In the News

• Birtwistle joins Indigo after a career developing successful go-to-market strategies for digital products at high-growth technology companies
• In his new role, Birtwistle is responsible for Indigo’s digital and software products
• Birtwistle’s arrival highlights Indigo’s focus on digital technologies that enable data-driven farming and increased food system transparency

• Indigo Wheat™ demonstrated average yield gains of 19% in low yielding conditions and 13% across all conditions
• Improving upon last year’s yield gains of 16% in low yielding conditions and 8% across all conditions, 2018 reflects year-over-year improvement, validating research and development approach

Boston, Massachusetts, July 10, 2018 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, has released an early view on yield data from its microbial seed treatment for wheat. In its second commercial season, Indigo Wheat™ demonstrated an average yield uplift of 13% in side-by-side trials held on 24 fields, with four popular seed varieties across Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas showing a win-rate of 62.5%. Under higher-stress, low-yielding conditions, the average yield uplift was 19% with a win-rate of 76%.

• Via Indigo Research Partners^TM, a network of 50+ of the largest US growers, Indigo has instrumented fields across the US to gather over a trillion data points each day and test hundreds of agricultural technologies over the next two years
• Open platform for agricultural research enables data-based agronomic & financial decision making and accelerates adoption of innovative technologies
  

   

Boston, Massachusetts, June 13, 2018 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, announces today the expansion of its innovation platform, Indigo Research Partners^TM. The platform, which was launched in 2017 as Indigo Partners^TM, involves collaborating with 50 leading growers and agronomic experts to evaluate agricultural technologies over 25,000 acres. It has significantly evolved over the past 12 months to provide further support to growers through real-time, farm-specific insights collected from commercial-scale testing. Using over a trillion data points gathered daily from sensors, drones, weather stations, and other technologies, the platform will optimize on-farm decision-making, accelerate the adoption of new technologies, and improve grower profitability.      

• Experienced agribusiness professional Neuffer will accelerate Indigo’s international expansion, bringing the company’s technology and business model to a wide network of growers

   

Boston, Massachusetts, June 5, 2018 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, announces today that Karsten Neuffer has joined as Chief Operating Officer, International. Neuffer will lead Indigo’s international business operations, which are currently centered in Argentina, Brazil, and Australia. Indigo is linking growers of all sizes directly with buyers around the world. The company is committed to improving farmer livelihoods and satisfying rising demand for high quality, identity preserved goods. Indigo’s microbial and digital technologies are highly transferrable across geographies, and have demonstrated a positive effect on productivity in areas experiencing environmental stress.

• Indigo joins the Better Cotton Initiative as a member and Implementing Partner
• Indigo will work alongside growers to license Indigo Cotton^TM as Better Cotton, differentiated by production practices that meet industry-leading sustainability standards

   

Boston, Massachusetts, May 31, 2018 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, has joined the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) as a member and Implementing Partner. Through this partnership, U.S. Indigo Cotton^TM will be produced in accordance with the Better Cotton Standard System (BCSS) Principles and Criteria. The BCSS is a holistic approach to cotton production covering three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic, with the Principles and Criteria supporting this. They align with Indigo’s goals and include minimizing the impact of harmful crop protection practices, improving water stewardship, enhancing fiber quality, and promoting healthier soil.

• Indigo is recognized alongside most ambitious and innovative companies representing breakthrough ideas from all over the world

Boston, Massachusetts, May 22, 2018 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, has been named to the sixth annual CNBC Disruptor 50 List, a ranked list of the most ambitious and innovative companies representing breakthrough ideas from all over the world. Indigo’s #18 ranking caps a remarkable period of company growth, with the early half of 2018 bringing multiple notable milestones—including continuous improvement in Indigo Cotton^TM yield gains, the development of an on-farm storage program, organic certification, and expansion across hundreds of thousands of acres of corn, soy, rice and cotton.

• Crespo will focus on ensuring the delivery of Indigo coated seeds directly to growers and on the movement of high quality, identity preserved crops from grower to buyer

Boston, Massachusetts, April 10, 2018 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, announces today the appointment of Frank Crespo as its Chief Supply Chain Officer. With decades of experience in procurement and supplier relations, Crespo will lead Indigo’s efforts to transform the agriculture value chain, building capabilities that increase grower profitability while responding to consumer preference. 

