Crop Nutrition Laboratory Services (Cropnuts)

What Crop Nutrition Laboratory Services (Cropnuts) does

Crop Nutrition Laboratory Services Ltd (Cropnuts) is a Kenyan agricultural testing laboratory and agronomy advisory company founded in 2005, headquartered in Limuru. The company operates three integrated service lines: ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory analysis covering soil fertility, water quality, food safety, pesticide residues, fertilizer quality, animal feed, plant disease and nematodes; farm advisory services including satellite-based precision farming, GIS soil mapping, land suitability surveys, and agronomy training; and an AgTech platform featuring an AI-based soil testing workflow, mobile laboratories, and IoT sensors. It serves corporate agribusinesses, smallholder farmers, industrial operations requiring water and effluent testing, and agricultural professionals across Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, and Malawi, reporting 12,390 corporate clients and 75,835 smallholder farmers served.

The business model combines one-time laboratory testing fees, professional services engagements for agronomy advisory, and technology-enabled recurring recommendations. Distribution is sales-led, with a direct enterprise sales team, a web portal at app.cropnuts.com for online ordering, 13 mobile laboratories that travel to farms, and physical regional offices in Nigeria (Ibadan) and Zambia (Lusaka). Pricing is custom-quoted rather than publicly disclosed, and the GTM blends bottom-of-funnel educational content (175+ agronomy articles, how-to videos, newsletters, social channels) with mid-funnel case studies and bottom-of-funnel training programs. Strategic partners include Agri Frontier, which extends the offering into agricultural finance consulting.

Cropnuts holds ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation from the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS), received in 2017, and NEMA accreditation for environmental water testing. The company launched a Soil Baseline Carbon Mapping service aligned with the VERRA standard in 2023, opening a carbon-credit-adjacent revenue stream. Key personnel include Managing Director Jeremy Cordingley and Technical Director Ruth Vaughan. Revenue, headcount, and ownership details are not disclosed in the available source material.

Name

Crop Nutrition Laboratory Services (Cropnuts)

Legal name

Crop Nutrition Laboratory Services Ltd

Website

https://cropnuts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Crop Nutrition Laboratory Services (Cropnuts) is an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited Kenyan agricultural testing laboratory and agronomy advisory company founded in 2005. It serves corporate agribusinesses, smallholder farmers, and industrial clients across Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, and Malawi through laboratory analysis, farm advisory services, and an AI-enabled AgTech platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Laboratory Testing Services

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Soil Testing & Nutrient Analysis Services (AFACAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Soil Health & Biological Testing Services (Microbial Activity, Organic Matter, Respiration) (AFACAKAD), Agricultural Water Testing Services (Irrigation, Groundwater, Surface Water) (AFACAKAC), Pathogen & Disease Diagnostics Services (Plant, Soil, Water) (AFACAKAG), Fertilizer & Lime Quality Testing Services (AFACAKAK), Pesticide Residue & Agrochemical Screening Services (Soil/Plant/Water) (AFACAKAF)

Keywords

• Agricultural laboratory testing
• Soil fertility analysis
• Crop nutrition advisory
• Precision farming services
• Food safety testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Limuru

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Testing Services: One-time laboratory analysis services for soil, water, plants, food safety, pesticide residues, fertilizer quality, animal feed, plant disease, and nematodes. Customers submit samples for testing and receive detailed analysis reports.
2. Farm Advisory Services: Agronomy advisory services providing ongoing consulting, soil mapping, precision farming recommendations, and land suitability surveys. Includes expert agronomy training programs.
3. AgTech Solutions: Technology-enabled services including data-driven agronomic recommendations, IoT sensor deployments, and satellite monitoring services for farm management.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cropnuts sells agricultural laboratory testing services for soil, water, food safety, pesticides, fertilizer, animal feed, plant disease, and nematodes, complemented by farm advisory services and an AgTech platform featuring mobile soil-testing labs, AI-based soil analysis, satellite imagery, GIS mapping, and IoT sensors. The company serves corporate agribusinesses, smallholder farmers, and industrial operations across East, West, and Southern Africa.

