PhycoTerra
PhycoTerra (Heliae Development, LLC) develops and sells proprietary microalgae-based soil microbial food products that activate dormant soil bacteria and fungi, serving commercial row-crop and specialty-crop growers across North America, Latin America, and Australia via an authorized dealer network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersGilbert, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What PhycoTerra does
PhycoTerra is the agricultural product brand of Heliae Development, LLC, a privately held agricultural biotechnology company founded in 2008 at Arizona State University and headquartered in Gilbert, Arizona. The company develops and sells microalgae-based soil microbial food products designed to activate dormant native soil bacteria and fungi, addressing a market thesis that 75% of soil microbes globally are inactive due to lack of food. Its core technology is a proprietary, pasteurized, non-living microalgae formulation with a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 7:1 that delivers carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins optimized for microbial mineralization, protected by U.S. Patent No. 11,771,093 and a broader patent estate. The product portfolio comprises five core SKUs targeting distinct application zones: PhycoTerra Soil Amendment (rhizosphere), PhycoTerra Seed Treatment (spermosphere), PhycoTerra FX Foliar Treatment (phyllosphere), PhycoTerra Residue Management (detritusphere), and the OMRI-listed PhycoTerra Organic Soil Amendment, plus a regional brand (Terrene) for Oregon.
The company operates a one-time product-sale revenue model with publicly listed unit pricing ($175 per 2.5 gallon jug, $35 per 1 liter). Distribution is executed through a multi-tiered channel: an authorized dealer network in the US and Canada (including AgSyn LLC, Evergreen FS, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Simplot Grower Solutions, and Wilbur Ellis), regional sales representatives, international distribution partners across Latin America and Australia, an e-commerce storefront, and an active dealer recruitment program. End customers are predominantly SMB broadacre row-crop producers (corn, soybeans, wheat, canola, cotton, potatoes) and specialty crop growers (almonds, pistachios, apples, citrus), with supporting evidence from named farms and one enterprise reference (SL Agricola SA in Mexico). The company employs 51-100 people and is led by President & CEO Bennet Dixon, CFO & Strategy Officer Abbas Ali, VP of North American Sales Chad Bush, and VP of Algal R&D Matt Saunders. PhycoTerra has cumulatively raised over $100 million from strategic investors and has scaled its Grower Advisory Panel on-farm trial program to 3,000+ acres with 1,200+ data points in 2025, generating published ROI metrics ranging from 3:1 to 288:1 across crop types.
PhycoTerra firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PhycoTerra
- Legal name
- Heliae Development, LLC
- Website
- https://phycoterra.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- PhycoTerra (Heliae Development, LLC) develops and sells proprietary microalgae-based soil microbial food products that activate dormant soil bacteria and fungi, serving commercial row-crop and specialty-crop growers across North America, Latin America, and Australia via an authorized dealer network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PhycoTerra industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Biologicals / Soil Microbial Food
- NAICS
- Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253), Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531)
- SIC
- Agricultural Chemicals (2870)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microbial/Enzymatic Soil Conditioners (Decomposer & Soil Health Consortia) (AFABADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Soil Health Activators & Biostimulants (Humates, Amino Acids, Seaweed Extracts) (AFABAKAJ), Biofertilizers & Microbial Inoculants (IMAEAEAG)
Keywords
Where PhycoTerra is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gilbert
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
PhycoTerra business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales - Soil Amendment: Direct sales of PhycoTerra Soil Amendment products in various packaging sizes (2.5 gallon jug at $175, 1 liter at $35) through authorized dealer network and e-commerce shop.
- Product Sales - Seed Treatment: Sales of PhycoTerra ST (Seed Treatment) applied directly to seed, either on-farm or through commercial seed treaters.
- Product Sales - Foliar Treatment: Sales of PhycoTerra FX foliar microbial food applied during growing season.
- Product Sales - Organic Soil Amendment: Sales of OMRI-listed PhycoTerra Organic Soil Amendment for certified organic operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | PhycoTerra Soil Amendment 2.5 Gallon Jug |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | PhycoTerra Soil Amendment 1 Liter Bottle |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | PhycoTerra Organic 2.5 Gallon Jug |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | PhycoTerra Organic 1 Liter Bottle |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
PhycoTerra product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PhycoTerra manufactures and sells a line of microalgae-based soil microbial food products that feed dormant native soil bacteria and fungi to activate the soil microbiome. The portfolio includes Soil Amendment, Seed Treatment, Foliar FX, Residue Management, and an OMRI-listed Organic variant, each targeting a different application zone. Products are pasteurized, non-living, shelf-stable for up to two years, and are designed to integrate with standard crop input programs across broadacre, specialty, and organic operations.
