Agtech - So What?

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Thu, 18 Feb 2021 11:41:36 GMT

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Busting food and farming myths - Rob Paarlberg on a scientific approach to food policy

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 19:00:00 GMT

In a world where food and farming are highly polarized issues, Rob Paarlberg's approach is to follow the evidence. This has earned him great respect, but also means his well-researched views tend to land him in no-man's land between traditional industry views and the new food movement.For instance, Rob supports modern commercial farming and the use of fertilizers; however, he's not a blanket supporter of 'Big Ag'. He is highly critical of the state of animal welfare in modern American livestock production, but he's not against eating meat. As an author and Associate in the Sustainability Science program at the Harvard Kennedy School, Rob is renowned for debunking the popular myths about food and farming.In his latest book, "Resetting the Table: Straight Talk About the Food We Grow and Eat, Rob argues that food policy, rather than farm policy, should be the focus for reform when it comes to the American food system.In this episode, Rob discusses his latest book and: •Why returning to the 'old ways' of farming is not sustainable •How US farm subsidies make food more, not less, expensive •The cause of the obesity epidemic in America (and the food policies that could actually make a difference). •Why the agriculture industry needs to improve its treatment of animals (and the relatively low costs involved).For insights and resources, visit our website.

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How can big companies like Coca-Cola impact the sustainability of our food system?

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 19:01:00 GMT

There's always going to be some skepticism about the motives of 'Big Food' companies. But, for reasons such as risk management, consumer pressures, and more, the Coca-Cola Company is becoming more focused on the sustainability of its supply chain.While Coca-Cola doesn't deal directly with farmers, its interest in how products are sourced and grown is increasing. In this episode Ulrike Sapiro, Senior Director of Global Water Stewardship and Sustainable Agriculture at the Coca-Cola Company, discusses: •The role Coca-Cola can play in taking- and instilling- ownership of sustainability outcomes in its supply chain. •The role of pre-competitive collaborations in catalyzing and piloting sustainability projects in countries such as Brazil, Australia and India. •How Coca-Cola is investing in innovation and new technology to find sustainability solutions. •For more insights and links from this episode, visit our website. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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What it's REALLY like to work in an agtech startup

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 19:01:00 GMT

If you're looking at a career in agtech, chances are you're going to spend time working with startups. But what's it like to work IN an agtech startup? A fast-paced environment, no red tape, significant responsibility, and a big vision may come to mind. But there can be downsides, too, such as long hours and setbacks due to the inevitable trial and error that comes with bringing new innovations to the world.The agtech industry is increasingly drawing top talent from all different industries and backgrounds. This episode explores why there are opportunities for everyone- from engineers to electricians to artists- to use their skills within high-growth agtech startups that focus on building the food supply chains of the future.So, whether you're just starting on your career path or mid-way through, tune in to learn if working in an agtech startup is right for you. Featuring: •Soroush Pour - Head of Engineering at Vow and 15th employee at Plaid (Visa recently tried to acquire Plaid for $5b+) •Alissa Welker - Farmer Acquisition and Engagement at Steward and 60th employee at Farmers Business Network •Kerryn Thomas - Head of Operations at Goterra and former electrical technician in the mining and concrete industries.For more links and resources from this episode, visit our website.

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Breaking into agtech when you're not from a farm and "don't look the part"

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 19:01:00 GMT

How do you get a career in agriculture or agtech, when you're not from a farming background? In this episode, we meet four women who've become agtech leaders, despite not having grown up on a farm. At the intersection of two largely white and male dominated industries (agriculture and tech), they have succeeded despite, as they say, 'not looking the part'. You'll hear how they first got their foot in the door (from scoring discounted tickets to conferences, to setting up their own networking events, to making elevator pitches to gain on-farm experience), and what challenges they've had to overcome to thrive. This episode is for employers looking for talent, as well as anyone looking to get into agtech and agriculture who isn't sure where to start!On the podcast: •Rayali Banerjee - Communications Manager, Syngenta Australia and New Zealand •Cass Mao - Program Manager, Farmers2Founders and Venture Partner, Tenacious Ventures •Samantha Wan - Wool Business Specialist, Elders •Amy Wu - Writer and Creator, From Farms to IncubatorsThis is episode has been brought to you by the AgThentic Group in collaboration with Future Farmers Network.For links from the episode and to find agtech job listings, visit our website.

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Scaling up Soil Carbon Markets - feat. guests from Cargill, Nori and more!

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 19:01:00 GMT

The race is on globally to scale carbon markets, where farmers can sell the carbon they sequester in their soil to buyers who want to offset emissions. But right now, the space is often confusing for buyers, sellers, and the intermediaries working between them. And further, both public and private market schemes have been criticized for inefficiencies and high costs to participate.But the game is changing as new technologies and business models seek to lower barriers to entry and improve transparency, and the demand side continues to explore, driven by consumer and regulatory pressures. But with all this activity, what will it take to scale up and deliver worthwhile returns for farmers?In this panel discussion, you'll hear a variety of perspectives - from those developing new technologies and carbon market methodologies, to organizations helping farmers operate within existing emissions trading schemes.Today's guests: •Aldyen Donnelly - Co-Founder and Director of Carbon Economics, Nori. •Sam Duncan - Founder, FarmLab •Matt Schmitt, Senior Director of Commercial Carbon, Cargill •Dave Moore - Chief Operating Officer, Green CollarThis episode is an edited version of a live AusAgritech event, organized by the AgThentic Group, Sprout X and Platfarm.Check out our insights and more on our website.

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Farming eggs the startup way - Sarah Sivyer on continuous improvement and customer intimacy

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 19:01:00 GMT

Sarah Sivyer had multiple roles in the corporate world before she decided to start farming eggs. She grew up on a farm, but was completely new to chickens, and this was the challenge she wanted: to grow her own business from scratch and apply her corporate knowledge.By tapping into consumer demand for convenience, freshness, and sustainability credentials, Sarah now runs 2500 chickens for her subscription-based egg business, Just Been Laid. Sarah also completed a Nuffield Scholarship on continuous improvement and branding, bringing lessons on global best practices back to the farm.In this episode Sarah Sivyer discusses: •Building a successful farming business by developing 'customer intimacy.' •Using business concepts like Six Sigma to eliminate waste, remove variation, and be more efficient in farming. •Offsetting the high cost of labor through branding, quality, and business model innovation.For more information and links from this episode, check out our website.

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Changing human behavior - how Matt Crozier introduced technology to a 200 year old sheep station

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 19:01:00 GMT

Cavan Station might have well-known owners today (the Murdoch family), but the large property in southern New South Wales has long held a place in Australian history, as pioneers of the fine wool industry.And Cavan Station is still innovating today. In fact, the 25,000 acre (10,000 ha) farm has undergone a significant transformation over the past 10 years, including adopting the latest technologies, from genetics and genomics, to data analysis and software.At the helm of this change is the General Manager of Cavan Station, Matt Crozier.In this episode he discusses: •The challenges and benefits of encouraging a farming team to use more technology and different farming methods. •Shifting to "regenerative" agriculture (a term Matt doesn't love), and focusing more on animal welfare, including stopping mulesing. •The economic and ecological performance of the farm, since incorporating new tech and alternative farming methods.For more resources and our insights on the chat with Matt, check out our website here.

