What's the role of government in agtech ecosystems? Salvatore Lavallo, Abu Dhabi Investment Office

What's the role of government in agtech ecosystems? Salvatore Lavallo, Abu Dhabi Investment Office

It’s fair to say most entrepreneurs (and farmers!) aren’t big fans of government rules and regulations for fear of being slowed down by red tape and bureaucracy. However, the political environment in which a startup develops can have a big impact on its ability to find investment and support, especially in agtech, where ecosystems are still very new for most countries.
The United Arab Emirates is investing heavily in agtech, seeking to make Abu Dhabi the global center for innovation in agriculture. Their focus is on vertical farming, aquaculture, and hydroponics. And they’re working to be strategic in attracting investment and solving for food security, while also developing a knowledge economy.
Salvatore Lavallo is the Head of Foreign Direct Investment at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. He’s had a unique, and perhaps unlikely journey, to this position. Growing up in Indiana, his interest in economic development led him to become, at the age of 27, one of the youngest people to travel to every country in the world. Along the way, he became a farm owner in Tanzania, and later, a consultant with McKinsey in Africa and the Middle East.In this episode, Salvatore discusses:

  • Challenging conventional economic indicators to understand what actually benefits local communities
  • Abu Dhabi’s bold plan to create Food Tech Valley, a hub for agtech innovation in desert environments.
  • The tension between too much government regulation and too little

For more information and resources from this episode, visit our website

Episoder(206)

Ep 48: Peter Thompson (responding to climate risk)

Ep 48: Peter Thompson (responding to climate risk)

Today’s episode is the 4th in the theme Responding to Climate Risk, brought to you in partnership with the Australian Farm Institute. Check out episodes 42, 44 and 46 to hear more on this theme.Today’...

21 Aug 201922min

Episode 47: Live Q&A with Dan Harburg of IndigoAg

Episode 47: Live Q&A with Dan Harburg of IndigoAg

Today’s episode is a live recording from the Sydney AgTech meetup. Our guest is Dan Harburg, senior director at Indigo Ag. IndigoAg is one of agtech’s biggest startups. They’ve raised over $650M, have...

7 Aug 201933min

Ep. 46 - Ben Krasnostein (responding to climate risk)

Ep. 46 - Ben Krasnostein (responding to climate risk)

In this episode we hear from Ben Krasnostein, co-founder and managing director of Kilara Capital, a company that helps facilitate investment opportunities that provide both commercial returns and envi...

23 Jul 201925min

E45 Andrew Whitlock (Theme: getting agtech ready)

E45 Andrew Whitlock (Theme: getting agtech ready)

In this episode we hear from Andrew Whitlock, a farmer and precision agriculture consultant. Andrew has worked with many farmers over the years, both as a government extension officer and as a private...

11 Jul 201929min

Ep 44: Karin Stark and Jon Elder (responding to climate risk)

Ep 44: Karin Stark and Jon Elder (responding to climate risk)

Cotton farmers Jon Elder and Karin Stark have looked to technology (and their neighbors) for innovation to help them respond to climate risk. The 500 kW hybrid solar-diesel pumping system they’ve inst...

24 Jun 201916min

Episode 43: Jess and Matt Fealy (Theme: getting agtech ready)

Episode 43: Jess and Matt Fealy (Theme: getting agtech ready)

Which countries are best prepared for agtech? And what can farmers do to get started today?In this episode we hear from a farming couple, Jess and Matt, about social media, robotics, and picking low h...

11 Jun 201918min

Episode 42: Anika Molesworth (Theme: responding to climate risk)

Episode 42: Anika Molesworth (Theme: responding to climate risk)

Anika Molesworth is a passionate advocate for sustainable farming and climate change action. She can be heard on stage and in classrooms in Australia and abroad on the balance of rural landscapes and ...

30 Mai 201930min

Episode 41: Lachlan Sutton, Southern Cross Farms (Theme: getting agtech ready)

Episode 41: Lachlan Sutton, Southern Cross Farms (Theme: getting agtech ready)

Lachlan Sutton, Agribusiness Manager for Southern Cross Farms, has been involved with agriculture for his whole life. He was born and bred on his family’s sheep and wheat farm, worked in various rural...

14 Mai 201925min

Populært innen Business og økonomi

stopp-verden
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
dine-penger-pengeradet
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
e24-podden
rss-borsmorgen-okonominyhetene
livet-pa-veien-med-jan-erik-larssen
tid-er-penger-en-podcast-med-peter-warren
pengesnakk
finansredaksjonen
utbytte
pengepodden-2
rss-sunn-okonomi
morgenkaffen-med-finansavisen
lederpodden
stormkast-med-valebrokk-stordalen
liberal-halvtime
rss-markedspuls-2
lederskap-nhhs-podkast-om-ledelse
arcticpodden