InnerPlant’s innovative technology has generated significant excitement in the agtech sector. Its plans have now been buoyed after successfully completing the FDA’s New Protein Consultation (NPC) process for the fluorescent protein used in the company’s first commercial product called InnerSoy.
InnerSoy is a groundbreaking genetically engineered soybean that can give warnings (by emitting an optical fluorescent signal) at the earliest sign of fungal stress.These optical signals can be detected by specialised tools like drones or satellites, giving farmers an early warning system for crop health.
The company has partnered with the likes of ag cooperative Growmark, original equipment manufacturer John Deere and agribusiness Syngenta to pilot and develop its technology, with the ultimate goal of helping farmers optimise crop protection strategies and reduce unnecessary pesticide use.
InnerPlant is launching CropVoice, an insights platform powered by InnerSoy, for the 2025 growing season in the US Midwest.
The FDA’s NPC process allows for the early food safety evaluation of new non-pesticidal proteins produced by new plant varieties intended for food or feed use. The programme is voluntary, but developers routinely participate before bringing food from a new genetically engineered plant to market, ensuring that potential risks are identified and addressed before they can impact the food supply.
“The CropVoice platform itself does not require additional regulatory approvals,” an InnerPlant spokesperson explained to AgTechNavigator. “Now, we are immediately focused on rolling out the CropVoice network to growers in Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska.
“The platform officially launched in early fall 2024 and are actively rolling out the platform to growers via key retailer partnerships for the 2025 growing season. We have a number of key retailer partnerships in place that we hope to share soon and are already looking toward expansion into new geographies in 2026.”
United Soybean Board support
Research and preparation for InnerPlant’s submission to the FDA’s early food safety evaluation were supported by a grant from the United Soybean Board (USB) and America’s farmers. The evaluation follows InnerPlant’s previous successful completion of the regulatory status review process through the United States Department of Agriculture.
“We are pleased to have achieved this milestone on our journey to making farming more universally efficient with the support of the USB and America’s farmers,” said Randall Shultz, chief product officer of InnerPlant.
“It is an important step in bringing InnerSoy to market and equipping farmers with data-driven tools that enable more resilient, sustainable, and productive farming practices.”