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From defense to disruption, how companies are approaching sustainability in the food system, with Mary Shelman

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 19:02:00 GMT

Mary Shelman is an internationally recognized agribusiness consultant and speaker, and the former Director of Harvard Business School's Agribusiness program. Mary grew up in Kentucky, watching her father sell farm equipment; now, based in Boston, she helps corporations and governments tackle agriculture's biggest problems. In Ireland, for example, she helped boost exports and build a national brand through Origin Green, a national sustainability scheme.In this podcast, Mary talks about: •How companies are responding to the sustainability demands of customers - from defending traditional methods, to defying or even disrupting agriculture supply chains and markets. •Why her agricultural upbringing helps shape her work as much as her formal qualifications and experiences in agribusiness case studies. •How technology can help farmers and businesses better understand and use their resources as the food system changes.For our insights, Mary's research, and a picture of the framework she mentions in this episode, visit our website.

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"Not a cheerleader, not the enemy", journalist Sarah Mock on making windows in the walls around agriculture

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 19:01:00 GMT

Sarah Mock isn't afraid of having tough conversations and shining light on thorny issues in the agriculture industry. A journalist with experience in international development and agtech, Sarah recently began a Twitter firestorm with an article asserting that all farming is inherently exploitative.While sometimes accused of being anti-farming, Sarah says this couldn't be further from the truth. She describes herself as being "not a cheerleader; not the enemy". Sarah grew up on a farm in Wyoming and has worked in agriculture her entire career - from high profile agtech startups such as Farmers Business Network, to reporting on ag politics under the Trump administration.In this episode, Sarah Mock discusses: •The reluctance of some farmers to change their farming practices, despite strong data evidence indicating the benefits. •Why the agriculture industry needs to start telling the truth about what farming looks like, and start addressing what customers want. •How agriculture policy and incentives can actually lead to poor business decisions & outcomes. •What it feels like to stick up for controversial beliefs, and the pushback she receives from being provocative and "making windows in the walls around farming".

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Regen Ag Series #5: Our Verdict

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 20:01:00 GMT

Regen Ag Series #5: Our Verdict, with Sarah Nolet and Matthew Pryor from AgThentic and Tenacious VenturesIn this final wrap up episode of our regenerative agriculture series, the team from AgThentic is giving you OUR verdict. Sarah is joined by Matthew Pryor, Partner at AgThentic and co-founder of Tenacious Ventures, to discuss: •what it will take to move beyond the polarizing debate over whether regen ag is good or bad; •how agtech can unlock cost effective ways to measure, monitor, and verify what's actually working; •impacts of consumer's push for carbon neutral produce and reducing the use of chemicals; and •emerging business models and incentives that can help shift the risk/reward equation of transitioning to new practices.Sarah and Matthew are joined by Kirsten Diprose, Marketing Manager at AgThentic, farmer and guest host for this episode.Check out our blog for more wrap up insights, and if you've missed the regen ag series, you can catch up here.

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Regen Ag Series #4: Greenwashing or Good Business? Live debate.

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 20:00:00 GMT

The gloves are off as our expert panelists debate whether regenerative agriculture can improve farming businesses... or if it's all hype.Host Sarah Nolet is joined by: •Richard Leask, a wine grower and 2019 Nuffield Scholar who traveled the world studying regen ag, and now uses the best of what he discovered back home in his vineyard in South Australia. •Toby Grogan, a natural capital specialist from Impact Ag, who advises farmers and investors on how regen ag can increase soil health and farm profitability. •Will Bignell, a regen ag skeptic and Tasmanian mixed farmer, who is committed to a simpler, commodities based farming business.This was recorded at the live AusAgritech Meetup in September 2020, organized by AgThentic, Sprout X and Platfarm.For insights on the episode and links to useful resources, check out our website.

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Supplying sustainable beef to McDonalds with Nicole-Johnson-Hoffman of OSI Group

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 20:00:00 GMT

Is it possible for large food corporations like McDonald's to "scale for good?" Nicole Johnson-Hoffman is in charge of supplying beef to McDonalds through the OSI Group, and doing so sustainably.She believes it's only the big companies that have the power to change entire supply chains and therefore that the future of sustainable food is up to them.Nicole grew up on a small dairy farm in Minnesota and is now a world leader in sustainable beef production.But the industry today is a long way from where it was in the not too distant past. It has moved from highly defensive and secretive, like when Oprah and the American Cattleman's Association squared off in the late 1990s, to embracing the need for more transparency and input from stakeholders.In this episode, Nicole talks about: •The feud between the US beef industry and Oprah. •How major companies like McDonald's are taking responsibility for the sustainability of their supply chains, and what this means for farmers. •The rise of frameworks for food sustainability, like the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef

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Regen Ag Series #3: Why major food companies are supporting regen ag with Jay Watson of General Mills

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 20:03:00 GMT

When a company commits to regenerative agriculture practices - it can be accused of 'greenwashing' - making people believe it's doing more to help the environment than it really is.General Mills, the U.S. company behind iconic brands such as Yoplait, Betty Crocker and Cheerios, made a commitment to bring regenerative agriculture practices to one million acres of farmland by 2030.Jay Watson is responsible for this task - connecting farmers in various commodity supply chains with support, tools, and pilot programs to enable regen ag practices.In this podcast, Jay discusses: •The criticisms around regenerative agriculture and why General Mills has decided to invest in it. •How General Mills is educating farmers to view their land as an ecosystem. •Overcoming the misconceptions held by some 'foodies' about where their food actually comes from. •The current and future prospects of agtech in regenerative agriculture.For our insights on the episode and links to useful resources, check out our blog here.

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Regen Ag Series #2: Sam Trethewey on applying startup business model insights to produce carbon positive beef

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 20:01:00 GMT

Sam Trethewey believes 'regenerative agriculture' is not a dirty word - but simply the future of farming. Astonishingly, he produces wagyu beef in Tasmania without actually owning any cows. He does this by combining insights about business models from startups such as Uber and Airbnb with the farming practices of regenerative agriculture.Sam grew up on the family farm in Tasmania before working in corporate agribusiness and marketing. In 2016, he co-founded SproutX, the first agtech accelerator in Australia.But in the last few years, he has returned to his first passion - the land itself. Sam runs the Tas Ag Co with his wife, Steph. After seeing increasing demand from consumers who are more conscious about what they eat, they've taken on the challenge of producing 'carbon positive beef'.In this episode, Sam shares his insights on: •Tas Ag Co's innovative business model that avoids traditional finance and allows them to produce beef without owning cows. •How the marketing and branding of their product as 'carbon positive' is a major driver for the business. •The debate over what regenerative agriculture actually means and where it is headed in the future.Want to know more? Check out our blog for insights and additional resources.

