The CropOS technology platform combines data science, plant science and food science to predict breeding targets that enhance the nutrition, flavour and sustainability of a crop

Benson Hill, a food tech company unlocking the natural genetic diversity of plants with its cutting-edge food innovation engine, recently announced the opening of its new Crop Accelerator, a state-of-the-art, controlled environment research facility located near the Company’s St Louis headquarters. The Crop Accelerator is operational ahead of schedule and under budget, with the facility’s first soybean and yellow pea seeds planted in September.

Benson Hill’s CropOS technology platform combines data science, plant science and food science to predict breeding targets that enhance the nutrition, flavour and sustainability of a crop. The Crop Accelerator will enable rapid testing and selection of target candidates, and insights and data points gathered during each growing cycle will further enhance the predictive capabilities of the CropOS platform. This cycle of feedback will accelerate the company’s ability to develop new offerings, including the continued expansion of its robust portfolio of proprietary ingredients designed to serve the growing alternative meat market that is forecasted to reach approximately $140 billion by 2029.

The Crop Accelerator is designed to provide a more than twenty-fold expansion in testing capacity and incorporates automation and imaging capabilities to streamline operations and throughput. The 47,000 square-foot facility features dynamically adaptive Conviron growth houses and chambers, equipped with multi-channel LEDs, additive CO2, temperature, humidity and lighting controls.