Our story
Starting with the motivation and vision to make nutrient testing mainstream and available to everyone, anywhere in the world.
Nutrient testing should come to farmers, all around the globe
Fact-based information and soil management shouldn’t be exclusively available to farmers who can afford it and have the privilege of infrastructure and access to testing facilities. Nutrient testing should come to farmers, all around the globe.
That was the vision of AgroCares founder and CEO Henri Hekman, who was initially leading well-known wet chemistry laboratories. With that idea in mind the AgTech company was established in 2013 in Wageningen, the Netherlands – originally under the name SoilCares, starting with the most complex but also yield-determining part: analysing soil nutrients on the spot and setting the focus on soil fertility.
Why start with soil?
Soil is one of the world’s most essential resources and among the most crucial factors of the natural environment that global food production relies on. Good soil fertility determines whether enough food will be available to feed the growing world population. Soil health doesn’t change overnight, so it is especially important to monitor the status of the soil early on and adapt sustainable management practices that guarantee a healthy soil life over time.
With this mindset AgroCares started its first operations in Kenya in 2013 as part of a project. The first roll-out of the Lab-in-a-Box happened on the back of a truck: two sensors (XRF and Alpha) and practical soil processing equipment moving around the country to bring soil testing to the farmer’s shamba. Soil testing should not only become available to everyone, it should be simple, practical, easy to operate and, most of all, fast – in contrast to the often complicated, slow and delicate procedures of wet chemistry laboratories. The ambition to make it even easier with a handheld device that could be carried directly to the field led to the launch of the NIR Scanner in 2015/2016.
From SoilCares to AgroCares
Every milestone on our way from a truck in Kenya to nutrient intelligence for soil, feed, leaf and carbon in 30+ countries.
Founded as SoilCares
Founder and CEO Henri Hekman establishes the company in Wageningen, the Netherlands, with one conviction: nutrient testing should come to farmers, all around the globe. The first operations start in Kenya as part of a project.
Scanner, Lab-in-a-Box and Golden Standard Laboratory
Development of the Scanner, the Lab-in-a-Box (LiaB), the Golden Standard Laboratory (GSL) and the recommendation tools. The Lab-in-a-Box brings soil testing to the farmer’s shamba on the back of a truck. Test market: Kenya.
Accenture Innovation Awards and National Geographic
The handheld NIR Scanner is launched. SoilCares wins the Accenture Innovation Awards, is featured in National Geographic and tests soil in 15+ countries.
SoilCares becomes AgroCares
Feed and leaf analysis with the same NIR Scanner lead to the new and current name AgroCares. Commercial partnership with Trouw Nutrition to develop feed analysis on a global scale.
Recognised by the laboratory world
Soil testing in 25+ countries. The AgroCares solutions join the WEPAL ring test and AgroCares joins GLOSOLAN, the FAO Global Soil Laboratory Network.
Global launch of feed testing
Global launch of feed testing and launch of fresh grass analysis with the same scanner. The Scanner is established in the coffee sector.
Winner of the Bayer Challenge for Carbon Monitoring
Active in 35+ countries. AgroCares wins the Bayer Challenge for Carbon Monitoring, the start of scanner-based soil carbon measurement.
Launch of LeafCares
Launch of LeafCares and commercialisation of carbon monitoring. Expansion to 6+ new markets and ISO accreditation of the Golden Standard Laboratory.
FeedCares re-launched, towards 2 million analyses
Re-launch of FeedCares with AgroCares’ own models, expansion of LeafCares, new distributors and reaching 2 million analyses.
Soil analysis was just the beginning
Since the launch of the Scanner, AgroCares has built the AgroCares Global Soil Database, which today holds more than 50,000 soil samples, and, together with strategic partner Trouw Nutrition, developed feed analysis solutions on a global scale. The major milestones of realising feed and leaf nutrient analysis with the same NIR Scanner eventually led to the new and current name AgroCares in 2018. Today AgroCares operates in 30+ countries and delivers nutrient testing to countless farmers worldwide.
AgroCares’ clients and partners range from organisations working with smallholder farmers across Africa, fertiliser producers in Canada and data service providers in South East Asia to governmental organisations in Central Asia and private entities in Europe. Agriculture is highly dependent on the local context, and our solution can only be of value if we adapt to local needs. Our ambition is to provide a full solution through flexible, customised app design and hardware that analyses all farm-relevant materials, giving farmers and advisers efficient and relevant information about their soil, crops and feed materials.
Nutrient testing should come to farmers, all around the globe.
The vision of founder and CEO Henri Hekman, with which AgroCares started in 2013
Today: one scanner, four solutions
Analyse and monitor nutrients in soil, on the spot.
Fast insight into the nutritional value of your feeds.
Take control of your crops during growth.
Measure the organic carbon stock in your soil.
Start measuring with AgroCares
Explore the scanners and licences, order directly in the webshop, or talk to our team about the right solution for your organisation.
SoilCares
FeedCares
LeafCares
CarbonCares