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Regen Ag Series #1: Mark Wootton on carbon-neutral farming at Jigsaw Farms

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 20:03:00 GMT

Mark Wootton is well-known in the Australian agriculture industry as a pioneer in carbon-neutral farming. In 2011, Jigsaw Farms, his family property in south-west Victoria, achieved carbon neutrality - undergoing a process he openly admits was at the time, both "arduous and not necessarily commercially rewarding".Yet, Mark and his wife Eve Kantor operate a very successful mixed grazing farm where they run 20,000 sheep for fine wool and prime lamb as well as 500 cows. The farm also incorporates a 600 hectare hardwood timber plantation and indigenous plantings for biodiversity.Mark was instrumental in the creation of the Climate Institute - a not-for-profit focused on climate science and policy in Australia. He remains a champion of finding new ways to lower methane emissions on farms - through both feed efficiencies and new technologies.His latest venture is a "Super Ewe" - where he's using genetics to create a dual purpose sheep through focusing on muscle and fat in the selection process.In this episode Mark Wootton shares his insights on: •Using Sheep Freeze Brand (liquid nitrogen) as an alternative to mulesing. •Turning sustainable agriculture practices into a driver for productivity and profits. •The importance of flexibility in farming operations. •Finding the right times to make big decisions for your business.Want to know more? Check out our blog and additional resources from the episode on our website.

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Ep 70: Karmen Mehmen on growing a family farm through 40 years of change

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 19:57:00 GMT

Karmen Mehmen is a corn and soybean farmer in Iowa alongside her husband Stan and their son Kyle and daughter-in-law Kerri. Their farm, MBS Family Farms, has grown from 160 acres and 40 cows back in the '60s to an operation that today supports 20 families.In this episode, Karmen talks about: •How technology has enabled them to manage through substantial growth •Learnings from transitioning the farm to the next generation •How structured coaching and support has helped them become better farmers & business ownersFor more insights from the episode and links to resources Karmen mentions, check out our write up here.

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Ep 69: Renée Anderson "Cotton Farm Girl" on social media and social license

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 19:57:00 GMT

Renée Anderson is a farmer in Emerald, Queensland, Nuffield Scholar, agronomist, and overall champion for the cotton industry. In this episode, she shares her insights from Australia and around the world on social license, science communications, and the role that tech can play in helping farmers both improve production and change the narrative about agriculture.Visit our website for our top five insights, Renee's favorite science communicators, and the resources on racism in agriculture mentioned at the end of this episode.

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Ep 68: David Carter on becoming the world's only carbon neutral fishing company

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 20:09:00 GMT

David Carter is the CEO of Austral Fisheries, one of Australia's largest integrated commercial fishing companies. Austral Fisheries is notable for being the only commercial fishing company in the world to be certified Carbon Neutral, offsetting their emissions to zero since 2016.In this episode we talk about: •David's path from deckhand to CEO •Austral's journey from commodity to branded, premium product •The bold goals that Austral have set on issues like bycatch and carbon emissions •How technology is helping Austral respond to consumer demands and address social license issues •The 'unlikely alliances' powering Austral Fisheries' market leading positionFor the resources mentioned and more on David, visit our website: www.agtechsowhat.com/agtechsowhatepisodes/david-carter-carbon-neutral-fishing

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Ep 67: tips from three leading farmers using tech everyday (live from evokeAG)

Wed, 20 May 2020 20:01:00 GMT

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 today •their tech wishlists for the future •what's driving adoption of agtech and what's preventing it •where to look for the best agtech solutions •how 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.

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Ep 66: Jim Chambers (Trimble) and Derek Norman (Bayer) on agtech acquisitions

Wed, 06 May 2020 19:55:00 GMT

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-ready •how the M&A environment is changing with consolidation and coronavirus •why we haven't we seen more successful agtech exits •what 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 26:18 •Sarah's interview with Jim: 26:18 to 49:48 •QnA 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.

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Episode 65: The Alternative Protein Debate: live from Australia's first virtual, national agtech meetup

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 20:03:00 GMT

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 RethinkX •Paul Wood- internationally recognized veterinary immunologist, inventor, and Chairman at AusBiotech •George 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; and •What 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.

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Ep 64 Pete Nelson on partnering with growers to build better agtech

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 20:22:00 GMT

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

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Ep63 Evan Fraser on 3 barriers to agtech adoption and impacts of COVID-19 on agriculture

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 19:31:00 GMT

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; and •The 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 Resources •Arrell Food Institute (check out the videos and card game!) •Feeding9Billion •Evan on Twitter •Evan on LinkedIn •More thoughts from Evan on COVID-19 •Empires of Food: Feast, Famine, and the Rise and Fall of Civilizations (Evan's book) •Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition (GODAN)

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Ep 62 Allison Kopf on indoor ag business models and women in agtech (rebroadcast)

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 19:59:00 GMT

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 Links •Artemis (formerly Agrilyst) •Allison's Forbes 30 under 30 interview •2017 State of Indoor Ag Report •List of women in agtech that Allison started (and some press on it here) •Allison and Artemis on twitter

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BONUS Episode: Live panel from evokeAG 2020 featuring global agrifood tech experts

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 19:19:00 GMT

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 - Farmbot •David Downs - NZTE •John Hartnett - SVG Ventures/THRIVE •Liza Noonan - CSIRO •Sarah Nolet - Tenacious Ventures and host of AgTech...So What?For additional shoutouts and relevant links, check out the AgTech...So What website here.

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Ep61 Alisdair Tulloch on the first-mover advantages of going carbon neutral

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 19:25:00 GMT

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; and •The potential of policies and carbon markets to unlock value for farmers.To follow Alisdair's journey •Instagram @keithtullochwine and @alisdairtulloch •Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KeithTullochWine/Looking for Keith Tulloch wines? •https://keithtullochwine.com.au/ •info@keithtullochwine •The Fine Wine Specialist, their national distributor: https://www.tfws.com.au

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Ep 60 Mark Ferguson on science, sheep, and the tech-enabled future of genetics

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 19:29:00 GMT

Mark "Ferg" Ferguson is a sheep geneticist who's paying attention to how both consumer demands and emerging technologies are impacting growers. Drawing on his experience with dozens of clients around Australia and New Zealand, Ferg shares: •insights for agtech companies, like the importance of personas and how to build relationships in a digital world; •what the future of extension and consulting in livestock looks like; •the role of cutting edge technologies in the sheep industry; and •a vision for the future where consumers expectations are met and growers are profitable.For more from Ferg and resources mentioned, see: •https://www.nextgenagri.com/ •https://twitter.com/neXtgenAgri and https://twitter.com/Fergenetics •https://www.nextgenagri.com/articles/farmer-people-that-farm-article-1 •Artificial Intelligence work: https://www.nextgenagri.com/articles/seen-one-seen-them-all •NZ Merino: https://www.nzmerino.co.nz/