• Indigo^® microbial treatment for corn is now approved for certified organic production
• Indigo responds to consumer demand for production systems that better support consumer and environmental health

Boston, Massachusetts, March 20, 2018 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, has received organic certification for the company’s microbial seed treatment in corn. This certification was awarded by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), a non-profit organization that provides an independent review of products intended for use in certified organic production and processing. OMRI’s review confirmed that Indigo’s microbial product is compliant with the standards of the USDA’s National Organic Program.

• Accomplished leader responsible for driving growth at General Mills, one of the nation’s largest food production companies, joins Indigo’s board
• Simonds’ experience in the consumer goods space will support Indigo’s vision of meeting public demand for a healthy, transparent food supply

Boston, Massachusetts, March 15, 2018 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, announces today the appointment of Ann Simonds, experienced consumer goods professional and former Chief Marketing Officer of General Mills, to its Board of Directors. With her deep expertise in marketing management, customer insight, consumer products, and integrated marketing, Simonds will strengthen the company’s commercial growth and brand recognition. Coupled with her marketing expertise, Simonds has broad operating experience in wheat, cocoa, and sugar from her roles as President of Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, and Immaculate Baking.

• Indigo Cotton demonstrates a 14% average yield increase on commercial fields in water-stressed Texas
• Yield gains reflect year-over-year improvement, validating research and development approach

Boston, Massachusetts, March 13, 2018 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, has released preliminary data from its second commercial season in cotton. Indigo Cotton™ demonstrated an average yield gain of 14% in commercial fields of West Texas. This is an improvement upon the 2016 season, Indigo Cotton’s first commercial launch, in which the average yield gain was 11% in a similar environment.

• On-farm storage program enables identity preservation of grain and improves farm margins
• This U.S. program is a key step in building a marketplace where farmers are directly connected to buyers seeking high quality, identity preserved grain

Boston, Massachusetts, March 1, 2018 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, has launched an on-farm storage program for U.S. farmers. This program facilitates the identity preservation of grain, which underpins the marketplace that Indigo is building to connect farmers directly with buyers of high quality, identity preserved crops.

• Governor Baker’s visit puts a spotlight on Indigo as one of Boston’s fastest growing companies, supporting Boston’s status as an innovation hub
• Indigo’s new expansion to 65,000 square feet includes state-of-the-art research labs and open office space in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston

Boston, Massachusetts, January 18, 2018 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, welcomed Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to the company’s headquarters in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, on Wednesday to officiate the opening of their expanded global headquarters. Indigo is a consumer-focused agriculture startup, helping to elevate the city of Boston as an innovation hub on a global stage. As a core part of its growth plan, Indigo continues to expand its Boston-based team and facilities.

• Indigo will pay U.S. cotton growers $0.01 to $0.05 per pound above market price
• Growers are guaranteed a minimum premium of $18 or $25 payable per acre to grow Indigo Cotton™
• Indigo Rain-Fed Cotton™ delivers industry-leading yield uplift and environmental benefits

Boston, Massachusetts, January 9, 2018 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, announces today a new production offer that brings significant price premiums for cotton growers in the U.S. Growers who contract with the company to grow Indigo Cotton™ will receive $0.01 to $0.05 per pound above market price based on a guaranteed minimum premium of $18 or $25 per acre at grower average production histories. The per pound premium, which varies according to region and class, applies to both irrigated cotton and Indigo Rain-Fed Cotton™ (non-irrigated).

• Indigo to provide Grain Craft with wheat that is sustainably produced, identity preserved, and meets enhanced milling quality standards

Boston, Massachusetts, December 12, 2017 – Grain Craft, the largest independent flour milling company in the United States, has partnered with Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, in a supply agreement for one million bushels of high quality, sustainably produced, and identity preserved wheat. Indigo has already partnered with hundreds of U.S. farmers to produce Indigo Wheat^TM at a premium of 43 cents per bushel over the price of commodity wheat. When the crop is harvested in 2018, Indigo will deliver the wheat to Grain Craft, where it will be milled into flour for baking, foodservice, and pizza customers.

