Lincoln Agritech

What Lincoln Agritech does

Lincoln Agritech is a privately held New Zealand research and development organisation founded in 1960, employing 51-100 scientists, research engineers, and software developers across offices in Lincoln (Christchurch), Hamilton, and Dresden. The company applies environmental, agricultural, and computational sciences to develop solutions for water security, bio-resource innovation, and primary industry productivity, with a portfolio spanning irrigation design software (IRRICAD, distributed in 100+ countries for 38 years), electromagnetic and optical sensors (HydroMetrics nitrate sensors, Aquaflex, ground-penetrating radar), novel materials (wool-derived pigments, cellulose fibres from native NZ plants), and road infrastructure technology (TDRI). The business model is primarily grant-funded, drawing on MBIE Endeavour Fund, Ministry for Primary Industries, and Marsden Fund grants, supplemented by technology licensing (Autonomous Pivot, Bluelab) and spin-off commercialisation vehicles (TDRI, Hydro-Metrics, Wool Source). Customer segments include regional and district councils, government agencies, primary sector producers (agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, forestry), and iwi/Māori partners, with commercial monetisation occurring through IP licensing, royalties, and pilot-scale manufacturing rather than high-volume product sales.

Name

Lincoln Agritech

Legal name

Lincoln Agritech

Website

https://lincolnagritech.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Lincoln Agritech is a New Zealand private R&D organisation applying environmental, agricultural, and computational sciences to develop water security, bio-resource, and sensor technologies for councils, government, and primary industry producers, monetising through grants, IP licensing, and spin-off companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural and Environmental Research Services

NAICS

Agricultural Implement Manufacturing (33311)

akta.pro primary industry

Decision Support & Agronomic Modeling (Yield, Irrigation, Pest/Disease Forecasting) (AFAAAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Field Mapping, GIS & Digital Agronomy (Zoning, Prescription Maps, Yield Maps, Spatial Analytics) (AFAGALAG), Plant Tissue, Soil & Water Sampling Coordination (Agronomy-Focused) (AFACABAH)

Keywords

• Agricultural research services
• Irrigation design software
• Environmental sensor technology
• Water security solutions
• Bio-based materials innovation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Contracts and Grants: Government and industry-funded research programmes including MBIE Endeavour Fund, Ministry for Primary Industries, and sector-specific funding for water, wool, and bio-resource innovation
2. Technology Licensing: Licensing of proprietary technologies such as radar-based moisture sensors to companies like Autonomous Pivot for irrigation applications
3. IP Commercialization: Spin-off companies and IP licensing arrangements including TDRI Ltd for road sensing technology and Wool Source for wool-based products
4. Pilot-Scale Manufacturing: Pilot-scale production facilities for developing market samples and demonstrating commercial viability of new products

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lincoln Agritech is a research and technology organisation that develops environmental and agricultural science solutions for the primary industry and government sectors. It delivers a portfolio of proprietary tools including the IRRICAD irrigation design software, electromagnetic and optical sensor products, novel bio-based materials such as wool-derived pigments and cellulose fibres, and AI-driven decision-support tools, commercialised via licensing, spin-off companies, and pilot-scale manufacturing.

Product overview

Lincoln Agritech is a research and development organization (not a single product company) that develops technologies across water security, bio-resources, and environmental solutions for agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, arable, and forestry sectors. The portfolio includes IRRICAD™ (irrigation design software with 38 years in market), sensor technologies (HydroMetrics nitrate sensors, ground-penetrating radar moisture sensors, Bluelab Pulse Meter), materials innovations (Wool Source products, novel cellulose fibres), and road infrastructure technology (TDRI). The company combines 60+ years of research expertise with practical testing to deliver tools including production lines, smart sensors, and AI-driven decision-making tools, integrating science with mātauranga Māori for real-world impact.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IRRICAD: World-leading irrigation design software distributed in over 100 countries.
• Waiora
• Hydro-Metrics
• Wool Source
• TDRI

Products and services

• IRRICAD Irrigation Design Software World-leading irrigation design software used globally for creating efficient irrigation systems, distributed in over 100 countries with version 23 launching in 2026. Used by irrigation designers, engineering firms, and agricultural enterprises.
• Bluelab Pulse Meter Three-in-one handheld meter measuring moisture levels, soil conductivity (nutrient levels), and temperature for hydroponics and horticulture industries. Developed by Lincoln Agritech and commercialized by Bluelab. Achieved 10% increase in grade-A plant output at a New Zealand kiwifruit nursery.
• TDRI Road Subsurface Moisture Sensing Technology Road subsurface moisture measurement technology using electromagnetic sensing, measuring subsurface moisture while driving at speeds up to 90 km/h, enabling network-level assessment for preventative road maintenance. Used by Fulton Hogan, Waka Kotahi, and other roading stakeholders.
• HydroMetrics Nitrate Sensors Real-time water quality monitoring sensors for measuring nitrate concentrations in groundwater and surface water, used for understanding nitrogen footprints on farms. Used at Wainono Dairy Farm and other agricultural sites.
• Ground-Penetrating Radar Moisture Sensor Radar-based moisture sensor for center-pivot irrigators that takes multiple readings throughout a field, achieving up to 20% water savings in field-by-field studies and 15% in many-field studies. Licensed to Autonomous Pivot for intelligent irrigation systems deployed across the US Midwest.
• Waiora Water Security Solutions Water management service offering helping farmers, urban land users, councils and communities make better decisions about water allocation, quality improvement, and irrigation system design. Includes tools for river management, nitrate challenges, and data-driven water insights.
• Wool Source Products New materials derived from deconstructed wool including particles, powders, and pigments for use in print, textiles and personal care sectors, with a pilot manufacturing facility on Lincoln University campus. Used by Karen Murrell for cosmetics.
• Novel Cellulose Fibres Research Programme Regenerated cellulose fibres extracted from New Zealand native plants (harakeke, tī kōuka, tawa) for sustainable textile use, developed through a five-year MBIE Endeavour Fund research programme.