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Ep 59: Mic Fels on startup buzzwords and where the real value is in agtech

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 19:18:00 GMT

Mic Fels is someone I've wanted to speak with ever since I read an article he wrote about how his agtech is really making him money.Mic not only crops about 11,000 hectares in Esperance, Western Australia, but has also built and commercialized a range of software products and machinery through his company, iPaddock.Mic and I chat about where the real value is in agtech, and what building products has taught him about startups and about farming.We also talk about: •hard earned lessons and tips for working with tech; •whether ideas or execution matter more; and •which is harder...farming or building agtech.For more from Mic and to check out the iPaddock products, see: •https://twitter.com/ipaddockapps •https://www.ipaddock.com.au/ •https://www.ipaddock.com.au/how-i-make-money-out-of-ipaddock/

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Ep 58: Fiona Aveyard on drought, dust storms, and value-adding

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 19:50:00 GMT

Agtech is about more than the technologies. It's about new business models in agriculture,and of course the innovators driving changes along the value chain. Today's guest, Fiona Aveyard, a 5th generation mixed farmer, is definitely an innovator and an entrepreneur.We talk about how she's working on a new supply chain and newvalue add products that can bring more profits to the farm and create jobs in herlocal community. And she's doing all of this while facing dust storms and the worst drought inhistory.This episode is again part of our series in partnership with Farmers2Founders, aninnovation program designed specially for primary producers. Fiona is one of thebusinesses in the program. Applications are open now for the Ideas Program. So, if you're a producer with an invention to commercialize or an idea for a new product, check it out! For more from Fiona, check out:https://www.outbacklamb.com.au/https://twitter.com/outbacklamb

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Ep 57 Fee Turner and Lee Coleman on being farmers and agtech founders

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 19:13:00 GMT

Fee Turner (Bitwise Agronomy) and Lee Coleman (FarmSimple) are both farmers as well as founders of agtech startups. They, along with six other farmer-led businesses, have been selected into the Farmers2Founders Bootcamp program, an intensive 3 month accelerator that is helping them take their business to the next level. In this episode, Fee and Lee tell us about their farms, startups, and the challenges they're facing being farmers and founders. Relevant links: •https://www.bitwiseag.com/ •https://twitter.com/bitwiseag •https://croppaco.com/ •https://twitter.com/CroppaCoThis episode is produced in partnership with Farmers2Founders. To learn more, check out https://www.farmers2founders.com/ or follow @farmers2founder on Twitter.

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Stuart Austin on the tools for regenerative agriculture

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 18:46:00 GMT

Stuart Austin is a regenerative farmer and self-proclaimed early adopter of technology. In this episode we cover everything from how Stuart got involved in regenerative ag, to the tools he's using (and helping build) to make 6 and 7 figure decisions at Wilmot Cattle Company.Stuart also shares his views on alternative proteins, transparency in agriculture, and the books and movies that he's found inspirational. Relevant links: •Wilmot Cattle Company- https://www.wilmotcattleco.com.au/ •Write up of the 2019 Field Day- https://www.maiagrazing.com/250-plus-graziers-attend-field-day-on-drought-resilience/ •RCS Grazing for Profit course- https://www.rcsaustralia.com.au/products/family-business/grazing-for-profit-2/ •Allan Savory's TED talk- https://www.ted.com/talks/allan_savory_how_to_fight_desertification_and_reverse_climate_change •You inc. by John McGrath- https://www.amazon.com.au/You-Inc-Attract-Amazing-Business/dp/0732276365 •Remember the Titans (trailer)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir1OH33uiwA •Maia Grazing- https://www.maiagrazing.com/ •FarmBot- https://www.farmbot.com.au/

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Meet two of the farmer-led startups in the Farmers2Founders Bootcamp

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 18:38:00 GMT

Ashlea Miles and David Ricardo are Australian farmers and founders of agtech startups Training Paddock and Farm Service Manager. They, along with six other farmer-led businesses, have been selected into the Farmers2Founders Bootcamp program, an intensive 3 month accelerator that helping them take their business to the next level. In this episode, Ash and David share the story behind Training Paddock and Farm Service Manager, and reflect on the differences and similarities between running a farm and building a startup. Relevant links: •https://www.trainingpaddock.com.au/ •https://farmservicemanager.com/ •https://twitter.com/FarmServiceApp (@FarmServiceApp)This episode is produced in partnership with Farmers2Founders. To learn more, check out https://www.farmers2founders.com/

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Aidan Connolly on facial recognition for cows

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 20:10:00 GMT

Aidan Connolly is the CEO of Cainthus, and agtech startup using cameras and machine learning to help farmers make better decisions. Before that, Aidan helped Alltech grow from $24 million to $2.3 billion. During that time he was, among many things, Director of the Pearse Lyons Accelerator where he saw hundreds of agtech startups in all different sectors.Aidan shares his insights on: •What it's like to go from a global agribusiness to a startup •How cameras are transforming agriculture •How to get engineers off the keyboard and onto the farms they're trying to help •Why it's so important for farmers to help entrepreneurs, even when it's frustratingFor more from Aidan, check out: •Aidan on LinkedIn •Aidan on Twitter •Aidan on Forbes •Cainthus Other resources: •HBR on the average age of successful founders

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(Live Panel) What does it take for researchers & startups to collaborate in agtech?

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 18:59:00 GMT

Coming to you live from the AgTech Meetup in Sydney, this panel explores what it takes for startups and researchers to collaborate successfully in agrifood. Panelists for the evening were: Dr Peter Thorburn, Chief Research Scientist at CSIRO; Tegan Nock, Co-Founder at SoilCQuest; and Nick Hazell, Founder and CEO at V2 Food.V2 Food: https://www.v2food.com/SoilCQuest: https://www.soilcquest.org.au/CSIRO: https://www.csiro.au/The AgTech Meetup is proudly sponsored by SproutX, Australia's first agtech accelerator.

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Murray Scholz on the GMO and Sheep Controversies

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 18:54:00 GMT

Murray Scholz farms with his wife Emma in Southern NSW and the Eastern Riverina on the foothills of the snowy mountains. They grow wheat, canola, lupins, and barley, and run beef cattle and prime lambs.Murray's family is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year, after his great-grandfather came to the area in 1919. They've always been an innovative family, adopting new practices and striving to run a profitableand sustainable business. In this episode, Murray shares several stories of how his thinking has changed through overseas travel and exposure to new perspectives, and the business decisions he's made as a result.Tune in to learn about: •What it's like to be in the middle of the GMO controversy, where no one seems to listen to what you're really saying •Why Murray decided to run sheep, after publicly criticizing them for years •How a hiking trip in Switzerland challenged his views on ag policies •The decisions you can make when you've been collecting data for over 30 years •Tips for agtech startups to better engage with farmersTo hear more from Murray or follow what Scholz farming is up to, check out: •Practical tips from Murray on integrated weed management and water use efficiency: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b4QRvoma1o •Murray on why they integrated sheep and how they're benefiting from a mixed farming operation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KjUfhCDzkU and https://www.theland.com.au/story/6272468/lifting-profit-to-cut-risk/ •Find Murray on twitter and Facebook @ScholzFarming

