IMIO has raised $12 million to scale up its freeze-dried soil microbes. Sofinnova Partners led the round. Chipotle’s Cultivate Next, Starshot Capital, Grow Together Salinas, Earth Foundry and Serra Ventures also invested.
The funds will support a new headquarters, lab and biomanufacturing site in Chicago. The company recently relocated from Vermont.
IMIO’s product, Re-Gen, combines fungi, bacteria and yeast. Farmers apply it to the residue left after harvest. The microbes speed up residue breakdown, which can harbor pathogens, and release nutrients back into the soil. Each strain is grown and tested individually, then blended in precise ratios and freeze-dried to stay viable through storage, transport and application.
Trust is a hurdle for biologicals. In CropLife’s 2026 survey of ag retailers and advisors, 39% named trust as the main reason these products have struggled. CEO Charles Smith said he understands the skepticism. He said IMIO aims to deliver reliable performance and return on investment.
IMIO reports trial results from more than 10,000 Midwest acres between 2024 and 2026. Corn yields rose by an average of 11.9 bushels per acre. Individual results ranged from 5.32 to 22.67 bushels. The company also cites nutrient credits of up to $120 per acre in row crops and tillage savings of up to $120 per acre in produce.
Kirk Stueve, who farms in Minnesota and Wisconsin, tried Re-Gen on a 140-acre field. After a couple of years, the field beat its yield record by 30 bushels per acre. He said he cut his nitrogen bill by $45 to $50 per acre. He described IMIO as an outlier among biological suppliers.
Costs are squeezing growers. USDA expects farm production expenses to rise 4.5% in 2026. It forecasts net farm income of $158.4 billion, down 2.6%. Sofinnova’s Guillaume Baxter said residue drives up input costs.
