For years, the name CropNuts has been familiar within agritech circles in Kenya.

The company has built its reputation on soil testing and applying science to improve crop yields, empowering farmers with knowledge that moves beyond guesswork.

This legacy recently earned CropNuts a place in the Thryve Soil Health Accelerator, a programme spearheaded by Thryve Innovation CoLab and powered by Yara Africa and Asia.

The announcement was made during the World Bank’s Data4Soil Health Summit in Nairobi, where a select group of innovators were chosen to form the inaugural cohort.

The accelerator is designed to scale data-driven solutions that restore soil health and promote climate-smart agriculture.

For the chosen startups, the three-month sprint provides technical mentorship and business development support. CropNuts was one of only two Kenyan firms selected, a recognition of its 27-year track record in turning raw soil data into practical, farmer-friendly insights.

The company’s journey began humbly as a soil testing lab at a time when most farmers relied on instinct and trial-and-error to manage their land.

Over the years, it has evolved into a full-spectrum agri-tech provider, using scientific analysis to guide farmers toward better yields and more sustainable land use.

The impact has been tangible. In Kirinyaga, rice farmers boosted yields by more than 30 percent after adjusting soil pH and applying targeted fertilisation based on CropNuts’ recommendations.

In Meru, a barley trial with Marania farm and the Agventure Centre of Excellence achieved yields of 11.84 tonnes per hectare—more than triple the national average.

Still, challenges remain. Like many agri-tech firms, CropNuts has struggled with rural distribution, service costs, and reaching smallholder farmers at scale.

The accelerator is now helping the company refine its go-to-market strategy and experiment with last-mile solutions.

CropNuts is piloting new distribution channels through partnerships with cooperatives and agri-dealers across several counties, while also exploring opportunities within Yara’s vast African distribution network.

For Kenya, where the median age is under 20, CropNuts’ story reflects a broader shift in agriculture. Once dismissed by young people as an industry of last resort, farming is increasingly intersecting with data science, climate technology and digital tools.

CropNuts, though not the only player in this space, offers an example of how agri-tech can evolve without losing credibility.

Its inclusion in the Thryve Accelerator underscores a growing recognition by global partners that Africa’s agricultural future will be shaped less by aid and subsidies, and more by scalable, sustainable, locally developed innovation