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Victor Friedberg on Systems Investing and Transition from Commodity to Identity

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 18:31:00 GMT

Today's guest, Victor Friedberg is the co-founder of S2G ventures, a Chicago-based firm that has backed companies across the ag and food industries such as Beyond Meat, Maple Hill Creamery, Benson Hill Biosystems, and Mercaris. Victor is also the founder of Foodshot Global, a non-profit consortium of companies focused on creating a food system that's more healthy, sustainable, and equitable.In this episode, Victor and I chat about:· How Victor went from tech entrepreneur to food and ag investor· How a systems approach to investing can decrease risk· Opportunities for farmers to benefit from consumer trends· Victor's reflections on the agrifood tech opportunities down underAdditional resources: •S2G Ventures •FoodShot Global •Maple Hill Creamery •Beyond Meat •Umami •Organic Fraud Imports in the newsCheck out our "getting agtech ready" eBook here: https://www.agtechsowhat.com/getting-agtech-ready-ebook

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Tim Hammerich on Careers in AgTech

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 20:01:00 GMT

Tim Hammerich, who grew up on a hobby farm in Northern California selling pigs, goats and ducks, is the Founder of AgGrad and the host of the Future of Agriculture podcast. In this episode, Tim and I chat about careers in agriculture, including what companies are looking for, tips for getting a job, and what's different about jobs in agtech.For more on Tim, check out AgGrad (https://aggrad.com/) or find him on Twitter @TimHammerich and #FutureOfAgriculture Podcast

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Ep 49: Rachel Hay on the role of women in agtech adoption

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 20:00:00 GMT

This week, Dr. Rachel Hay, social scientist at James Cook University and boutique pig farmer, shares insights from her PhD on the role of women in agtech adoption. Published in 2014, Rachel's findings still hold true and could be helpful for agtech companies looking to understand the industry and develop marketing strategies that can cut through the noise.

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Ep 48: Peter Thompson (responding to climate risk)

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 19:29:00 GMT

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's guest is Peter Thompson, a farmer based in rural Queensland, Australia that has been farming regeneratively before the word existed. He and his wife Nicki run grassfed beef cattle, do broad-acre cropping, and have about 6000 acres of wilderness conservation country.His farming philosophy has developed over a lifetime on the land, and in this episode he shares his insights about: •Finding compromises that are truly win-win; •Avoiding the temptation of silver bullet solutions; •The long list of technologies they've adopted; and •The importance of balance.Find out more about Peter and his project's here: •EchoCattle: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Agricultural-Cooperative/Echo-Cattle-228388813850666/ •PeterPointT, his invention that's now sold globally: https://www.facebook.com/433620400044090/videos/1219724138184212/ •Soil2Soul: www.soil2soul.com.au •Walk over weighing project: https://futurebeef.com.au/projects/walk-over-weighing/

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

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 11:52:00 GMT

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 over 1k staff, and are working to expand in the US and internationally. Dan was visiting Australia to learn more about carbon farming, and the work happening here that might be helpful to Indigo and farmers around the world.Indigo Ag - https://www.indigoag.com/Episode produced by Grow Love Project.

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

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 20:56:00 GMT

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 environmental impacts.Ben believes that we as consumers, primary producers, and global economies need to shift away from a mindset of extraction to one of regeneration. And he believes that business and technology are tools to enable this transition.When it comes to agriculture, Ben sees great opportunities for farmers to benefit during this transition.This episode is the 3rd the theme, responding to climate risk, brought to you in partnership with Australian Farm Institute, an independent organization conducting research into the strategic issues facing Australian farmers and the agriculture sector. Find them on social media @AustFarmInstituOther links from the show •Kilara Capital •Climate Solutions Fund •Climate Friendly •Tasman Environmental Markets

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E45 Andrew Whitlock (Theme: getting agtech ready)

Thu, 11 Jul 2019 06:34:00 GMT

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 consultant. Andrew believes in keeping it simple, sticking to the science, and being really clear about the problem you are trying to solve before implementing any innovation.For Andrew, big is not necessarily better when it comes to data, and agtech is no substitute for sound soil science. But he is excited to see where new innovative technologies can complement agronomy to inform good decision making.Finally, Andrew says that farmers young and old need to be brave and take a leap of faith when it comes to trying new things to improve their farming systems.This episode is the 4th and final in the theme, Getting AgTech Ready, brought to you in partnership with Decipher, a precision agriculture solution that helps growers and agronomists make data driven decisions. Find them on social media @DecipherAgTech

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

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 20:36:00 GMT

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 installed- Australia's largest- is helping them combat rising energy costs and improve the bottom line.As farmers who are passionate about the environment, Karin and Jon say it's a win-win for the business and the environment. The system is reducing their carbon footprint and building financial resilience. On top of that, Karin has been organizing field days and conferences to share her message that communication and trust are key to building knowledge and confidence when it comes to adopting new technologies that can help farmers respond to climate risk.This episode is the second in the Responding to Climate Risk theme, brought to you in partnership with Australian Farm Institute, an independent organisation conducting research into the strategic issues facing Australian farmers and the agriculture sector. Find them on social media @AustFarmInstituOther links from the showNSW Rural Assistance Authority government incentives - www.raa.nsw.gov.auAgriFutures Rural Women's Award - www.agrifutures.com.au/people-leadership/rural-womens-award/Reaqua Solar Pumping - www.reaqua.com.au

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

Tue, 11 Jun 2019 22:30:00 GMT

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 hanging fruit when it comes to innovation. Jess and Matt Fealy returned to farm life after a long stint in the corporate world to grow avocados, mangoes, and limes in Far North Queensland. For them, being agtech ready is about having an open mind, trying new things, and thinking beyond business-as-usual. Their advice is lean in and take control of what you can. But when it comes to implementing technology, to remember that innovation is not a band-aid for sound business practices- it's a natural progression of good decision making. Matt also shares insights from his recently completed Nuffield scholarship on robotics and automation in horticulture. This episode is the third in the theme, Getting AgTech Ready, brought to you in partnership with Decipher, a precision agriculture solution that helps growers and agronomists make data driven decisions. Find them on social media @DecipherAgTech Jess and Matt's farm - blueskyproduce.com.auKeeping in simple on social media - instagram.com/p/ByD-mFep8SSMatt's Nuffield report and video presentation - https://nuffield.com.au/matthew-fealy/Future Agro Challenge - fac.startuptablelands.orgInsights from the episode on our blog here

