Experiments Lead to Knowledge

Apical founding members farmed professionally for many years in a wide range of soil types. They had similar experiences to most growers– by embracing existing soil/plant analysis methods, they received inconsistent results in organic systems.  By using established methods over many years, some soil test results indicated that the soil was healthy when it could hardly grow a crop.

This led to a deep dive into academic literature and the realization of an uncomfortable truth: achieving top-quality organic production required the development of new laboratory methods. From 2012 to 2017, Apical conducted an extensive review of mineral analysis methods for plants and soils, surveying established techniques worldwide. During this time, the team also experimented with and researched various soil and plant testing methods, comparing their results with field trial outcomes.

Method Development

By 2016, the framework for the Apical Leaf Extract Analysis Method took shape. Powered by hundreds of individual experiments in greenhouses and on research farms, our growing database of results confirmed that plants have their physiology altered by supplementing amendments and fertilizer during the growing season.

In 2017, Apical founders finished their survey of soil methods worldwide and began finalizing the Soil Solution Analysis method.

See our Comparison of Various Soil Methods for more information on why we chose the Apical Soil Solution Analysis method and more recently combined multiple existing laboratory methods for a Complete Soil Analysis that reveals to the grower how each soil nutrient is being made available through various types of root access—offering multiple layers of nutrient management decision support.

Breaking Ground

In 2017, the Apical lab launched its first commercial sample processing to a limited audience of beta testers. The beta testers understood that research of the plant’s nutritional intake was ideal for obtaining increased crop production. The Apical lab processed hundreds of samples in 2017. This is a fraction of what the lab does today.

By the end of 2017, the Apical team had launched an online database and reporting system for reports giving growers online access to many new features including the charting of reports, sharing, and purchasing recommendations.

Current and Future Potential

Between 2018 and 2022, Apical processed tens of thousands of samples, explored new analytes for plants and soil, identified potential new methods for the industry, and began R & D of the next generation of plant and soil analysis.

Now the Apical lab has become an industry-leading resource of innovative crop production methods and techniques for a wide range of clients, serving hundreds of top quality production farms and agronomy firms around the world. Our ongoing R & D efforts continue to bear fruit for our growing network of customers.

In 2024, Apical launched Trophic, a nutrient line designed and developed based on the previous 7 years of laboratory data.  By integrating historical results into cutting edge crop inputs, the direction has been pointed clearly towards the simultaneous realization of crop improvement, operational efficiency, and plant productivity based on the integration of agronomy tech.

In 2025, Apical is launching multiple initiatives, including the expansion of the Trophic product line, enhancements to the crop advising network, laboratory, online database, and IPM portfolio.  However, perhaps the most significant addition is the recent release of Crop Nutrient Analysis, a laboratory test for nutritional density of grown crops–that can be purchased by any farmer, or eater.  This is a starting point for a vibrant conversation between growers, eaters, health professionals, and any one who consumes food on a daily basis about how smart decision-making can enhance our lives by improving the quality of our food supply.