The diversity of organisms and their ability to cooperate and create powerful compounds like antibiotics is what strikes me most about soil microbiology.

Just take Streptomyces coelicolor, the lab buddy of my bachelor’s thesis: This bacterium exhibits a fungus-like lifestyle, decorates its colonies with sky-blue pigments, and brews an incredible variety of antibiotics. Have you ever wondered about the typical earthy scent that soil releases shortly after rainfall? It’s geosmin, produced by streptomycetes to attract arthropods to spread their spores.

When I’m not decoding soil microbiology, I enjoy doing all kinds of outdoor sports and somehow manage to grow delicious tomatoes on my balcony, while mysteriously failing at flowers.

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About Julien

With a background in startups ranging from fashion to AI-driven sales software, Julien shifted his focus six years ago toward regenerative agriculture. He has since led the commercial strategy for various sustainability-focused agri companies, from project developers to a seaweed-based biostimulant firm. At Soilytix, he brings his passion for soil, people, and impact into one clear mission.

"I believe we struggle to value what we cannot see. That’s why I love working at Soilytix. We make soil biology visible, and once people understand what lives beneath their fields, they start to care."

Outside of Soilytix, Julien manages a small olive grove in the south of France where he produces his own olive oil and experiences farming firsthand.

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His core expertise includes:

• Strategic partnerships and stakeholder alignment•
• Commercialization of agtech and sustainable innovation
• Customer success and long-term value creation

About Bruno

Dr. Bruno Steinkraus is Founder & CEO of Soilytix GmbH. He’s an expert in cross-sector biomarker development and previously served as Chief Scientific Officer of Hummingbird Diagnostics GmbH where he led the company’s interdisciplinary research team, managing the scientific discovery and technology development portfolio. Dr. Steinkrausis the inventor of over 10 patent families. He holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, where he was an MRC scholar and has authored several scientific articles on RNA biology. He completed his undergraduate studies at Imperial College London, where he received the Neuroscience Prize.

About Matthias

For a long time, I’ve been fascinated by complex biological systems and the challenge of using statistical and algorithmic techniques to understand them. Soil, in particular, captivates me as a living, breathing ecosystem, full of microorganisms that support plant health and hold the key to sustainable agriculture. Beyond my professional curiosity, I’ve loved gardening and hobby farming since I was young. Bringing together these personal and professional interests is what makes me truly passionate about my work at Soilytix."

Expertise

• Soil microbiome sequencing and analysis
• Machine learning models for yield prediction

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About Hannah

Soil has always spoken to me, not just as a foundation for food but as a deep, intelligent system of regeneration. It’s a living commons where nothing is wasted, everything is connected, and healing is built into the design. My mother is a farmer, and I grew up hearing about antimicrobial resistance and OneHealth long before they became buzzwords. That early awareness shaped my path: I did my PhD on (re)productivity and explored how ecological, economic, and mental regeneration are intertwined. I’ve since worked with regenerative agriculture and reforestation NGOs across Latin America, India, and Africa, where I saw how vital it is to measure regeneration meaningfully. Outside of work, I’m a passionate nature writer and hiker. I love giving nature a voice and quite literally hugging trees.

Expertise

• Biodiversity Policy & Frameworks
• Environmental Markets (Carbon and Biodiversity Credits)
• Environmental Law & Legislation

About Franziska

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Dr. Franziska Böwer studied Molecular Life Sciences at the University of Hamburg, specializing in protein biochemistry and molecular biology. During her PhD and postdoctoral research, she focused on cell biology, chromosome dynamics, and plant genetics, supported by a competitive doctoral fellowship.

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Skills

• Soil microbial community analysis
• Molecular plant-microbe interactions
• Experimental design for biological data interpretation

I studied Molecular Plant Science at the University of Hamburg, focusing on plant meiosis during my master’s thesis. When poor soil quality caused severe plant growth problems and disrupted my research, I found myself unexpectedly drawn into the fascinating and complex world of soil science. What started as a frustrating challenge quickly became a lasting interest. Today, I work at the Soilytix laboratory, where I analyse soil samples and continue to explore the many amazing aspects of this vital ecosystem.