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

Thu, 30 May 2019 00:09:00 GMT

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 includes managing climate risk in agricultural systems.Anika's PHd work takes here between cropping systems in the Riverina in NSW to the rice paddies of SouthEast Asia looking as aspects of sustainable agricultural development. In this episode we talk about managing climate risk and how Anika's family experience taking on a property in far west NSW sparked her interest in this style of agricultural study. We also look at the differences she sees between the Riverina and South East Asia and what we can learn from each other. We also touch on technology of course and its role in managing climate risk and its barriers to adoption. This is our first of four episodes in partnership with the Australian Farm Institute on the theme, "responding to climate risk".You can read more about Anika here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anika-molesworth-93519187/?originalSubdomain=auAnd watch her TEDX Talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8R3Al3fgNEFollow Anika on Twitter

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

Tue, 14 May 2019 04:35:00 GMT

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 services roles for over a decade with Elders, and now looks after agtech for the Corporate farming outfit Southern Cross Farms. Southern Cross Farms is an agricultural management business, over 2000 ha in size, with a particular focus on citrus and wine grape production, as well as almonds and avocados. In this episode, Lachie shares his views on the differences (and similarities) between family farms and corporate farms in terms of how they think about adopting new tech. He also has tips for farmers of all types that are thinking about agtech: build relationships, simple is best, and don't forget about support! Lachie on LinkedInLachie's Southern Cross Farms profileLachie on TwitterThis episode is part of the "getting agtech ready" theme, brought to you in partnership with Decipher (www.decipher.com.au). Find more episodes at https://www.agtechsowhat.com/ or @agtechsowhat on Twitter.

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Episode 40: Tim Rethus (Theme: Getting AgTech Ready)

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 02:45:00 GMT

Tim Rethus and his family are cropping farmers near Horsham in Victoria who have made a commitment to "sustainable, low cost farming". As early adopters and innovators, the family has always been on the cutting edge of building and buying agricultural technology.Now, as the skills and experience of two generations combine, Tim has some valuable insights to share about adopting (and building) new technology, where to look for inspiration, and how to make the decision to shift to a whole new farming system. To see a picture of the incredible planter Tim mentions plus a summary of Tim's insights with additional links and resources, visit https://www.agtechsowhat.com/bushtechpodcast/2019/4/30/episode-38-tim-rethus-getting-agtech-ready-1 You can follow Tim at @TRethus on Twitter.This episode is part of the "getting agtech ready" theme, brought to you in partnership with Decipher (www.decipher.com.au). Find more episodes at https://www.agtechsowhat.com/ or @agtechsowhat on Twitter.

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Episode 39: An Update from AgTech - So What

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 04:29:00 GMT

Sarah here with a quick update on what's new and coming soon at AgTech - So What!

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Episode 38: Angus Street, AuctionsPlus

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 12:02:49 GMT

Angus Street - CEO, Auctions PlusThis week AgTech So What? Comes to you live from the Sydney AgTech Meetup. Sarah Nolet hosts a conversation with Auctions Plus CEO Angus Street. It's one of the Top 10 websites visited every day by rural Australians, AuctionsPlus has used simple technology to redefine livestock trading.Founded in 1986, its fair to say AuctionsPlus has been well tested in the market and has seen some changes over that time in the AgTech and startup scene in Australia. Remaining a privately held company, Auctions Plus is now facilitating more than $630 million worth of livestock sales annually. In July 2018 AuctionsPlus appointed Angus Street as their new CEO. Having worked within the organisation as the Sales Manager he knows every inch of the business and it shows in this conversation with Sarah Nolet. The Startup Phase is gruelling and AuctionsPlus has experienced exponential growth due to as Angus describes it 'the perfect spot where the value proposition met market conditions'. Now that they enter the next phase of growth how does the organisation navigate the changes. How do they keep culture in tact, and the agility to continue to innovate? 'No way in hell are we going to be corporatised' is Angus's response! More about the Sydney AgTech Meetup groupMore about AuctionsPlus hereFollow Angus Street on TwitterConnect with Angus on LinkedInFollow AuctionsPlus on TwitterFollow AuctionsPlus on LinkedIn

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Episode 37: Anthony Rudd, I-AG

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 12:57:00 GMT

This week's conversation is with Leeton, NSW based managing director of I-AG Pty Ltd Anthony Rudd. Anthony Rudd has a unique insight into the integration of machine automation and data adoption in agriculture and has worked in this space for John Deere Australia, a Chinese company and also in software writing and development. In 2008 Anthony was employed as John Deere Australia's first ever integrated solutions manager. The concept was extremely new but it had been tested in the United States. Basically his work involved joining technology to the dealership and then to the grower, so essentially moving from machine guidance to full automation and then into integrated data. He tells Sarah Nolet that his company I-AG is busy working with an external partner developing software that will hopefully unlock the efficiencies in the space at the moment. "We've built the base software, so it will ingest data from anywhere and any type you can store it safely and you can share it safely with whoever you want to share it with at the moment, in a few weeks we will have the map generation module available." Anthony's website explains that "I-AG specialize in providing data and software solutions tailored to suit your individual operations. From simple data management all the way to building complex software to enable you to access the data you need instantly and easily enabling our clients to make quick informed decisions based on what their data is telling them." You can find more information on I-AG here You can find I-AG on twitter here You can find Anthony here on Twitter. View Anthony's LinkedIn Profile here

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Episode 36: The Digital Ag Collective

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 10:22:20 GMT

The Digital Ag Collective with Kelly Pearce and Tanya Kilminster from the West Australian wheatbelt. This podcast conversation is about the development of an Australian farmer owned and controlled group that utilises and shares the most relevant data systems and programs available in the Ag Tech sector. Kelly Pearce and Tanya Kilminster both live and farm in the West Australian wheatbelt. More notably they both hold Agricultural Science PhD's with the CSIRO. In their chat with Sarah Nolet they explain the climatic and economic imperatives that are changing the way farmers in their regions conduct business. Tanya works with the WA Department of Agriculture and Food and says, "in the last decade we have really had some challenges from a climatic and economic point of view - so every decision we make has to be really critically thought out. We really need to utilised the data available us to make much more informed decisions. From about 2010 onwards we have had some really 'doozey's' of seasons and so farmers have really challenged us as a Department for solutions." Both Kelly and Tanya have been interested in making better use of the business intelligence becoming available to their own farming systems and found that once they delved deeper they became frustrated with what they found. This has led to the establishment of the Digital Ag Collective (DAC). "We went to Sydney and we put a call out there for data scientist, analysts, IT experts come and meet with a group of WA producers who are really interested in pursing technology for data integration and business intelligence and we were overwhelmed with the response," says Kelly who is the Collectives chairperson. Kelly says the aim of the DAC is to, "drive industry wide, producer led frameworks and standards for providers to incentivise and allow us the opportunity to give our experience, to be involved in the assessment of these technologies, share our pain points and help co-develop solutions together." "What we are proposing that farmers are a critical part of the solution and that tech needs to be developed from the ground up." Right now the Collective is busy working out who are their best collaborators and partner as well as setting up their right legal entity to allow for a true hub of business intelligence - that is owned and run by farmers. You can find Kelly here on Twitter You can find Tanya here on LinkedIn For anyone interested in more information about the Digital Ag Collective you can email Kelly at http://pearcekelly@bigpond.com The Digital Ag Collective can be found https://digitalagcollective.com/

