What Epicrop Technologies does

EpiCrop Technologies is a private agricultural biotechnology company founded in 2014 in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Dr. Sally Mackenzie (Penn State University) and Dr. Michael Fromm (formerly of Monsanto and Mendel Biotechnology). The company commercializes a non-GMO epigenetic crop breeding platform based on manipulation of the MSH1 gene, which produces heritable epigenetic changes affecting yield, heat resistance, cold tolerance, and growth in marginal soils. After more than ten years of academic field trials conducted in collaboration with Penn State University and the University of Florida, EpiCrop is transitioning its technology from research to commercial deployment with agricultural companies, seed producers, and crop breeders globally.

The company's product portfolio consists of two integrated offerings. Epigenetic Crop Reprogramming uses a proprietary grafting method that transfers only small RNA epigenetic information from modified rootstock to unmodified scions, producing progeny with heritable performance gains for four or more generations without DNA sequence modification. EpiMethyl Analytics is a patent-protected whole-genome DNA methylation analysis platform that applies machine learning to predict which lines will exhibit optimal epigenetic changes, accelerating breeding cycle time. Documented field outcomes include 10% yield gains under ideal conditions and up to 64% yield gains under marginal field conditions in sorghum, with enhanced growth vigor heritable across multiple generations in tomato.

EpiCrop generates revenue through B2B licensing of its epigenetic breeding technology and through EpiMethyl Analytics services, marketed via direct enterprise sales to seed companies and breeding operations. The company has raised approximately $3.4 million in disclosed funding across a 2015 National Science Foundation SBIR grant ($216,987) and a 2017 Series 2 round ($3.2 million) led by North Forty Ventures with participation from TechAccel, Nelnet, and Speedway Properties. Operations are based in Lincoln, Nebraska and St. Louis, Missouri, and the board is chaired by Jeff Raikes (former Microsoft Business Division president and former CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation).

Name

Epicrop Technologies

Legal name

EpiCrop Technologies Inc.

Website

https://epicrop.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EpiCrop Technologies is a private agricultural biotechnology company that commercializes a non-GMO epigenetic crop breeding platform using MSH1 gene manipulation and an ML-guided DNA methylation analytics platform, licensing its technology to seed producers, agricultural companies, and crop breeders globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Biotechnology

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Gene Editing Trait Development (CRISPR/TALEN/ZFN) (AFABALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Molecular Breeding & Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS) (AFABALAD)

Keywords

• Epigenetic crop breeding
• Agricultural biotechnology
• DNA methylation analytics
• Non-GMO crop improvement
• Seed yield enhancement

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Epigenetic Breeding Technology Licensing: Licensing of proprietary epigenetic crop breeding technology to agricultural companies, seed producers, and commercial breeding operations for integration into their crop development programs.
2. EpiMethyl Analytics Services: Providing DNA methylation analysis and predictive analytics services to guide optimal line selection in crop breeding programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

EpiCrop Technologies develops and licenses proprietary epigenetic crop breeding technology that uses MSH1 gene manipulation to induce heritable, non-GMO performance enhancements in crops such as tomato, soy, canola, and sorghum. The company pairs this Epigenetic Crop Reprogramming platform with EpiMethyl Analytics, a patent-protected whole-genome DNA methylation analysis service that uses machine learning to predict and select optimal breeding lines for agricultural customers.

Product overview

EpiCrop Technologies offers two integrated proprietary products: EpiMethyl Analytics and Epigenetic Crop Reprogramming. EpiMethyl Analytics is a patent-protected whole-genome DNA methylation analysis platform that uses machine learning to decode epigenomic data and predict plant performance, identifying which lines will produce optimal epigenetic changes. This analytics platform guides the selection process for Epigenetic Crop Reprogramming, which applies rapid, non-GMO epigenetic enhancement technology to crops including tomato, soy, canola, and sorghum. The combined workflow enables the company to select the best-performing lines, create epigenetic rootstock through a unique grafting approach, and harvest seeds with effects heritable for four generations or more.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Epigenetic Crop Reprogramming: Rapid, non-GMO technology for epigenetic enhancement of performance in crops including tomato, soy, canola, and sorghum.
• EpiMethyl Analytics

Products and services

• Epigenetic Crop Reprogramming A rapid, non-GMO epigenetic enhancement technology that induces heritable performance gains in crops including tomato, soy, canola, and sorghum. Uses a unique grafting approach that transfers only sRNA epigenetic information without DNA modification, producing progeny with enhanced vigor, heat resistance, cold tolerance, and improved performance in marginal soils. Effects are heritable for four generations or more. Licensed to agricultural companies, seed producers, and crop breeders.
• EpiMethyl Analytics A patent-protected whole-genome DNA methylation analysis service that decodes plant methylome data and applies machine learning to predict which lines will exhibit optimal epigenetic changes. Used to guide line selection for the Epigenetic Crop Reprogramming workflow and accelerate commercial breeding programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10% yield increase under ideal field conditions, 20% increase under extreme low nitrogen conditions in sorghum
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Penn State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research relationship with Penn State University where co-founder Dr. Sally Mackenzie serves as the Lloyd and Dottie Huck Chair for Plant Functional Genomics and Founding Director of the Plant Institute.
• University of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research collaboration in large-scale field trials with tomato plants conducted across multiple generations.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Phytoform Labs: AI-driven crop genetics company using genome editing to improve crop resilience and yield — comparable early-stage technology-platform profile and customer base.
• BioConsortia: Microbial and plant genetics company developing yield-improving seed treatments and beneficial microbes — adjacent crop-enhancement platform addressing similar yield and stress-tolerance outcomes.
• Sound Agriculture: Agtech company combining on-demand crop breeding with nutrient-efficiency products to improve yields sustainably — adjacent to EpiCrop in offering non-transgenic crop-improvement tools to growers.

Direct peers

• Pairwise: Plant genetics company using CRISPR-based gene editing and proprietary base-editing tools to develop improved crop varieties — directly comparable to EpiCrop as a trait-development platform targeting seed companies and agricultural producers.
• Inari Agriculture: AI-driven seed design company combining computational biology with multiplex gene editing to deliver step-change yield improvements in major row crops — comparable business model (platform licensing to seed companies) and target customer overlap.
• Benson Hill: Crop improvement company using proprietary genetics, AI, and breeding platforms (CropOS) to accelerate development of higher-protein soybean and other improved varieties — similar crop-improvement platform addressing yield and sustainability.
• Cibus: Developer of gene-editing technologies (Rapid Trait Development System) for crop improvement, focused on non-transgenic output — overlapping with EpiCrop's non-GMO positioning and seed-industry go-to-market.
• Tropic Biosciences: Ag-biotech company using gene editing to improve tropical crops (banana, coffee, rice) — comparable technology platform and licensing-oriented business model targeting agricultural producers.

Broad incumbents

• Corteva Agriscience: Major agricultural input and seed company with significant in-house crop genetics and breeding programs — represents both a potential licensee for EpiCrop and a long-term competitive threat across row crops.
• Bayer Crop Science: Global seed and trait powerhouse (formerly Monsanto) operating extensive breeding and biotech programs — broad incumbent that competes in and could partner around epigenetic and non-GMO trait platforms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epicrop-technologies-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Epicrop Technologies