Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp announced six companies selected for its third round of Challenge Grant funding, awarding a total of $550,000 to support agricultural innovation, business growth and practical solutions for Kentucky farmers and communities.
More than 30 companies applied for the competitive program. The recipients were recognized during an awards ceremony at the University of Kentucky’s Martin-Gatton Agricultural Sciences Building.
The 2026 Challenge Grant awardees are:
FarmSense, which is commercializing an affordable soil moisture sensor developed with Kentucky farmers.
Lepidext, which is developing species-specific biopesticides to manage corn earworm and other destructive lepidopteran pests.
Need More Acres Farm, a Kentucky farm and regional food hub expanding access to locally grown food through Food is Medicine, Farm to School and home delivery programs.
Pascal Tags, which is adapting its durable, automated asset-tracking platform for farm inputs, harvested products and reusable agricultural equipment.
Silver Fern, a Lexington-based software company developing artificial intelligence-powered demand forecasting for greenhouse and nursery growers.
Sunnyside Egg Co., which is scaling regenerative, mobile egg production to create a lower-cost path into pasture-raised egg farming.
Bluegrass AgTech’s first two Challenge Grant rounds awarded $925,000 to 10 companies. With the 2026 awards, the program has invested nearly $1.5 million in agricultural innovation across the Commonwealth.
Bluegrass AgTech is a partnership among the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and Alltech.
-----
The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment serves the people of Kentucky and the world, through unparalleled teaching, transformative research and relevant service to farms, families and communities. The college proudly continues to build upon its land grant tradition with a strong commitment to improve lives and to build a sustainable future. Learn more: ca.uky.edu
Apply and start your future in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment: students.ca.uky.edu/future-students
The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service provides practical education you can trust to help people, businesses, and communities solve problems, develop skills, and build a better future. Find an office near you: extension.ca.uky.edu
Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Reasonable accommodation of disability may be available with prior notice. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. University of Kentucky, Kentucky State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Kentucky Counties, Cooperating.
Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp announced six companies selected for its third round of Challenge Grant funding, awarding a total of $550,000 to support agricultural innovation, business growth and practical solutions for Kentucky farmers and communities.
More than 30 companies applied for the competitive program. The recipients were recognized during an awards ceremony at the University of Kentucky’s Martin-Gatton Agricultural Sciences Building.
The 2026 Challenge Grant awardees are:
FarmSense, which is commercializing an affordable soil moisture sensor developed with Kentucky farmers.
Lepidext, which is developing species-specific biopesticides to manage corn earworm and other destructive lepidopteran pests.
Need More Acres Farm, a Kentucky farm and regional food hub expanding access to locally grown food through Food is Medicine, Farm to School and home delivery programs.
Pascal Tags, which is adapting its durable, automated asset-tracking platform for farm inputs, harvested products and reusable agricultural equipment.
Silver Fern, a Lexington-based software company developing artificial intelligence-powered demand forecasting for greenhouse and nursery growers.
Sunnyside Egg Co., which is scaling regenerative, mobile egg production to create a lower-cost path into pasture-raised egg farming.
Bluegrass AgTech’s first two Challenge Grant rounds awarded $925,000 to 10 companies. With the 2026 awards, the program has invested nearly $1.5 million in agricultural innovation across the Commonwealth.
Bluegrass AgTech is a partnership among the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and Alltech.
-----
The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment serves the people of Kentucky and the world, through unparalleled teaching, transformative research and relevant service to farms, families and communities. The college proudly continues to build upon its land grant tradition with a strong commitment to improve lives and to build a sustainable future. Learn more: ca.uky.edu
Apply and start your future in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment: students.ca.uky.edu/future-students
The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service provides practical education you can trust to help people, businesses, and communities solve problems, develop skills, and build a better future. Find an office near you: extension.ca.uky.edu
Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Reasonable accommodation of disability may be available with prior notice. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. University of Kentucky, Kentucky State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Kentucky Counties, Cooperating.
