Verdia Diagnostics

About Verdia Diagnostics

Verdia Diagnostics, incorporated in February 2025, is a North Carolina State University startup developing sensor technology for early plant disease detection. The company was co-founded by CEO Zach Hetzler, who holds a Ph.D. in chemical and biomolecular engineering, along with Qingshan Wei and Yong Zhu, both professors at NC State with expertise in biosensing and mechanical engineering respectively. The technology originated from the Plant Aid and WolfSens research projects at the university, with development starting as early as 2019.

Verdia Diagnostics is creating tiny, flexible, 'plant-wearable' sensors that attach to leaves to provide continuous health monitoring. The core technology, branded as the PlantPulse Patch, detects changes in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that plants emit in response to stress, serving as an early warning system before visible symptoms of disease appear. These chemiresistive sensors use functionalized carbon nanotubes to detect VOCs and are also capable of monitoring microenvironmental factors like temperature and humidity. A machine learning algorithm then analyzes the sensor data to classify VOC emissions and provide actionable insights to growers through a software dashboard.

The company's initial target market is controlled environment agriculture (CEA), including greenhouse and vertical farming operations, with a specific focus on high-value crops like tomatoes. These enclosed systems face higher rates of disease transmission, making early detection critical. By enabling a proactive rather than reactive approach to disease management, Verdia aims to help growers reduce crop losses, which can be as high as 40% globally, and decrease the use of pesticides. The company has licensed its technology from NC State and is conducting pilot validation studies with commercial partners. Verdia has gained international recognition, securing a third-place win at the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization's Global AgriInno Challenge.