From agtech adoption problems to high performance farming teams, with Kevin Boyle, EFI

From agtech adoption problems to high performance farming teams, with Kevin Boyle, EFI

When the agtech is not working in the field, we can be quick to search for answers in the product itself. But sometimes, the solution is not there. That’s because it’s not a technical problem, but rather a social systems challenge.

Kevin Boyle is the Director of Organizational and Workforce Development at the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI). He argues that a key component of the farming and food system is often overlooked; and that’s the people who work on the ground. Farm workers can be seen as low-skilled, with little more to offer than the set tasks they perform. However, Kevin is seeking to change this approach, to better recognize the knowledge these workers have, and to create recognizable career paths for them.

Kevin also believes that focusing on the workforce will ultimately benefit the development and adoption of agtech. He spent much of his career in telecommunication tech, where he helped integrate the new digital technologies of the 1990s into the system, including the workers.

Sarah and Kevin discuss:

· Kevin’s unique career background, from growing up on a farm, to working in telecommunications tech, and consulting across Europe and the United States.

· How the perception of farm workers as ‘tools’ rather than humans with skills, knowledge, and desires has hindered tech adoption.

· How to better recognize the skills and knowledge of farm workers, to build high performance farming businesses

· How applied university research can be used to test a product in the broader system before it goes to market.

Useful links:

· Can robotics solve the farm labor problem? With Connie Bowen and Sophie Thorel

· How policy hamstrings agtech in California - Walt Duflock

Episoder(203)

Beyond Scale: Native Grains and Indigenous-Led Food Systems with Jacob Birch

Beyond Scale: Native Grains and Indigenous-Led Food Systems with Jacob Birch

While there is a growing recognition of the importance of indigenous knowledge in agriculture, all too-often, First Nations people are being asked to fit in with an established model. What if we flipp...

4 Feb 39min

The Future of Farming is Autonomous, with Brett McMickell of Kubota

The Future of Farming is Autonomous, with Brett McMickell of Kubota

We’ve hit a tipping point for autonomy in agriculture, so how far off is fully autonomous farming? In this episode, Matthew Pryor sits down with Brett McMickell, Chief Technology Officer at Kubota Nor...

21 Jan 41min

Making underwater forestry scalable and sustainable, with Andrew Morgan of Hydrowood

Making underwater forestry scalable and sustainable, with Andrew Morgan of Hydrowood

Today's episode is a tangible example of a company in the "natural capital" space. While not traditional agtech, the Hydrowood journey hits familiar themes: building a business within nature's constra...

10 Des 202547min

Have we hit the tipping point for autonomy in ag? With Shane Thomas and Matthew Pryor

Have we hit the tipping point for autonomy in ag? With Shane Thomas and Matthew Pryor

Over the past few years, the conversation about autonomy in agtech has moved from “but, does it work?” to “how can I get started?” This is a significant shift, indicative of autonomous machinery becom...

26 Nov 202532min

The Business Case for Electrifying Agriculture, with Cherry Grower Mike Casey

The Business Case for Electrifying Agriculture, with Cherry Grower Mike Casey

In the race to decarbonize agriculture, the spotlight often falls on carbon sequestration, genetics, and alternative proteins. But have we overlooked something that’s right in front of us? Electricity...

12 Nov 202544min

The realities of winding up an agtech app, with Nikki Davey

The realities of winding up an agtech app, with Nikki Davey

What happens when an agtech startup with market pull, a clear mission, and global momentum still doesn’t make it?Nikki Davey is the founder of Grown Not Flown, which helped thousands of local flower g...

30 Okt 202545min

Agtech trends: bundling, unbundling, LLMs  and more with Shane Thomas and Matthew Pryor

Agtech trends: bundling, unbundling, LLMs and more with Shane Thomas and Matthew Pryor

‘Bundling’ is a well-known business strategy, especially in tech, where it’s not only used to increase sales and move slow-selling products, but also to tie customers into an ecosystem (such as Apple ...

15 Okt 202532min

Putting cotton farmers at the forefront of the cotton industry, with Marzia Lanfranchi

Putting cotton farmers at the forefront of the cotton industry, with Marzia Lanfranchi

The biggest issue facing the cotton industry isn't fast fashion or water consumption. It's that the people growing cotton have been rendered invisible. The industry fixates on fiber quality and commod...

1 Okt 202531min

Populært innen Business og økonomi

stopp-verden
dine-penger-pengeradet
e24-podden
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
rss-borsmorgen-okonominyhetene
pengepodden-2
pengesnakk
utbytte
finansredaksjonen
morgenkaffen-med-finansavisen
tid-er-penger-en-podcast-med-peter-warren
livet-pa-veien-med-jan-erik-larssen
rss-sunn-okonomi
lederpodden
rss-markedspuls-2
okonomiamatorene
rss-fa-makro
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
boligbobla
rss-andelige-tanker-med-camillo