Focused Research Organization

Understanding soil metabolism to build resilient agriculture

We integrate molecular measurement technologies with AI to develop prescriptive soil health solutions—giving soils what they need to thrive.

The Challenge

Soil health is fundamental to our future, and we are losing it

Over 90% of food comes from soil, yet the processes that govern healthy soil—the metabolism of microbiomes and organic compounds—remain poorly understood. Current agricultural methods deplete soil organics faster than they accumulate, leaving crops vulnerable to disease, drought, and declining nutritional quality.

Within the next decade, we face shortages of staple crops unless we learn to diagnose soil dysfunctions and prescribe targeted treatments. The science to do this is emerging, but it needs to move faster.

Our Approach

From molecular measurement to prescriptive treatment

We study soil as an integrated system—the feedbacks between plants, microbes, and organic compounds—to identify what’s missing and prescribe what’s needed.

Measure

High-resolution molecular analysis of soil microbiomes and organic compounds to see what conventional soil tests miss.

Model

AI and metabolic models that detect patterns of deficiency across the complex interactions of microbes, organics, and plants.

Prescribe

Targeted organic supplements designed to restore specific soil functions—supporting crop protection, climate resilience, and soil health.

Why a Focused Research Organization

The technologies to achieve prescriptive soil health management exist, but they are too early for traditional startup financing and too urgent for the pace of academic research.

Prosper Soils Institute bridges this gap. As a Focused Research Organization, we develop foundational technologies across application areas—from crop disease to carbon sequestration—to the point where they can be licensed and commercialized by companies. We move with startup speed, guided by scientific rigor, funded by mission-aligned partners.

Team