What is it all about?

The Hort Innovation Venture Fund is investing in TerraBlaster, a US-based agtech company developing real-time soil intelligence technology to improve nutrient management and fertiliser application. Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), the platform measures soil nutrient composition during normal field operations and generates high-resolution nutrient maps to support more precise agronomic decision-making.

This project provides exposure to an emerging precision agriculture technology with the potential to address key challenges facing horticulture, including rising fertiliser costs, improving nutrient-use efficiency, reducing environmental impacts, and increasing productivity from existing production systems. The technology aims to provide faster, more detailed and spatially accurate soil nutrient information than traditional laboratory-based soil testing methods.

This funding will support the development and validation of commercial-grade soil sensing technology, including expansion of calibration datasets, field testing, product development and progression towards integrated measure-and-apply systems. It is also providing ongoing access to technology performance data, commercialisation milestones and market insights to inform future innovation and investment opportunities.

While TerraBlaster's initial commercial focus is on the US broadacre agriculture sector, the investment creates opportunities to explore future applications in Australian horticulture. Potential areas of interest include soil sensing validation across Australian production systems, nutrient-use efficiency projects, precision fertiliser management, and integration with existing digital agriculture technologies.  

This investment aligns with the Hort Innovation Venture Fund's goals of supporting innovative technologies that deliver productivity, sustainability and resource-efficiency benefits while maintaining exposure to potential venture-scale returns.