Product overview
PhycoTerra is a portfolio of microalgae-based soil microbial food products developed and produced by Heliae Development, LLC (dba PhycoTerra). The product line centers on a proprietary microalgae technology platform that feeds dormant native soil bacteria and fungi to activate the soil microbiome. The core portfolio includes five distinct products addressing different application zones: PhycoTerra Soil Amendment (rhizosphere/below-ground), PhycoTerra Seed Treatment (spermosphere/on-seed), PhycoTerra FX Foliar Treatment (phyllosphere/on-leaf), PhycoTerra Residue Management (detritusphere/post-harvest), and PhycoTerra Organic (OMRI-listed organic variant). All products share the same proprietary non-living microalgae formulation with a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 7:1, are pasteurized and shelf-stable for up to 2 years, and are designed to integrate with existing crop input programs without requiring additional field passes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PhycoTerra Seed Treatment: Microalgae-based seed treatment product applied directly to seed to support early plant vigor and microbial activity in the spermosphere.
- PhycoTerra Soil Amendment
- PhycoTerra FX
- PhycoTerra Residue Management
- PhycoTerra Organic
- Terrene
Products and services
- PhycoTerra Soil Amendment Liquid microbial food product that delivers a balanced microalgal meal to dormant native soil microbes in the rhizosphere. Improves soil structure, increases water holding capacity up to 10%, and optimizes NPK nutrient availability. Applied pre-plant, at-plant, or early season via broadcast, in-furrow, or fertigation at 1 qt/ac. Sold in 1 liter bottles ($35) and 2.5 gallon jugs ($175).
- PhycoTerra Seed Treatment Microalgae-based seed treatment applied directly to seed to feed the spermosphere microbiome and improve emergence, stand establishment, and early season vigor. Applied on-farm or through commercial seed treaters at 2-5 oz/CWT. Documented outcomes include corn +11 bu/acre at 90:1 ROI and canola +3 bu/acre at 288:1 ROI.
- PhycoTerra FX Foliar Treatment Microalgae-based liquid product applied directly on plant leaves during the growing season to feed the phyllosphere microbiome, mitigate abiotic stress, and improve nutrient acquisition. Applied at 8 fl oz/ac and tank-mix compatible with fungicides, herbicides, and micronutrients. Covered by the FX Assurance yield-guarantee program.
- PhycoTerra Residue Management Post-harvest application of the proprietary PhycoTerra formulation to activate soil microbes that decompose plant residue, accelerating residue breakdown for faster spring planting, warmer soils, and improved nutrient cycling in the detritusphere.
- PhycoTerra Organic Soil Amendment OMRI-listed certified organic liquid microbial food product formulated from the proprietary microalgae strain for certified organic operations. Feeds and activates native soil biology to improve soil structure, moisture retention, and nutrient cycling while maintaining organic certification compliance. Sold in 1 liter bottles ($35) and 2.5 gallon jugs ($175).
- Terrene Organic Soil Amendment Regional sub-brand of the OMRI-certified organic soil amendment specifically labeled for Oregon. Covered under U.S. Patent No. 11,771,093.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 33x increase in beneficial soil microbes
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use PhycoTerra
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PhycoTerra technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
PhycoTerra partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered featured partner and core.
- Prada Agricolafeatured partnerSince 2019, Prada Agricola has been instrumental in bringing PhycoTerra products to the Latin American market, particularly Brazil. Headquartered in Maringá, Paraná, Brazil. They serve as an extension of the PhycoTerra brand with deep knowledge of local agricultural landscape and commitment to sustainable practices.
- CortazarcorePartner located in Guatemala distributing PhycoTerra products in the Central American market.
- LoF BiocorePartner located in Sinaloa, Mexico distributing PhycoTerra products in the Mexican market.
- PhycoGencorePartner located in Peru distributing PhycoTerra products in the South American market.
- Federated Co-operatives LimitedcoreCanadian co-operative distributing PhycoTerra products through their retail network in Canada.
- Smart Solutions Ag ProductscoreCanadian distributor based in Leask, Saskatchewan distributing PhycoTerra products throughout Canadian agricultural regions.
