Jord BioScience, a Minneapolis-based company spun out of the University of Minnesota, is advancing the field of sustainable agriculture with customizable microbial solutions. Founded on more than 30 years of research led by Linda Kinkel, a plant pathology professor, Jord leverages a proprietary bank of over 6,500 microbial isolates to develop next-generation crop inputs that enhance yield, consistency of crop benefits, and sustainability. The company recently closed a $9.1 million Series B funding round, bringing its total capital raised to $18.3 million, and is rapidly expanding its partnerships and field trials across the US and South America.
Jord’s microbial products are already demonstrating significant yield improvements in soybeans and corn, addressing one of the industry’s greatest challenges: ensuring biological products perform reliably for farmers. The company’s ability to rapidly identify and deploy effective microbial combinations—sometimes reducing product development timelines from years to just ten months—positions it as a leader in both innovation and economic value creation for Minnesota. By translating university research into scalable, market-ready technologies, Jord BioScience is not only advancing sustainable agriculture but also fueling job creation, investment, and industry partnerships within the state.