Product overview

Crop Nutrition Laboratory Services Ltd (Cropnuts) is East Africa's leading agricultural testing laboratory and agronomy advisory company offering a comprehensive suite of services. The core offerings consist of three main pillars: (1) Laboratory Services for soil fertility, water quality, food safety, pesticide residues, fertilizer quality, animal feed, and plant disease analysis; (2) Farm Advisory Services with satellite imagery, GIS mapping, precision farming and agronomy training; and (3) AgTech Solutions featuring mobile soil testing labs and IoT sensors. Supporting services include Soil Baseline Carbon Mapping, Soil Mapping for Smart Fertilizer Blending, Land Suitability Surveys, Water Quality Testing, Food Safety Testing, Plant Tissue Analysis, Fertiliser Analysis, Animal Feed Analysis, Leaf Nutrient Analysis, and Flowers/Hydroponics Testing. The company also provides educational content through agronomy articles, videos and success stories. Agri finance consulting is available through a partnership with Agri Frontier.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Laboratory Services State-of-the-art agricultural testing including soil fertility, water quality, food safety, pesticide residues, fertilizer quality, animal feed, plant disease, and nematode laboratory analysis from an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited facility for corporate agribusinesses, smallholder farmers, and industrial clients.
• Farm Advisory Services Expert agronomy advisory services providing data, tools, and skills for efficient and profitable farm management, featuring satellite imagery for precision farming, GIS applications for soil mapping, and land suitability surveys for farmers and agribusinesses.
• AgTech Solutions Technology-enabled platform featuring mobile soil testing labs, data-driven agronomic recommendations, and smart IoT sensors that scale testing and advisory services across Africa for farmers and agribusinesses.
• Soil Baseline Carbon Mapping Soil carbon measurement and mapping service using soil sampling, laboratory analysis, and GIS mapping following the VERRA standard for soil carbon quantification, supporting carbon credit and climate action programs for farmers and land managers.
• Soil Mapping for Smart Fertilizer Blending Precision soil mapping service that informs custom fertilizer blending tailored to local soil conditions for farmers and agribusinesses.
• Land Suitability Surveys Expert assessment that evaluates land suitability for farming projects before investment decisions, targeting agricultural investors and project developers.
• Agronomy Training Hands-on technical training programs delivered by agronomy experts with over 20 years of experience for agronomists, extension workers, and agricultural professionals.
• Precision Farming Satellite agriculture monitoring service using advanced imaging and data analytics for crop monitoring and management, enabling large-scale commercial farms to achieve record-breaking yields.
• Water Quality Testing ISO 17025 accredited water testing for irrigation, drinking water, effluent, swimming pools, and industrial applications meeting WHO and NEMA standards for industrial and commercial operations.
• Soil Testing and Analysis Comprehensive soil testing services analyzing nutrient content, pH, organic matter, and other fertility parameters for crop management for farmers and agribusinesses.
• Food Safety Testing Food safety tests including pesticide residues and aflatoxin analysis for food quality assurance for food producers, processors, and exporters.
• Plant Tissue Analysis & Disease Diagnosis Laboratory analysis identifying plant diseases and detecting nutrient deficiencies in plants and seeds for farmers and crop protection professionals.
• Fertiliser and Compost Analysis Analysis services determining fertilizer quality and nutrient content for optimal plant growth recommendations for fertilizer manufacturers, distributors, and farmers.
• Animal Feed Analysis Feed analysis using infrared technology and wet chemistry providing protein, energy, and mineral content for livestock feed ingredients for livestock producers and feed manufacturers.
• Leaf Nutrient Analysis Monitoring service analyzing nutrient uptake levels in plants to diagnose deficiencies and predict potential crop problems for farmers and agronomists.
• Flowers and Hydroponics Testing Specialized testing ensuring optimal nutrient levels for flowers and hydroponic plant systems for floriculture growers and hydroponic operators.
• Soil Life Tests Biological soil health assessments measuring soil microbial activity and organic matter content for sustainable soil management for farmers and soil health professionals.
• Soil Texture and Composition Analysis Analysis of sand, silt, and clay ratios, soil carbon, and CO2 burst tests measuring biological activity levels in soil for farmers seeking comprehensive soil characterization.
• Agri Finance Consulting Agricultural finance consulting services provided through partnership with Agri Frontier for business strategy, investment facilitation, and feasibility studies for agribusinesses and investors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved 11.84 ton/ha barley yield record in Timau, Kenya through precision farming
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Agri FrontiercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCropnuts partnered with Agri Frontier to provide comprehensive agri-finance consulting services. Agri Frontier specializes in business strategy, development, and finance/investment services for the agricultural sector. Together they offer packages suited for both agribusinesses and investors, with expertise spanning from field to boardroom.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• KALRO (Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization): KALRO is Kenya's public agricultural research body providing soil testing, agronomy, and crop advisory services. Regional peer that competes for government, donor, and smallholder testing contracts in Kenya.
• iLab Africa: iLab Africa is an African analytical laboratory provider with regional testing capabilities. Regional peer operating in adjacent agricultural and environmental testing categories in East Africa.

Direct peers

• AgroCares: AgroCares provides soil testing solutions including handheld and lab-based nutrient analysis with proprietary sensor technology. Direct peer given Cropnuts' AI-based soil testing platform and mobile laboratory model targeting African agricultural testing.

Broad incumbents

• SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance): SGS is a global testing, inspection, and certification company with agricultural and food testing services across Africa. Broad incumbent competing for enterprise agricultural testing contracts that Cropnuts also serves.
• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas operates a global testing laboratory network including agricultural commodities. Broad incumbent that competes for ISO-accredited laboratory testing work in East Africa, particularly in food safety and water quality.
• Eurofins Scientific: Eurofins is a global laboratory testing group with a dedicated agricultural and food testing division. Broad incumbent offering comparable soil, plant tissue, and food safety testing analyzed through accredited laboratories.
• Intertek: Intertek provides agricultural commodity and food testing services globally. Broad incumbent that competes for enterprise agricultural testing and certification mandates in Africa.
• Mérieux NutriSciences: Mérieux NutriSciences specializes in food safety and quality testing globally. Comparable to Cropnuts' food safety, pesticide residue, and aflatoxin testing service lines.
• Climate FieldView (Bayer): Climate FieldView is Bayer's digital agriculture platform offering precision farming, satellite monitoring, and data-driven agronomic recommendations. Broad incumbent providing technology that competes with Cropnuts' AgTech Solutions offering.

Emerging players

• aWhere: aWhere delivers agricultural intelligence and satellite-based agronomic data services for African and emerging markets. Emerging player with overlapping satellite imagery and precision farming capabilities used by Cropnuts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Cropnuts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCezS6vskotroG-8yawbf2vQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/CropnutsAg
• Instagraminstagram.com/cropnuts

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 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 Crop Nutrition Laboratory Services (Cropnuts)