- Live to FarmcoreTelevision series partnership showcasing PhycoTerra products in action on real farms. Show airs on RFD-TV, Discovery Channel, YouTube TV, and AcresTV. Aligns with PhycoTerra's mission to promote improved soil health and sustainable farming.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
PhycoTerra competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Agricen: Agricen produces biochemical and microbial-based soil and foliar products (Accomplish, Extract PBA, etc.) sold through ag retailers, competing for the same broadacre dealer shelf space and grower relationships as PhycoTerra.
- Sound Agriculture: Sound Agriculture's SOURCE product is a microbe-activating soil health input (based on a molecule that stimulates nitrogen-fixing microbes) that closely parallels PhycoTerra's mode of action of feeding dormant soil microbes to improve nutrient availability.
- Marrone Bio Innovations: Marrone Bio (now part of Bioceres Crop Solutions) develops biological crop protection and plant health products, including biostimulants, that compete with PhycoTerra's foliar and soil amendment lines in row and specialty crops.
- BioConsortia: BioConsortia develops microbial products (nitrogen fixation, biocontrol, biostimulants) for major row crops and specialty crops, directly competing with PhycoTerra in the soil-microbiome-activation category.
- NewLeaf Symbiotics: NewLeaf Symbiotics commercializes Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFMs) for broadacre and specialty crops, providing microbial-based solutions that directly compete with PhycoTerra's microalgae-based soil and seed products.
- AgBiome: AgBiome develops biological crop protection and growth products using its proprietary GENESIS discovery platform, targeting row crop and specialty growers with microbial and biochemical inputs that overlap with PhycoTerra's customer segments.
- Pivot Bio: Pivot Bio produces microbial nitrogen-fixing crop inputs (PROVEN, RETURNS, PROVEN G3) that target the same broadacre row-crop customers as PhycoTerra, with a focus on corn and small grains, and competes for dealer shelf space within the biologicals category.
- Indigo Ag: Indigo Ag's microbial seed treatments and biotrinsic products target broadacre crops (corn, soy, wheat) and compete directly with PhycoTerra's seed treatment and soil amendment portfolio on similar growers and acres.
Emerging players
- Symborg: Symborg (acquired by Corteva) develops microbial and biostimulant products for specialty and broadacre crops, with a strong focus on fruits, vegetables, and greenhouse production that overlaps with PhycoTerra's specialty crop positioning.
- Biome Makers: Biome Makers provides soil microbiome analytics (BeCrop) used by ag input companies and growers; while not a direct product competitor, it serves the same soil-health buyer and is increasingly integrated into biological input evaluation, including inputs like PhycoTerra's.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PhycoTerra social profiles
Digital presencePhycoTerra financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PhycoTerra leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
PhycoTerra funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PhycoTerra M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PhycoTerra
What does PhycoTerra do?
PhycoTerra manufactures and sells a line of microalgae-based soil microbial food products that feed dormant native soil bacteria and fungi to activate the soil microbiome. The portfolio includes Soil Amendment, Seed Treatment, Foliar FX, Residue Management, and an OMRI-listed Organic variant, each targeting a different application zone. Products are pasteurized, non-living, shelf-stable for up to two years, and are designed to integrate with standard crop input programs across broadacre, specialty, and organic operations.
Is PhycoTerra a public or private company?
PhycoTerra is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was PhycoTerra founded?
PhycoTerra was founded in 2008. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is PhycoTerra based?
PhycoTerra is headquartered in Gilbert, United States, in the North America region.
How does PhycoTerra make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Product Sales - Soil Amendment is the primary driver. The others are product Sales - Seed Treatment, product Sales - Foliar Treatment and product Sales - Organic Soil Amendment.
Who are PhycoTerra's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Agricen, Sound Agriculture, Marrone Bio Innovations, BioConsortia, NewLeaf Symbiotics, AgBiome, Pivot Bio and Indigo Ag. Emerging players are Symborg and Biome Makers.
Does PhycoTerra have an API?
No public API is recorded for PhycoTerra.
What industry is PhycoTerra in?
PhycoTerra's product category is Agricultural Biologicals / Soil Microbial Food. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFABADAK, Microbial/Enzymatic Soil Conditioners (Decomposer & Soil Health Consortia), with a secondary code of AFABAKAJ, Soil Health Activators & Biostimulants (Humates, Amino Acids, Seaweed Extracts). Its NAICS code is 3253 and its SIC code is 2870.