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Episode 35: EvokeAG Special 2. Live Panel - Faster, Smarter Farms

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 12:21:40 GMT

EvokeAG LIVE Special!In this Episode of AgTech So What we take you to a panel Sarah hosted at the recent Agrifutures EvokeAG Event.Get ready for even faster, smarter farms.Precision farming, using satellite imagery and drones to monitor crops along with farm-management software tools to maximize decisions are powering smarter farms. Uptake of these and other AgTech innovations are set to expand with the imminent introduction of faster, cheaper connectivity.Panel members:•Anastasia Volkova - Flurosat•Flavia Tata Nardini - Fleet Space Technologies• Jonah Williams - Airbus•Will Wells - Hummingbird Technology•Martin Clough - Syngenta

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Episode 34: EvokeAG Special. Live Panel - Alternative Farming

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 20:14:53 GMT

This week we come to you live from EvokeAG. EvokeAG is an exciting event showcasing the best of the best hosted by Agrifutures. Sarah Nolet hosts this panel on Alternative farming - a new frontier.With global population expected to reach 10 billion people in 2050 and urban sprawl encroaching farmland how do we maximize dwindling resources to feed everyone? Farming practices are undergoing a radical transformation to produce more from less and make the most of what is there.Panel members:• James Pateras - Modular Farms• Dror Tamir - Hargol FoodTech• Olympia Yarger - Goterra• Emma Parsons - Agrigate

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Episode 33: Matt Roesner

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 09:42:00 GMT

Matt Roesner is the technical director for his family's machinery business Roesner Pty Ltd. based in Harvey, Western Australia has been in existence for more than 100 years.. The Marshall Multi Spread was the first Australian multi purpose fertiliser spreading machine spreading lime and gypsum at the same time. Since that time 10,000 machines have been built by Matt's family. Matt says, "we've stayed relevant by spending a lot of time getting to know what our customer base wants and what their needs are. I think one of the challenges these days is the cost of capital equipment, it's continually rising and they are spending large amounts of money on machinery that can only be used for a few months of the year and so we have concentrated on building something simple, that is easy to maintain, that will last multiple seasons and has a long service life." These days the business is reputable as a leader in the development of agricultural technical data. A few years ago the business built a mobile app for IOS and Andriod to send out calibration data to its client base. "We got a really good response and so we decide to build a variable controller app for an Ipad and there was immediately a lot of interest in it too," says Matt. "We see the importance of the data ecosystems that exist around our products is important to the growth of our business so in March 2018 we purchased the Precision Agronomics Australia business, based in Esperance, WA and formed the i4M (Internet For Machines) brand - with the aim of having flexible and open systems that are simple and cost effective and independent from other brands. Our whole plan is to be able to have equipment talking back to the internet to allow applied data usage." Matt speaks with Sarah about the importance of the agricultural agronomist keeping up with the rapidly developing pace of technology, why he's eagerly awaiting the arrival of artificial intelligence and, the opportunity for Australia to become leaders in autonomous agriculture and how trust between growers and service providers will be pivotal in the evolution of data use in precision farming. Download the Marshall Multi Spreader App here Watch the Marshall Multi Spreader YouTube Channel here Learn more about the Marshall Pty Ltd business at roesner.com.au

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Episode 32: Jennifer Medway

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 11:44:37 GMT

Jennifer Medway, Sheep farmer, Gunning NSWManager for research and innovation with AgriFutures Australia. Jennifer Medway is a 5th generation farmer from Gunning in southern New South Wales running a sheep and wool farm with her Mum, Dad and Husband. In this podcast Jen shares her perspective as a farmer, who's also had career in agricultural policy and governance and now agtech. She explains how she uses a combination of these pursuits to leverage technological progress within the farm business, board rooms and in her role as manager for research and innovation with AgriFutures Australia. Despite the drought, their farming operation continues to scale driven and inspired in part by the MLA's Producer Innovation Fast Track program which has enabled the adoption and utilisation of tagging, profiling and data management technology to build the best flock they possibly can. It means a lot of investment in new machines, consultants, tags, technology and time but has completely changed their growth mindset. To enable to set-up of their new system, the business has worked closely with agtech and providers such as MerinoLink (EID's), and ClipEx (infrastructure). Jen lovers her work AgriFutures for its diversity and she says there is much 'horizon scanning.' Her portfolio the National Rural Issues program is the perfect fit for her to leverage her experience in farming and policy issues. Jennifer Medway - LinkedIn Emerging Opportunities - AgriFutures Australia

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Episode 31: Viv And Margaret

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 06:15:45 GMT

Viv McCollum and Margaret Ayre We're trying something new on the podcast today - a joint conversation with two admirable women in the Ag Tech space - Viv McCollum and Margaret Ayre. Vivienne McCollum is the founder of agricultural consultancy AGKServices (AgKnowledge) and has been heavily involved precision agriculture for about 18 years (before smartphones and in some instances the internet!). She shares her insights into the role of young people in the adoption of precision agriculture in Australia, as well speaking about what advisors are struggling with. Viv also speaks with Sarah about the tools available to help farmers adopt and get greater value from innovative precision ag in their individual farming operations. Margaret Ayre is a senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne and more recently she's been working the faculty of Science's Rural Innovation Research Group. Margaret shares her insight into the importance of the qualitative and emotional side of agricultural innovation, things like trust and confidence and the pivotal role they play in tech adoption in agriculture. University of Melbourne Rural Innovation Research GroupResearch Paper, Key Findings: Stimulating private sector extension from Australian Agriculture to increase returns from R&D.

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Episode 30: Rob Sharkey, The Shark Farmer

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 09:36:02 GMT

Rob Sharkey describes himself as a farmer, podcaster and an outfitter. He's a grain farmer from Illinois in the Unites States and has morphed into somewhat of a social media celebrity in Agriculture circles for his commentary and questioning on rural issues.Rob has an inquisitive take on his commentary and tries to incorporate humour and a bit of cheek into his works on his blog, podcast's and occasional TV show as well as 12K following on Twitter.This conversation explores what he's learnt about podcasting and voicing his opinions to the public - as well as his opinion on how to bridge the rural urban divide through the media.This is Rob's website sharkfarmer.comRob's podcast The Shark Farmer comes out each week - he can also be found at the Farm and Rural Ag Network. His second podcast is the What the Farm podcast.

