Agtech - So What?

This episode, live from the 2020 evokeAG conference in Melbourne, features three innovative Aussie producers: Brad “Jonesy” Jones; Sue “Chilla” Middleton; and Mark “Mort” Mortimer. We also cover: the different techs being used in their businesses todaytheir tech wishlists for the futurewhat’s driving adoption of agtech and what’s preventing itwhere to look for the best agtech solutionshow they’re getting involved as more than customers of agtechFor links to additional resources (and all the agtech mentioned), check out our website: www.agtechsowhat.com/agtechsowhatepisodes/tips-from-leading-producers This is yet another live episode- do you like it? Hate it? Let us know on twitter @agtechsowhat or reach out on our website.

20 Mai 202030min

Today’s episode is all about corporate investments and acquisitions in agtech. Two guests, Derek Norman (VP at Leaps by Bayer) and Jim Chambers (President and General Manager of the Worldwide Agriculture Business at Trimble) cover different ways startups can engage with corporates, from early stage direct strategic investments, to channel partnerships, to acquisitions.We also discuss:what Bayer and Trimble are looking for and tips for startup to get investment- and acquisition-readyhow the M&A environment is changing with consolidation and coronaviruswhy we haven’t we seen more successful agtech exitswhat spaces are hot (and not), including how Bayer and Trimble are looking at autonomy, e-commerce, biologicals, indoor agriculture, and moreThis episode was recorded LIVE at an event we co-hosted with Tim Hammerich, host of the Future of Agriculture podcast. If you're not yet a FoA listener, check out episode 201 featuring AgThentic Partner Matthew Pryor.Tim's interview with Derek: 2:00 to 26:18Sarah's interview with Jim: 26:18 to 49:48QnA with both Jim and Derek: 49:48 to endWhat do you think of this format? Do you want more live events, or partnerships with more podcasts? Please reach out!More resources and links available on the AgTech...So What? website.

6 Mai 20201h 10min

Coming to you live from Australia's first national, virtual AgTech Meetup, this episode explores what alternative proteins are, how big they'll become, and whether this is a pending disruption or untapped opportunity for agriculture.Panelists included:Catherine Tubb- chemistry PhD and Research Fellow at RethinkXPaul Wood- internationally recognized veterinary immunologist, inventor, and Chairman at AusBiotechGeorge Peppou- chef and CEO/Co-founder at cellular ag company VOW FoodsIn this episode, we cover:The different types of alternative proteins, from plant-based to cultured meat;What’s driving their cost, and when it will come down;When they'll hit the market, and how much market share they’ll get; andWhat all this means for farmers, investors, and consumers.This meetup was co-hosted by us (AgThentic) alongside SproutX and Platfarm.Check out our website for the live video, slides, and more resources.

22 Apr 202045min

This week Sarah is joined by a guest host, Cass Mao, Principal Advisor at AgThentic, to chat with Pete Nelson of AgLaunch about how growers and agtech companies can work together in a model that they call "farmer-centric innovation"Pete Nelson, originally a farmer and an English major at University, has been actively involved in building the support ecosystem for new agricultural enterprises for over 15 years. He has worked with a variety of public and private sector partners and helped to launch multiple startup companies. More recently he's been working on sector-specific initiatives to fund, incubate, and accelerate agricultural companies with high growth potential. AgLaunch, which includes accelerator programs, a fund, and more, is focused on commercializing early stage agricultural innovation by working with farmers.Cass and Sarah wanted to speak with Pete after writing a report last year on innovation ecosystems, and how best practices in the US can be applied to Australia. Rather than just look at hotspots like Silicon Valley, the report explored ag-focused places, like St. Louis and Tennessee, where AgLaunch is located. The report, called Building a globally Recognised AgTech ecosystem in Australia, is available here: https://agthentic.com/reportsIn this episode, Pete explains what “farmer-centric innovation” means, how AgLaunch is driving it, and how having growers at the table fundamentally changes outcomes for startups and regional communities. For additional resources and info, check out our blog: www.agtechsowhat.com/agtechsowhatepisodes/2020/4/8/ep-64-pete-nelson-on-partnering-with-growers-to-build-better-agtech

8 Apr 202040min

Evan Fraser is a food systems innovation expert, the Director of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph in Canada, and the Founder of Feeding9Billion.Though he didn't grow up on a farm, he brings a multi-disciplinary and systems approach to his work, with degrees and work experience in various fields from anthropology to atmospheric chemistry to agriculture. His passion for agriculture comes from his love of good food and summers spent spent working on his grandfather’s farm (more on that in the episode). In this episode, Evan and I cover two main topics:Three big barriers to agtech adoption, and what’s being done to overcome them; andThe impact of COVID-19 on agricultural supply chains.Thanks to Connie Bowen for suggesting Evan. We're always open to suggestions and feedback from our listeners!Additional Links and ResourcesArrell Food Institute (check out the videos and card game!)Feeding9BillionEvan on TwitterEvan on LinkedInMore thoughts from Evan on COVID-19Empires of Food: Feast, Famine, and the Rise and Fall of Civilizations (Evan’s book)Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition (GODAN)

25 Mar 202028min

We hear all the time that we need to "feed the world" and that "agtech can help" But what role will indoor farming play? How do these systems work, what can they grow, and how do they make money?Today’s guest, Allison Kopf, is an agtech entrepreneur and indoor ag expert. Her company, Artemis, builds software for indoor farms and specialty crops. In this episode, rebroadcast (with updates and edits) from a couple years ago, Allison shares an indoor ag 101. We also cover the challenges for women in agtech, and how we can increase gender diversity in big and small ways. Happy (belated) International Women's Day to all our female listeners. Resources and LinksArtemis (formerly Agrilyst)Allison’s Forbes 30 under 30 interview2017 State of Indoor Ag ReportList of women in agtech that Allison started (and some press on it here)Allison and Artemis on twitter

18 Mar 202033min

evokeAG, Asia Pacific's largest agrifood tech event, brought together 1300 innovators earlier in February this year in Melbourne, Australia. The jam-packed event featured international experts, innovative farmers, dozens of startups, and much more, showcasing what the region has to offer in agrifood tech innovation.This bonus episode gives a taste of evokeAG and a live recording of the first panel on the main stage: The Asia-Pacific region and how we are rising. Panelists included:Andrew Coppin - FarmbotDavid Downs - NZTEJohn Hartnett - SVG Ventures/THRIVELiza Noonan - CSIROSarah Nolet - Tenacious Ventures and host of AgTech...So What?For additional shoutouts and relevant links, check out the AgTech...So What website here.

11 Mar 202043min

Agriculture is often vilified for its environmental impact. But what if agriculture could be carbon neutral? Is that even possible? And what would it cost?Alisdair Tulloch, a fourth generation grape grower, believes it’s not only possible but also profitable.In this episode, Alisdair shares his family's journey to carbon neutral. Why did they decide to take action? How are they measuring? What improvements have they made, and how did they prioritize?We also cover:The practices and management decisions Alisdair has made, and what’s working (or not);Why there’s a first-mover advantage of going carbon neutral;The ROI of carbon neutrality; andThe potential of policies and carbon markets to unlock value for farmers.To follow Alisdair’s journeyInstagram @keithtullochwine and @alisdairtullochFacebook at https://www.facebook.com/KeithTullochWine/Looking for Keith Tulloch wines?https://keithtullochwine.com.au/info@keithtullochwineThe Fine Wine Specialist, their national distributor: https://www.tfws.com.au

4 Mar 202034min