Benson Hill
Benson Hill (operating as Confluence Genetics) is a US-based crop genetics company developing AI-enabled, high-protein soybean seed varieties for animal feed, human food, and biofuel markets, selling primarily to US farmers and grain processors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSt Louis, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Benson Hill does
Benson Hill (operating commercially as Confluence Genetics) is a US-based crop genetics and seed innovation company founded in 2012 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. The company develops high-protein soybean varieties through AI-driven plant science platforms and proprietary genetic technology, serving three end-markets: Better Feed (animal nutrition), Better Food (human food ingredients), and Better Fuel (biofuel feedstocks). Its commercial focus is on growers and grain processors in the United States, with a recent strategic partnership with ADM (announced April 2026) to expand ultra-high soy protein availability across North American food ingredients.
The company's product and technology stack rests on three core platforms: eMERGE Genetics, a proprietary genetic technology platform leveraging decades-proven soybean germplasm; CropOS, an AI-driven crop operating system for plant science, breeding optimization, and data-driven decision making; and Crop Accelerator, an accelerated crop development program designed to compress breeding cycles. These platforms support a portfolio of proprietary soybean seed varieties plus complementary services: Partner Programs that connect farmers with grain processors in their area, and Independent Testing partnerships with universities that validate variety performance.
Benson Hill's business model combines direct seed sales to farmers through an internal product specialist and seed sales team with channel-based partner programs linking growers to grain processors. The company went public on NYSE (ticker BHIL) following a 2021 funding round of approximately $225 million, then underwent financial restructuring, transitioned back to private ownership, and consolidated commercial operations under the Confluence Genetics brand. Prior integrated processing capacity was added via the 2022 acquisitions of ZFS Creston (~$102M) and Zeeland Farm Services, and the company also acquired eMerge Genetics in 2019 — assets that underpin the current eMERGE Genetics offering. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and revenue is generated primarily through seed sales and channel-partner economics.
Benson Hill firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Benson Hill
- Legal name
- Benson Hill, Inc.
- Website
- https://bensonhill.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Benson Hill (operating as Confluence Genetics) is a US-based crop genetics company developing AI-enabled, high-protein soybean seed varieties for animal feed, human food, and biofuel markets, selling primarily to US farmers and grain processors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Benson Hill industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Biotechnology / Crop Genetics
- NAICS
- Soybean Farming (11111)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biotechnology & Gene-Edited Trait Development (AFAGAIAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Breeding & Bioinformatics Software (Breeding informatics, decision tools) (AFABALAL), Seed Production & Multiplication (Contract Growing, Foundation/Certified Seed) (AFABAFAK)
Keywords
Where Benson Hill is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St Louis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Benson Hill business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Benson Hill product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Benson Hill (operating commercially as Confluence Genetics) develops and sells proprietary high-protein, sustainable soybean seed varieties using AI-driven plant science and decades-proven genetics. The company produces soybean seed products for three end markets — animal feed, human food ingredients, and biofuel feedstocks — and runs grain processor partner programs and university-validated independent testing to support its seed portfolio.
Product overview
Confluence Genetics (formerly Benson Hill) operates as a seed innovation company combining decades-proven genetics with AI-driven plant science to develop high-protein, sustainable soy solutions. The company offers a portfolio of soybean seed products supported by three core technology platforms: eMERGE Genetics (proprietary genetic technology), CropOS (AI-driven plant science platform), and Crop Accelerator (accelerated breeding capability). The product ecosystem is complemented by Partner Programs connecting grain processors with farmers, and Independent Testing partnerships with universities for variety validation. The company serves three primary industries: Better Feed (animal nutrition), Better Food (human food ingredients), and Better Fuel (biofuel feedstocks).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Confluence Genetics: Seed innovation company leveraging AI-driven plant science and world-leading genetics for high-protein, sustainable soy solutions serving feed, food, and fuel industries.
