From the Land, a sustainable ag tech innovation company in Yucaipa, California, was established in late 2019 by Dr. Gina Oliver and Richard Hutchison. Their proprietary data capture, power, and lighting system, integrated into an Adobe-style house, enables the structure to operate off the power grid. The demonstration project, growing mealworms sustainably, is monetized via different verticals, including fertilizer for gardening, reptile food, and mealworm skins.

From the Land’s Ag Tech Innovations

Mealworms might seem like an unlikely candidate for sustainable agriculture, but From the Land’s business model is scalable for consumers at home, creating economic mobility and sustainable agriculture in their backyard and community. 

The patent-pending system, which includes a rooftop garden, solar panels, humidifying, and data capture systems, can also be used for small livestock, chicken hatching, piglets, and lambing. It can also be utilized for growing produce.

The Dream Fund Grant and Business Counseling

Together, the team applied for the California Dream Fund grant, paired with guidance and business counseling from Caravanserai Project, a CalOSBA small business technical assistance provider. They received a $10,000 Dream Fund grant and a $100,000 America’s Seed Fund Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) 

Program Phase 1 grant, and they are now applying for a Phase 2 grant. These grant funding opportunities enabled them to build a second roof for the prototype, purchase additional mealworms, and purchase batteries to convert to something completely off the grid.

From the Land’s Future Plans and Impact

The Land plans to sell this farming structure and system on a 10-foot by 12-foot scale for consumers to set up at home. This system stands to reduce the carbon footprint by developing local suppliers of hard-to-find local-grown mealworms or small livestock selling to their local community, reducing the number of truck trips to import these critters from other countries, creating sustainability and increasing reliability in the local supply chain, reducing water and electricity costs for agriculture, and reducing losses by protecting small livestock and produce from the elements.

Resources for Inland Empire, Small Business Owners

Inland Empire mission-driven small business owners are interested in starting and growing their companies are invited to connect with Caravanserai Project or the nearest Orange County/Inland Empire Small Business Development Center. Chris and Gina, owners of Punk Rock Ranch in Mentone, CA, received referrals to the Orange County/Inland Empire Small Business Development Center Network, United States Department of Agriculture Small and Mid-Sized Farmer Resources, and learned about the two ag tech incubators in the Central Valley under the CalOSBA Accelerate California Inclusive Innovation Hub Program.

Conclusion

The Land’s innovative ag-tech farming system, developed with the help of a Dream Fund grant and business counseling, has the potential to transform sustainable agriculture in the Inland Empire and beyond. Small business owners can benefit from CalOSBA’s technical assistance and partnership network to start, manage, and grow their regional businesses.