iSelect Fund

Saving Water, Boosting Nutrition

Smart irrigation isn’t just about conserving water—it’s about growing better food. Google recently invested $4M to deploy Arable Labs’ smart‑irrigation devices across 20,000 acres, aiming to save 500 million gallons of water over eight years. Arable’s devices provide real‑time data on weather, soil moisture and crop health so farmers can optimize irrigation and reduce stress on crops.

Precise irrigation supports nutrient‑dense produce and conserves resources—a win for farmers, consumers and the planet. We’re proud to support technologies that make agriculture more resilient and our food more nourishing.



Learn more:

Google Backs AgTech Projects to Save 2 Billion Liters of Water on U.S. Farms - ESG Today Google and agtech solutions provider Arable announced a water replenishment-focused collaboration, with Google agreeing to fund projects to bring Arable’s efficient irrigation technology to farmers in North and South Carolina. According to the companies, Google plans to invest more than $4 million...

Food is Health: Proving the Power of Regenerative Farming

How does regenerative agriculture influence the nutrients on your plate? Our portfolio company Edacious and the Regenerative Organic Alliance are answering that question. Over the next four years they’ll rapidly test more than 200 Regenerative Organic Certified foods, measuring nutrient density and screening for contaminants. The data will help farmers and brands show consumers how soil practices translate into healthier, safer food.

At iSelect, we invest at the intersection of soil, food and health. Edacious’ work demonstrates how healthy soils create healthy food, and how transparency empowers people to make better choices. Stay tuned for updates from this groundbreaking study.



Link:

Farming for function: Edacious and ROA put nutrition under the microscope Edacious and the Regenerative Organic Alliance are partnering to quantify the nutritional impact of regenerative organic farming, creating a data-driven roadmap that links growing practices to human and planetary health.

Brightseed’s Forager was recently honored as a TIME Best Invention of 2024, recognizing their breakthrough technology that is using AI to create the world’s largest library of natural small molecule compounds from plants and link them to potential health benefits.

Congratulations to the Brightseed team!

https://time.com/7094643/brightseed-forager/

Brightseed Forager: the 200 Best Inventions of 2024 Find out why Brightseed Forager made this year's listFind out why INVENTION is one of the best inventions of 2024

iSelect Portfolio Spotlight: NextSense

NextSense has been recognized as a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer for 2024. This prestigious honor celebrates their innovative brain technology designed to enhance daily life by restoring energy, joy, and purpose. As a new Technology Pioneer, NextSense's CEO, Jonathan Berent, will speak at Summer Davos in Dalian, China, where he will explore groundbreaking advancements in digital neurotherapeutics. In addition, Jonathan Berent has been named to Fast Company's Impact Council, a network of visionary leaders committed to shaping the future through creativity and mission-driven innovation.

Press Release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nextsense-honored-as-world-economic-forum-technology-pioneer-302166390.html

iSelect is proud to have been named by PitchBook as one of the “10 most active VC investors cultivating agtech’s future.”
See the list: https://pitchbook.com/news/articles/top-most-active-agtech-vc-investors

Top 10 VCs cultivating agtech’s future - PitchBook Despite a recent bad harvest, investors are still bullish on agtech, raising large vertical-specific funds.

iSelect Fund Portfolio Spotlight: Harpe Bio

A recent Forbes article featuring Harpe Bio, "A New Tactic For The War With Weeds," highlights the urgent need for sustainable w**d control solutions due to increasing herbicide resistance. Harpe Bioherbicide Solutions, Inc. has developed a novel method using natural chemicals derived from mint species to combat this issue. Their approach not only restores the efficacy of key herbicides but also leverages the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status of mint-derived chemicals, streamlining regulatory approval. This innovation, led by scientists Manish Bansal and Randall Hess, focuses on combining mint extracts with herbicides, showing promising results in overcoming w**d resistance. The integration of advanced spraying technologies further enhances this natural, eco-friendly solution. Harpe Bio's experienced leadership, including COO Daniel Pepitone, bolsters the development and success of this approach​​.

Read full article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensavage/2024/05/07/a-new-tactic-for-the-war-with-w**ds/

**dmanagement

A New Tactic For The War With Weeds Herbicide tolerant w**ds are an increasing issue that interferes with the progress that has been made to avoid mechanical tillage and protect soil health