Agrolytics Corp has been recognized as the 2021 Midland SmartZone Business of the Year

Agrolytics Corp has been recognized as the 2021 Midland SmartZone Business of the Year, honoring its technology solution for indoor farming.

Established July 2020, Agrolytics Corp is an agri-tech solution provider of indoor farming technology and data analytics for commercial farmers, nonprofit organizations, and boutique farmers. Their Recipe-based Ecosystem for Agricultural Processes (REAP) technology will help eliminate food shortages by allowing growers to operate closer to the consumer, in secured locations, urban food deserts and extreme climate with a vision to enable any crop to be grown anywhere. Agrolytics Corp will receive their recognition at the Michigan Celebrates Small Business gala in early May alongside three other Midland County small businesses.

“Agrolytics is dedicated to improving Michigan’s economic landscape by accelerating their innovative technologies,” said President + CEO of CMURC Erin Strang. “The team really utilized all of the resources available through the MEDC SmartZone network to support the growth of their company - including space, programs and investment." In 2021, Agrolytics partnered with the Saginaw Youth Development Corporation (YDC) to build an automated indoor farm pilot. The pilot will be the basis for a future, and much larger scale indoor farm, to be built for YDC's Food Scarcity Initiative.

“Securing a three-year agreement with YDC was huge for us,” said Bob Cummer, President and CEO of Agrolytics. “The agreement, valued at greater than $1.2 million, is an opportunity for Agrolytics to install our revolutionary REAP indoor farming ecosystem in several underserved Michigan communities; thus, helping to eliminate food deserts by providing these communities with pesticide-free produce year-round.”

The design of the scaled farm demonstration is made possible through SmartZone support services provided by CMURC in partnership with the Midland Business Alliance (MBA). CMURC and the MBA were awarded Business Accelerator Funds (BAF) to provide additional professional services on behalf of client company Agrolytics. The Michigan Celebrates Small Business program is administered by the Michigan Small Business Development Center in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

“Agrolytics work directly ties in with the YDC’s socially focused efforts to impact food insecurity in their community, and is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to solving a critical issue both locally and across the globe!” said Nicole Wilson, MBA Vice President of Economic Development.