Products and services
- Soybean Seed Varieties
Companies that use Benson Hill
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Benson Hill technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Benson Hill partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Benson Hill competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Corteva: Global seed and crop protection major with a large soybean breeding program (Pioneer) and proprietary digital agronomy platform. Directly comparable as a competing soybean seed developer, but with vastly greater scale, broader crop portfolio, and global distribution.
- Bayer Crop Science (incl. Monsanto): Owner of the Asgrow and DEKALB soybean seed brands plus Climate FieldView digital platform. A direct competitor in soybean genetics and digital agronomy, with embedded incumbency across farmer relationships and channel partners.
- Syngenta: Global seed and crop protection company with a significant soybean seed business (NK Seeds, Golden Harvest) and trait development pipeline. A relevant incumbent peer competing for the same soybean seed and trait licensing economics.
Emerging players
- Inari Agriculture: AI- and computational biology-driven seed design company also targeting step-change improvements in soybean (and corn/wheat) yield and sustainability. Closest pure-play peer using predictive design and AI to disrupt conventional seed R&D economics.
- Pairwise: Gene-editing (CRISPR) focused crop science company developing improved varieties of corn, soybeans, and other crops. Comparable as a tech-enabled plant science peer pursuing premium consumer and producer traits through novel breeding modalities.
- Evogene: Computational biology company applying AI to trait discovery and seed development across multiple crops. A relevant emerging peer with a similar AI-for-plant-science model, though broader in crop scope.
Others
- Archer Daniels Midland (ADM): Strategic partner and one of the world's largest agricultural processors of soybeans into food, feed, and biofuel ingredients. Relevant as the commercial channel partner for Confluence Genetics' ultra-high protein soy and as a benchmark for the downstream value chain the company is integrating into via ZFS Creston.
- Bunge: Major global oilseed processor with significant soybean crushing, refining, and ingredient capabilities. Comparable as a downstream counterpart in the soybean value chain where Confluence Genetics' proprietary varieties could be funneled for food, feed, and renewable fuel applications.
- Cargill: Global agribusiness with deep presence in oilseed origination, processing, and animal nutrition. Relevant as a potential partner/customer for high-protein soy ingredients and as a strategic benchmark for integrated ag-tech value chains.
- Louis Dreyfus Company: Global merchant and processor of oilseeds (including soybeans) into food, feed, and biofuel products. Already an investor in Benson Hill and a logical distribution/processing counterpart for Confluence Genetics' proprietary soy pipeline.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Benson Hill social profiles
Digital presenceBenson Hill financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Benson Hill leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Benson Hill subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Benson Hill funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds15 records
Investors32 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Benson Hill M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A3 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Benson Hill
What does Benson Hill do?
Benson Hill (operating commercially as Confluence Genetics) develops and sells proprietary high-protein, sustainable soybean seed varieties using AI-driven plant science and decades-proven genetics. The company produces soybean seed products for three end markets — animal feed, human food ingredients, and biofuel feedstocks — and runs grain processor partner programs and university-validated independent testing to support its seed portfolio.
Is Benson Hill a public or private company?
Benson Hill is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Benson Hill founded?
Benson Hill was founded in 2012. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Benson Hill based?
Benson Hill is headquartered in St Louis, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Benson Hill's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Corteva, Bayer Crop Science (incl. Monsanto) and Syngenta. Emerging players are Inari Agriculture, Pairwise and Evogene. Others are Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Bunge, Cargill and Louis Dreyfus Company.
Does Benson Hill have an API?
No public API is recorded for Benson Hill.
What industry is Benson Hill in?
Benson Hill's product category is Agricultural Biotechnology / Crop Genetics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAIAG, Biotechnology & Gene-Edited Trait Development, with a secondary code of AFABALAL, Digital Breeding & Bioinformatics Software (Breeding informatics, decision tools). Its NAICS code is 11111 and its SIC code is 100.