---
title: "Trial Grants: On-Farm Data for Ag Input Makers—Winners and Runners-Up Alike"
description: Agrellus expands its US grant programme, offering agtech startups trial access, expert feedback and national exposure to drive agricultural market growth
author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2025-09-11T15:17:41.000Z
updated: 2026-03-31T11:24:36.247Z
canonical: https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/trial-grants-on-farm-data-for-ag-input-makers-winners-and-runners-up-alike
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/235725.jpeg
categories: Finance
content_type: Spotlight
region: United States
publication: Sovereign Magazine
---

Agricultural input startups face a harsh reality: convincing time-pressed farmers to try unproven products requires more than marketing claims. With an estimated [861 agriculture technology startups](https://www.startus-insights.com/innovators-guide/agriculture-technology-companies/) competing in the US market, the bottleneck often comes down to credible trial data. National-scale farm trials can cost tens of thousands of dollars, putting them out of reach for many smaller manufacturers who need that validation most.

The pressure has intensified as the [US agtech market](https://www.expertmarketresearch.com/reports/united-states-agtech-market) climbed to $5.57 billion in 2024, with precision farming technologies leading growth at 9.6% annually. Farmers increasingly demand [third-party trial data](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13593-017-0441-y) before adopting new products, but the costs and complexities of multi-state trials create significant barriers for emerging companies.

## Why Agrellus Expanded Its Grant Programme

Agrellus recognised this challenge when it launched its 2025 trial grant programme with eight companies across 12 states. The feedback from participants highlighted a key gap: most lost out on valuable insights simply because they didn’t win the main award. For 2026, the company is addressing this by expanding both the scope and the support structure.

The revamped programme will select five winning companies for full trials valued at over $11,000 each, down from eight winners in 2025 but with significantly enhanced offerings. More importantly, all applicants—regardless of award status—will receive one-on-one meetings with the Agrellus team to review their applications and discuss trial approaches.

‘We’re not just selecting great products—we’re curating partnerships,’ said Taven Royster, Senior Director of Revenue and Business Development at Agrellus. ‘This year, we’re offering applicants more clarity, more connection and more opportunity to grow with us. The Grant is just one piece of how we bring meaningful [agricultural technology advances](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/carbon-capture-agriculture-market-signals-shift-to-biologically-based-solutions) to the market.’

## What’s On Offer and Why It Matters

The grant delivers access to [Agrellus’s 48-state network](https://www.agrellus.info/proving-ground) of farm partners, a significant advantage over typical startup trial programmes that might cover just a few locations. Each winning company receives an Agrellus-managed trial protocol, four field visits from specialists, six soil samples, six tissue samples, yield and harvest data, plus a comprehensive data book with agronomist and farmer feedback.

The scope matters because [on-farm demo trials](https://www.biowishtechnologies.com/are-all-agronomy-trials-the-same/) provide regional relevance that small-plot replicated trials cannot match. For manufacturers trying to scale products nationally, having data from diverse geographies and farming practices can make the difference between regional success and national adoption.

‘At Agrellus, we champion new developments by providing more than just data—we deliver real results from real farms,’ said Chris Johnson, CEO of Agrellus. ‘These trials are not one-size-fits-all. Each Grant Trial, matching crop and geography, gives manufacturers the insight and evidence they need to scale their market presence.’

## The Competition and Application Process

Applications open on 1 July, with submissions accepted until 20 November. The selection process runs through three rounds: initial application screening on 1 December, committee review of top picks on 8 December and final voting on 15 December. Winners will be announced on 22 December.

Companies will be evaluated on their product’s agronomic, economic and sustainability impact, alignment with farmer needs and market differentiation. The selection committee includes Agrellus leadership alongside industry experts and [third-party field trial partners](https://www.agmatix.com/blog/next-gen-agriculture-field-trials/), adding credibility to the selection process.

## All Applicants Get a Voice

The most significant change for 2026 is that non-winning applicants will receive detailed feedback sessions. This represents a departure from typical grant programmes, where unsuccessful applicants often receive little more than a rejection notice. The meetings will cover application reviews, trial approach discussions and exploration of how Agrellus’s broader services might support go-to-market goals.

This approach addresses a common frustration among agricultural startups: investing time and resources in grant applications only to receive minimal feedback about why they didn’t succeed or how to improve. The farming sector’s relationship with new technology often depends on building trust over time, and Agrellus appears to be positioning itself as a long-term partner rather than a one-off grant provider.

The feedback component also serves Agrellus’s business interests by maintaining relationships with potential future customers. Companies that don’t win grants might still become paying clients for trials, and the consultation process helps identify promising technologies that might not have been ready for the current year’s programme.

## What Companies Should Consider Next

For agricultural input manufacturers weighing whether to apply, the grant offers advantages beyond typical trial opportunities. The 48-state network provides geographic diversity that would be expensive to replicate independently, while the [third-party validation](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/precision-agriculture-takes-centre-stage-how-next-gen-gps-systems-are-transforming-modern-gra) carries more weight with farmers than company-conducted trials.

However, manufacturers should consider whether their products are ready for this level of scrutiny. The comprehensive data collection and farmer feedback component means any weaknesses in product performance will be thoroughly documented. [Companies might benefit more from smaller-scale trials](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/from-food-deserts-to-food-security-how-a-virginia-nonprofit-is-using-ai-and-soap-sales-to-sustain-urban-farming) first if they’re still refining their formulations or application methods.

The expanded feedback mechanism also means that applying becomes worthwhile even for companies that don’t expect to win. The discussions with Agrellus’s team could provide valuable insights for future product development and market entry approaches, making the application process itself a form of [market consultation for agricultural technology](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/indoor-agricultural-data-tools-drive-sector-resilience-amid-challenges).

For an industry where credible validation data remains a significant barrier to entry, [programmes like this represent a shift](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/why-one-in-five-planted-trees-die-before-they-can-help-britain-reach-net-zero-and-how-rhizoco) toward more collaborative approaches to product testing. Whether other trial networks adopt similar feedback mechanisms for non-winners may depend on how successfully Agrellus demonstrates the value of maintaining relationships with the broader pool of agricultural technology developers.