Forecasting the 'Underground Weather' with Bruce Moeller of AquaSpy

·33 min·3 clips

Bruce Moeller reveals how AquaSpy's sensors forecast the 'underground weather' to prevent farmers from wasting costly inputs.

The episode begins with host Tim Hammerich introducing Bruce Moeller, CEO of AquaSpy, who bought the company in 2009 after previous entrepreneurial successes. Moeller describes AquaSpy's technology as monitoring the root zone in real time, analogous to forecasting 'underground weather' for soil conditions. He explains that sensors measure variables like moisture, salinity, temperature, redox, pH, and now nitrate, with the goal of determining exactly what crops need and when. The discussion delves into how this helps farmers avoid wasting inputs by applying them at the right time, preventing leaching or outgassing. Moeller shares that AquaSpy has over 10,000 fields under management and uses a subscription model where hardware is free with multi-year contracts. He emphasizes the need for the ag tech industry to shift from a cost-per-acre to a value-per-acre mindset. The conversation explores farmer adoption curves, with Moeller noting that cautious farmers often test on a few fields first before expanding. Validation data is discussed, with AquaSpy reporting up to 40% higher yields in fields rated highly by users, though Moeller acknowledges skepticism requires self-proof. The 'YES score' is introduced as a tool to help farmers match root demand with soil supply. Moeller talks about biological products and how their efficacy depends on soil conditions, which AquaSpy can monitor. He details the technical development of their nitrate sensor, including hiring a PhD chemist and creating a pulse electrode to solve durability issues. The episode covers applications for both irrigated and rain-fed agriculture, with plans to expand into other ions like potassium and phosphorus. Future directions include using AI to make the system predictive by analyzing billions of data inputs sorted by crop, soil, and location. Moeller concludes by stressing the importance of advancing ag technologies for efficiency and nutrient use.

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