• Indigo raises an additional $47M, bringing Series D total to $203M and total amount raised to over $400M
• New investor, Investment Corporation of Dubai, joins previous investors the Alaska Permanent Fund, Baillie Gifford, Activant Capital, and founder Flagship Pioneering

Boston, Massachusetts, December 6, 2017 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, today announces the closing of its Series D funding round. With an additional $47M raised since the announcement of a $156M closing in late September, the total round has reached $203M. The largest investor in the second close was Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), which will hold a Board Observer seat at Indigo.

• Indigo Corn demonstrates a 30+ bushel per acre yield increase on farms under severe water stress
• Indigo announces 47 cent per bushel premium at harvest for growers of Indigo Corn  in 2018

Boston, Massachusetts, November 20, 2017 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, has released preliminary data from its microbial seed treatment for corn. Indigo Corn^TM was commercially launched in the spring of 2017. Like Indigo Wheat^TM and Indigo Cotton^TM, Indigo Corn was developed from naturally occurring, in-plant microbes to increase the productivity of plants by improving their tolerance to water stress. With expected increases in both the frequency and severity of drought over the coming decades,[1] there is an urgent need for the development of water-efficient methods of food and fiber production.

• Transformative R&D leader with diverse scientific and business background to join Indigo and guide agriculture technology efforts

Boston, Massachusetts, September 28, 2017 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, announces today the appointment of Dr. Jonathan McIntyre as Indigo’s Head of Research and Development. Dr. McIntyre will lead the company’s efforts to discover, launch, and accelerate the adoption of sustainable technologies in agriculture.

• Latest funding round will support Indigo’s continued investment in plant microbiome research, development of software and data tools, and rapid commercial expansion

Boston, Massachusetts, September 26, 2017 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, announces the first closing of $156 million in its Series D financing, doubling the company’s total capital raised to over $300 million. New investors, including Baillie Gifford and Activant Capital, join the company’s founder and first investor, Flagship Pioneering, and existing investor, the Alaska Permanent Fund, in this closing. J.P. Morgan acted as sole placement agent to Indigo on this transaction. This latest round will support Indigo’s commitment to building a new kind of agriculture company — one that is focused on improving farmer profitability, environmental sustainability, and consumer health.

• Indigo Wheat™ demonstrates an average yield improvement of 15.7% in expected conditions and 8.3% across all conditions in the water-stressed target region of Kansas
• Indigo announces the intention to contract with leading farmers to produce 10.5 million bushels of Indigo Wheat™ for a 30 cent per bushel premium

Boston, Massachusetts, August 29, 2017 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, released preliminary data from its microbial seed treatment for wheat. Indigo’s second commercial product, Indigo Wheat™ was launched in the fall of 2016 on approximately 20,000 acres across multiple states and was recently harvested. The seed treatment, developed from naturally occurring, in-plant microbes, increases the productivity of wheat plants by improving plant tolerance to water stress.

• Respected finance and business development executive to join Indigo

Boston, Massachusetts, August 21, 2017 - Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, announces today the appointment of Jeff Poulton as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. Indigo’s newest leader will manage the company’s financial operations and support its growth aspirations, bringing with him extensive experience in finance, investor relations, and strategy.

• Esteemed leader responsible for sustainable innovations in the food industry to join Indigo
• Indigo's Board grows to six industry experts, poised to help drive company growth

Boston, Massachusetts, July 12, 2017 – Indigo Ag, Inc., a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, announces today the appointment of Dr. Mehmood Khan, Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of PepsiCo, to its Board of Directors. Alongside other members, Dr. Khan will help support the company’s mission with his years of experience leading innovative and sustainable agriculture and nutrition initiatives.