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Episode 29: Will MacSmith

Sun, 06 Jan 2019 07:50:26 GMT

Will MacSmith is a farmer from Manildra in Central West New South Wales.Will and his business partner Hamish are trying to develop a system to realise profit margins for sheep through the collection of real time data of feed efficiency and conversion for individuals rather than the mob.They're doing this through trial and error in confinement and feedlotting on Will's family farm where he's been living and working for the last 10 years. Over a period of two years they have been building a facility, using microcontrollers, that measures individual feed intake and live weight at the same time, in real time."Every time the animal leaves the stall where they feed from that piece of information gets sent to the cloud and allocated against that individual animal's tag number," says Will."We had sheep in the feedlot and we would have varying levels of performance and we found that using growth rates as an indicator for performance was a bit flawed, and doesn't really tell you much about feeding efficiency and cost efficiency."It's about finding better ways to feed, and better varieties of feed and also looking at the effects of environmental factors such as shearing or heat or lack of water and measuring that against cost benefits and of course they also consider genetics. Will also says similar systems that are already available on the market are cost prohibitive for most farmers."At this stage in Australia we can't really get around the cost of labour for the construction of individual stalls on a large scale. At the moment the question probably is, 'would it be cheaper to build it overseas."Will is working with feed companies interested in comparing and monitoring their feed products and he says there is a lot of interesting coming for sire evaluation and the genetics side of the industry as well.In this podcast, will also speaks about pushing the Ag industry in Australia forward, and the challenges of ageing demographic in farming.Will is new to Twitter and so the best place to contact him or his business partner Hamish is via email william@crownagriculture.com.auhamish@crownagriculture.com.au

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Episode 28: Mark Mortimer

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 13:13:59 GMT

As a child Mark Mortimer didn't like computers. It's a different story now - Mark has evolved to become an early adopter of technology in the field of sheep genetics and stud breeding in Australia. Computers have changed his livelihood.Mark speaks with Sarah Nolet from his farm office at Albert near Tullamore in Central West New South Wales, Australia. It's a family farming partnership with his father and brother and it's Mark's job to look after the businesses genetics, so sheep genetics, embryo's and semen for clients. He see's it as his responsibility to stay at the cutting edge of the industry, genetically.You can find Mark on Twitter @sheepGeekCP

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Episode 27: Carl Lippert - FeedX

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 06:18:49 GMT

Carl Lippert is a American dairy farmer and AgTech developer. He's one of the only people I know who has qualifications in dairy science and computer science. Right now Carl is busy as the co-founder of new Ag Tech company FeedX which will become an app for US dairy farmers. It will be a one-stop shop where farmers can calculate, source and deliver feed from paddock to farm. The platform is a partnership of 2 startup's in the animal feed space, Carl's FeedMNGR app and e-commerce marketplace feedforless.com and will include additional aspects to help farmer and suppliers source and buy feed. They describe it as, 'a holistic set of solutions designed to increase efficiencies in how farmers and feed manufacturers interact to create a win-win scenario'. Carl will be pitching their work at the US based Farmers Business Network Farmer2Farmer conference. Find Carl on Twitter @CarlLippert and @feed_mngrLearn more about Carl on LinkedIn

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Episode 26: Chris McLoughlin - Mycelia Organics

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 09:55:57 GMT

Chris McLoughlin, organic mushroom farmer, Mycelia Organics Chris McLoughlin's forae into farming is a great example of a new generation of investor backed agricultural innovation. Chris has always had a fascination with soil, dirt and technology and his organic mushroom operation, Mycelia Organics is a mixed of all these things. With a whole lot of self education on the internet, including some online courses he has taught himself how to operate an organic farm that answers what supermarkets and consumers want. Chris tells Sarah Nolet he didn't necessarily have a specific hankering to buy a mushroom farm but when the opportunity presented itself, with investor backing, Chris jumped at it. In the space of three years since the inception of his company, Mycelia Organics has become the largest organic mushroom farming company in Australia and Chris supplies 90% of the market and sells to more than 600 retailers as well as major supermarkets. Chris on TwitterMycelia Organics websiteChris on LinkedIn

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Season Two Teaser

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 09:39:28 GMT

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More Soon

Wed, 27 Jun 2018 21:25:29 GMT

Just a quick note to say we will be back soon with more great episodes and amazing guests

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Episode 25 : Dr Jaci Brown : On The Weather And Researchers Working With Agtech Startups.

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 18:30:18 GMT

Dr Jaci Brown is a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO, and an expert in weather and climate science.

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Episode 24- Brooke Sauer On Closing The Gap Between Growers, Agronomists And Technology

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 08:25:17 GMT

Brooke Sauer is on a mission to close the gap between growers, agronomists, and technologies. Brooke is a digital agriculture manager at McGregor Goulay, an agricultural services company that offers cropping inputs, agronomic services and, increasingly, digital ag solutions. Although Brooke's background is in agricultural genetics, she is rapidly becoming an expert in precision agriculture, as she supports farmers to explore and adopt precision agriculture tools.In talking to Brooke on this episode, it's clear that she cares a lot about her farmers. She knows just how important it is to build personal relationships in the world of AgTech. In this episode, we explore the significance of people skills in an industry that can sometimes be too focused on flashy technologies. We also talk a lot about adoption precision ag technologies, Brooke's journey with drones, and her experience of working with startups, including: •an honest story about drone usage, and how Brooke encourages startups and farmers to be more focused on the data, rather than the machines •how important farmers' confidence is in the adoption and success of precision ag technology •the ups and downs of working with fast-paced, high-energy startupshow Brooke exercises interpersonal skills on a daily basis to build trust with growers

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Episode 23 - Allison Kopf On Redefining What It Means To Farm

Wed, 30 May 2018 11:02:43 GMT

Episode 23 - Allison Kopf on redefining what it means to farm

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Episode 22 - Kevin Heikes With Perspectives On Agtech From Over 20 Years In The Space

Wed, 23 May 2018 09:15:57 GMT

Kevin Heikes was part of agtech before it was agtech. He's been involved in four different agtech startups, including his latest venture, In10t.In this episode, we dig into his perspectives on agtech from over 20 years in the space, including: •Hard earned lessons from 4 agtech startups, and what it feels like to have a farmer customer call to say you've made their life better with your product •The importance of tech companies partnering with farmers •Why having an ag background matters in agtech •What farmers are looking for when they agree to trial a new product (e.g., with FarmerTrial.com), and why trials are so tough for venture-backed companiesJust how hard it is to balance working ON the business and IN the business

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Episode 21 - Seana Day On What's Hot In Livestock And Dairy Tech

Wed, 16 May 2018 09:45:54 GMT

Seana Day brings a diverse background in agriculture, finance, and technology to the agtech sector where she is a Partner at BEtter Food Ventures. Seana also tracks nearly 1,500 agtech companies in her "Market Maps" through her role as Partner at The Mixing Bowl.Seana's background gives her a unique and valuable perspective on the evolution of the agtech sector, and what the future holds. In this episode, we discuss: •how more and more growers are adopting a digital strategy, and what it means for agtech entrepreneurs and investors •whether the specialty crop market is behind or ahead in terms of tech adoption, and why •silicon valley vs. agtech ecosystems around the world •the fundamentals that agtech VCs look for when making investments, and when VC might not be a good fit •what it's like to be raising a $30M venture capital fund for agtech •what farmers are looking for (and not) in the livestock and dairy sectors

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