At GenTrek Labs,we have come to understand that the best way to grow better crops is to understand the living system beneath them.
Our experience across science and agriculture has shown us that when soil biology is working well, everything else becomes easier, plants grow stronger, systems become more consistent, and inputs can be used more effectively.
We focus on what’s already happening in your soil, and how to support it to perform at its best.
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GenTrek Labs was built on a simple realization: the most important system in agriculture is also the least measured.
Our founder began her career in highly technical environments like spaceflight operations and biotechnology, where data drives decisions and systems are deeply understood. In agriculture, that same level of visibility into the biological system was often missing.
That gap led to a different approach.
Instead of relying primarily on external inputs, the focus became understanding and strengthening the natural system already in place. When soil biology is functioning well, plants perform more consistently, inputs can be used more efficiently, and systems become more resilient.
GenTrek Labs brings modern DNA sequencing into this space—not as a research exercise, but as a practical tool to guide real decisions in the field.
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Dr. Laura Kavanaugh is an engineer, scientist, and grower with a background spanning spaceflight, biotechnology, and agriculture.
She holds degrees in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, along with a Ph.D. in Genetics and Genomics from Duke University. Her career includes 13 years in Space Shuttle Mission Control and over a decade at Syngenta Biotechnology, specializing in bioinformatics and DNA sequencing.
Her work ultimately led her to focus on soil biology and its role in plant performance. She now works directly with regenerative systems at Union Grove Farm Vineyard and founded GenTrek Labs to make advanced biological insights practical and accessible for growers.
We help you understand and improve the biology in your soil, so you can grow stronger crops, use fewer inputs, and operate with greater confidence. Because when your soil is working well, everything above it works better.
Our approach is shaped by hands-on work at Union Grove Farm Vineyard, where soil biology is managed in a working production system.
We translate complex biological data into clear recommendations you can use immediately.
Our goal is to improve how your system performs, without unnecessary disruption.
GenTrek Labs was launched independently, with ongoing collaboration with Advancing Eco Agriculture to stay aligned with real-world needs.
Discover how GenTrek Labs supports gardeners, farmers, and researchers with easy, insightful soil analysis.
Grow better-tasting, more nutritious food while reducing reliance on synthetic inputs. Your soil already contains the foundation, you just need the insight to understand how to support it.
Improve crop performance, manage input costs, and build a more resilient operation. Our recommendations are designed to work within your current system, allowing you to make targeted improvements while maintaining productivity.
We work with researchers who want to connect high-quality biological data with real-world outcomes—helping move soil science from theory into practice.
Have a question? Send us a message.