Quantifiable outcome

• Water savings of up to 20% without loss of yield in US agricultural irrigation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature12 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Autonomous PivotflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2021Israeli company licensed radar-based moisture sensor technology; system installed on hundreds of pivots throughout the United States Midwest
• BluelabflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Tauranga-based company commissioned Lincoln Agritech to design handheld moisture probe for hydroponics and horticulture; technology commercialised as Pulse meter
• Our Land and Water Rural Professionals FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for real-time water-quality monitoring projects evaluating nitrate sensors on farms
• The AgriBusiness GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary sector consultancy collaborating on water quality monitoring and agricultural solutions
• New Zealand Apples and Pears InccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry organization partnering on fruit counting app development for crop load assessment
• DairyNZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration investigating augmented reality applications for dairy farming including cow body condition scoring
• Wool Research Organisations of New Zealand (WRONZ)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead research provider for New Uses for Wool Partnership Programme developing new particles, powders, and pigments from deconstructed wool
• Wool SourceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWRONZ subsidiary launched in 2021 to commercialise wool innovations; pilot manufacturing facility built on Lincoln University campus
• Ferrier Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaborator on cellulose sourcing and chemistry for novel fiber development
• SCIONcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner contributing expertise in fiber spinning and textile performance for cellulose fiber programme
• AgResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in cellulose fiber development combining expertise in textile performance and fiber chemistry
• Minginui Nursery LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMāori partnership for sourcing native plants including harakeke for cellulose fiber production, informed by mātauranga Māori
• Lake Taupō Forest TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner providing guidance for robotic platform development for forestry operations and forest track maintenance
• Lake Rotoaira Forest TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForestry trust influencing future research directions for automation and robotics in forest management
• University of CanterburycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration including PhD student Alice Sai Louie working on braided river research; partnership with multiple universities
• Technische Universität DresdencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research partnership with Thomas Wöhling coordinating joint work on modelling Selwyn and Wairau rivers; collaboration with Moritz Kraft
• National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration with Hervé Piégay's team comparing braided river research approaches; French team brings thermal imaging and remote sensing expertise
• ScioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in robotics project contributing to self-learning robots for harsh outdoor environments in agriculture and forestry
• Massey UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner in robotics research project for primary industries
• Victoria University of WellingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner in interdisciplinary robotics project for primary industries
• TDRI LtdflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpin-off company commercialising TDRI road sensing technology; generated over $300,000 in revenue in past year working with roading stakeholders
• Pūhoro STEMM AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative growing next generation of rangatahi scientists and building capability, leadership, and kaitiakitanga across Aotearoa
• NIWAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in braided rivers study contributing to understanding river-aquifer interactions
• Flinders UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research partner from Adelaide contributing to braided rivers research team
• University of CanterburycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing research partnership including collaboration with Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and glaciology research with Wolfgang Rack
• University of WaikatocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdam Hartland led Waikato Environmental Geochemistry group for ten years before joining Lincoln Agritech; ongoing research collaboration
• IEEEminorOthersInternational professional organization of which Ian Woodhead is a member, serving on editorial and advisory boards

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CSIRO: Australia's national science agency and one of the world's largest applied research organisations. Comparable at a much larger scale across agricultural science, water management, and materials research, with similar government-funded model and IP commercialisation mandate.
• Wageningen University & Research: Global leader in agricultural and food science research based in the Netherlands. Comparable as a large applied research institution combining precision agriculture, water management, and bio-based materials research with significant commercialisation activity.

Direct peers

• Plant & Food Research: New Zealand Crown Research Institute conducting applied science across plant-based foods, horticulture, and primary industries. Directly comparable as a NZ-based publicly-funded research organization with a similar commercialisation mandate, government grant dependency, and IP licensing model.
• AgResearch: New Zealand Crown Research Institute focused on pastoral, agri-food, and wool research. Highly comparable given Lincoln Agritech's wool-based research and previous corporate lineage (Canesis/WRONZ was acquired by AgResearch); operates under similar government funding model with commercialisation pathways.
• Scion: New Zealand Crown Research Institute conducting research in forestry, wood products, and biomaterials. Directly comparable as a research organization partnering with Lincoln Agritech on cellulose fibre and robotics programmes, with similar science-to-commercialisation mandate.
• Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research: New Zealand Crown Research Institute focused on terrestrial biodiversity and land use. Comparable as a sister NZ Crown Research Institute working on environmental monitoring, water resources, and mātauranga Māori integration.
• NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research): New Zealand Crown Research Institute focused on freshwater and atmospheric science. Direct peer collaborating on braided rivers research and water systems modelling, operating under the same NZ government funding framework.

Emerging players

• CropX: Israeli-founded precision agriculture company offering soil sensors and farm management software. Comparable to Lincoln Agritech's soil moisture sensing and IRRICAD software offerings, with overlapping technology for irrigation optimisation and water savings.
• METER Group: US-based environmental and agricultural sensor manufacturer producing soil moisture and water monitoring instruments (e.g., TEROS, AquaCheck). Comparable to Lincoln Agritech's Aquaflex and HydroMetrics nitrate sensors in product category and target end markets.
• Bluelab: Tauranga-based NZ company that commercialised Lincoln Agritech's Pulse Meter technology for hydroponics. Comparable as a NZ ag-tech instrumentation company in the moisture/conductivity measurement space; serves as both a licensee and a competitor in adjacent precision agriculture instruments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lincoln-agritech
• Xx.com/lincolnagritech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles27 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Lincoln Agritech