The Next Monsanto? Inside Friedberg’s Non-GMO Revolution with Ohalo

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Is David Friedberg quietly building the next Monsanto?

With Ohalo, his stealth agtech company, Friedberg is pursuing a radical but under-the-radar mission:

To revolutionize crop breeding — without genetic modification, without regulatory delays, and without Big Ag baggage.

In this blog, we dive into how Friedberg’s non-GMO revolution may reshape the food system, outmaneuver GMO giants, and unlock billion-dollar outcomes for biotech founders — all while sidestepping the controversies that slowed down the first wave of agtech.

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1. What Is Ohalo?

Ohalo is David Friedberg’s agtech startup focused on high-precision plant trait development — using non-GMO techniques.

It’s a software-first approach to what Friedberg calls:

“Super Breeding” — making crops stronger, faster, and more profitable by hacking the inputs, conditions, and selection process, not the genes.

Think CRISPR-level precision — without a single gene edited.

2. Who Is David Friedberg?

Friedberg is best known as:

• Ex-Googler
• Founder of The Climate Corporation (acquired by Monsanto for ~$1B)
• CEO of The Production Board
• Co-host of the All-In Podcast

He’s obsessed with food, climate, and biotech — and has the receipts to prove it.

But Ohalo might be his boldest play yet.

3. Why Avoid GMO?

Because GMO is slow, regulated, and controversial.

GMO crops can take:

• 7–13 years to commercialize
• $100M+ in approvals
• Global pushback from regulators and consumers

Ohalo flips that model.

By using natural variation and software-driven selection, Friedberg can:

• Accelerate time-to-market
• Avoid regulatory red tape
• Appeal to non-GMO-conscious markets

4. How Ohalo Works (Without Editing Genes)

Ohalo reportedly uses a 3-part system:

1. Large-scale phenotyping — scanning millions of crop variations
2. AI-driven predictive models — to find superior traits
3. Precision breeding acceleration — via optimized environmental conditions

No foreign genes. No CRISPR. No Frankenstein headlines.

Just faster, smarter farming.

5. The Target Crops: Staples First, Then Everything

While Ohalo hasn’t confirmed its full product roadmap, reports suggest it's starting with:

• Wheat
• Soy
• Barley
• Legumes

These aren’t niche greens — they’re trillion-dollar staples.

Optimizing protein density, yield resilience, or shelf life in any one of them could unlock massive market value.

6. The Monsanto Parallel — and Why Ohalo Might Win

Monsanto’s story was powerful but polarizing.

They revolutionized crop science — but became a villain in the process.

Ohalo is taking a different path:

MonsantoOhaloTechGMO, gene editingNatural breeding + AIMarketAgrochemical-centricRegenerative, software-ledPR RiskHigh (public backlash)Low (non-GMO, climate-fit)CycleSlow regulatory cyclesFast go-to-market

7. The End Game: Licensing Platform, Not Just Crops

Ohalo isn’t just selling better wheat.

It’s reportedly developing a software + IP licensing platform that enables other companies to:

• Rapidly breed better crops
• Model outcomes in silico
• Go to market without regulators blocking the way

This is Monsanto meets AWS.

8. The Market Opportunity

The agtech TAM is exploding:

• 🌱 $8T global food system
• 🌾 1B+ acres of industrial farmland
• 🌍 Massive climate + yield pressure

Everyone from governments to grocers needs solutions.

Ohalo doesn’t just have tech — it has timing.

9. Who Might Buy Ohalo?

The exit paths are obvious — and huge.

• Bayer (which acquired Monsanto)
• Corteva
• Nutrien
• ADM
• Big food players like Nestlé, Cargill, Danone

But Friedberg may avoid exits altogether — and keep this one independent.

10. Why This Matters for Founders

Ohalo is a case study in:

• Regulatory arbitrage
• Deeptech capital efficiency
• Non-obvious GTM advantage
• Building in a category that scares others

You don’t need to edit genes to disrupt ag.

You just need to edit the model.

For more, see: How to Raise Capital for Hard Tech with Soft Narratives

FAQs

1. Is Ohalo a GMO company?
No. Ohalo uses non-GMO, non-transgenic methods to accelerate crop breeding.

2. What makes Ohalo different from other agtech startups?
Its combination of AI-driven prediction, high-throughput breeding, and regulatory arbitrage.

3. Is Ohalo public or private?
Private, currently in stealth mode under Friedberg’s umbrella company The Production Board.

4. What crops does Ohalo focus on?
Wheat, soy, barley, and other staple grains with large market value.

5. What is “super breeding”?
Friedberg’s term for accelerated, AI-optimized crop improvement without genetic modification.

6. How does Ohalo make money?
Likely through licensing crop IP, software access, and yield-optimized seeds.

7. Will consumers care it’s not GMO?
Absolutely. Non-GMO branding is still a major differentiator in many markets.

8. Is this model scalable globally?
Yes — especially in countries with strict GMO bans but rising climate risks.

9. Is this Friedberg’s biggest bet yet?
Potentially. If Ohalo delivers, it could become the cornerstone of a post-Monsanto ag economy.

10. How can I invest in agtech like Ohalo?
Start by watching The Production Board and follow emerging regenerative ag and foodtech funds.

Conclusion

David Friedberg’s Ohalo might not scream headlines like a flashy AI unicorn.

But in the background, it’s quietly assembling a post-Monsanto empire — one seed, one model, one licensing agreement at a time.

Founders in climate, biotech, or food: take notes.

This is how you win in a slow-moving, high-stakes, trillion-dollar industry — without ever needing to fight the FDA.

Subscribe to Capitaly.vc Substack (https://capitaly.substack.com/) to raise capital at the speed of AI.

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