DynamoBot wins Bayer's Golden Ticket for regenerative agriculture

Source: Foodhub NRW

As part of the Golden Ticket II: Regenerative Agriculture programme run by BayerLifeHub — the first cohort in Europe and the second worldwide — four young companies have been selected to develop and test hands-on concepts together with our member Bayer. The four start-ups now get access to Bayer's labs and experts at LifeHub Monheim, the global headquarters of Bayer Crop Science.

The selection was made from 47 applications worldwide. Criteria included technological readiness, scientific foundation, and potential for scaling on real farms. The goal: new methods for more efficient use of resources, better soil quality, and stronger biodiversity — alongside the economic viability of farming operations.

The selected start-ups at a glance

• DynamoBot (Bonn) develops robotic systems for targeted weed control. The technology reduces herbicide use and minimises soil erosion through precise mechanical action.
• Nerit'e' (Aachen) is building a soil sensor that measures nitrogen content every 48 hours with lab-grade precision — enabling sharper fertiliser strategies and avoiding over-application.
• SmartCloudFarming (Berlin) uses satellite data and AI to build detailed 3D soil models — providing solid agronomic decision support, including for CO₂ accounting of farming practices.
• Veridi Technologies BV (The Hague) combines microscopy and AI to analyse soil biodiversity, aiming to make soil health measurable, comparable, and usable for working farms.

A focus on regenerative agriculture

With the LifeHub programme, Bayer wants to advance sustainable innovation through collaboration with start-ups, research, and farming itself. The core ambition: a shift toward regenerative agriculture — productive, climate-resilient, resource-light.

In practice, that means supporting technologies and practices that secure yields and strengthen natural systems — through humus build-up, optimised resource use, and biodiversity-friendly cropping systems. Early pilot projects, including ones in Argentina, show measurable effects on CO₂ footprint and yields, as Karl Collins presented in his keynote at the Ideenfutter Expo 2024. More on that here.