New soil testing technology that goes beyond chemistry to analyzing soil biology will be available in Canada as the result of a new partnership between Taurus Agricultural Marketing and Iowa-based Trace Genomics.
The two companies announced the partnership on Thursday (August 24).
Trace’s metagenomics technology analyzes DNA in a soil sample, providing data on over 225 soil pathogens, as well as fertility insights on nitrogen and phosphorus, and the standard soil chemistry information, the companies say.
“Disruptions are rare and take time, but with Trace Genomics’ metagenomic approach, we’re seeing a transformative shift in agricultural analytics,” says Taurus president Craig Davidson. “Their technology offers an unparalleled understanding of soil life, from beneficial organisms to nutrient cycling.”
Measuring multiple biological drivers will enable better nitrogen management and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the companies say.
“As the industry embraces this, there’s no turning back: decision-making in agriculture will reach unprecedented precision,” continues Davidson. “We’re proud to be at the forefront of this revolution in Canadian agriculture and anticipate our forward-thinking customers will eagerly adopt this game-changing understanding of soil.”
Taurus will be the exclusive Canadian provider of Trace soil diagnostics as part of the multi-year arrangement.
