects the dots.
The approach allows startups to move faster and smarter. In return, growers get early access to emerging tools and hard data from their own land. “It’s not just about adoption; it’s about real-world validation,” says a BioSTL program lead, Joey Jedlicka. “Field truth helps sharpen the tech, and the feedback loop is immediate.”
Feedback, Not Failure
Of course, not every trial ends in success. And that’s the point. BioSTL ensures that startups get clear data, positive or not, and a rapid read on market fit. In some cases, disappointing trials have led founders to pivot their R&D or go-to-market approach to have better success in upcoming trials or even exit, saving time, money, and credibility.
But when the tech delivers, BioSTL helps innovators scale. Startups like DeepAgro benefit from second-season trials, expanded test plots, and metrics that go far beyond anecdote: weed pressure, fuel use, sprayer efficiency, and even software update responsiveness.
Stewardship, Sustainability, and Scale
Underpinning all of BioSTL’s ag-tech work is a long-term vision: connecting global innovation to and through St Louis for smarter farming practices, protecting the environment, and supporting farmer livelihoods. In the case of DeepAgro, precision applications can reduce herbicide usage, technologies that help the next generation of farmers steward their land more efficiently.
For BioSTL, it’s not just about commercial success. It’s about building a future where innovation aligns with responsibility—and where ag-tech startups can grow strong roots in the Midwest.