• The World Economic Forum has announced its selection of the world’s 30 most promising Technology Pioneers of 2017
• Companies were selected for their potential to significantly impact business and society through new technologies, as well as to advance the Fourth Industrial Revolution
• Indigo was chosen for its proven potential to transform agriculture in a way that supports growers, consumers, and the environment
• The full list of recognized Technology Pioneers can be viewed here

Boston, Massachusetts, June 14, 2017 – Indigo, a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, was chosen among hundreds of candidates as one of the World Economic Forum’s “Technology Pioneers,” a selection of the world’s most innovative companies. A mission-driven company, Indigo is bringing naturally derived products to market that allow for crops to better withstand environmental stress, while also engaging in a shared-risk business model with farmers to improve grower profitability worldwide.

• The Indigo Partners™ program gives growers access to innovative ag technologies, including Indigo’s microbial products
• With partner growers, Indigo will assess, validate, and determine the impact of new technologies based on field data and grower experience
• This program will serve as a broad-reaching R&D platform for growers and innovators in the agriculture industry

Boston, Massachusetts, April 25, 2017 –Indigo, a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, today announced the launch of Indigo Partners™. The 2017 program involves collaborating with 25 leading growers and agronomic experts across the United States to evaluate agricultural technologies, including Indigo’s microbial seed treatments, on over 15,000 acres. The Indigo Partners program shares company success with growers through equity grants. With the data and insights gathered from growers’ fields, Indigo aims to bring products to market that will profoundly improve both grower profitability and the way that seven billion people are fed. 

• Accomplished executives bring additional expertise in agriculture, technology, and food

Boston, Massachusetts, April 3, 2017 - Indigo, a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, announces today the appointment of three new senior executive leaders reporting directly to Chief Executive Officer and Director David Perry. Indigo also announces the appointment of John Gehring, former Chief Financial Officer of Conagra Brands, to its Board of Directors. New team members bring deep and diverse experience, and strengthen the organization capabilities in agriculture, technology, and food.

• Beneficial microbes—referred to as endophytes—are sourced in nature and can be re-introduced into the plant through seed coating to improve plant health in agriculture      
• Researchers at Indigo and the Austrian Institute of Technology demonstrated that a novel spray technique on flowers enables the transfer of beneficial microbes into its seeds     
• The plants grown from the seeds produced by the treated flowers demonstrated improved growth and increased yield 

Boston, Massachusetts, February 28, 2017 - Indigo, a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help growers sustainably feed the planet, announced today the publication of research to improve the microbiome of crop plants. Plants depend upon a complex environment that contains beneficial bacteria and fungi for healthy growth and development. Some microbes that live within the plant itself are known as ‘endophytes’ and are fundamental to the health of plants. Until now, data have shown that these beneficial microbes can be incorporated into plants via association with the soil, or by coating endophytes directly onto seeds.  

• Indigo™ Cotton demonstrated an average yield improvement of 11% in the target environment of West Texas
• Farmers experienced productivity gains in diverse growing conditions without increased use of water or agricultural chemicals
• Novel R&D platform and economic proposition enable continuous innovation in cotton and other crops

Boston, Massachusetts, January 9, 2017 - Indigo, a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help growers sustainably feed the planet, announced preliminary data from its first commercial product, Indigo™ Cotton. Launched in the spring of 2016 on approximately 50,000 acres across multiple states, Indigo Cotton is a seed treatment based on naturally occurring, in-plant microbes (endophytes). Indigo Cotton has been developed to help increase water use efficiency, with the goal of improving yields when plants are growing under water stress.

At Indigo, we seek to partner with academic institutions worldwide in their research dedicated to the plant microbiome. These partnerships are essential as we work to bring innovative microbial products to growers. We are always eager to expand our network of academic collaborators, and are excited to share this news of our recent partnership with Flinders University in South Australia.

Boston, Massachusetts, July 21, 2016 — Indigo, a company dedicated to harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, announced today that it has closed a $100 million Series C investment, the largest private equity financing in the agriculture technology sector. The round was led by the $54 billion Alaska Permanent Fund, with participation from previous investors, including Flagship Ventures, Altitude Life Science Ventures and members of the management and board. The new funds will be applied to expand ongoing research and development efforts, to extend Indigo’s team, and to scale commercial operations in preparation for the launch of the company’s second product offering later this year. As part of its long­term commitment to Indigo, the Alaska Permanent Fund also intends to invest a similar amount in Indigo’s future financings.