PMA Takes On Tech

We are talking with Justin Machell (CEO, Highland Ag Solutions) & Cole Powers (Co-Founder, IntelliCulture)Join us as we discuss:Best practices for producers to manage their equipment lifecycleHow to prevent pest outbreaks, and increase labor efficiencyThe benefits of automating the machine management processSegment 1 - Justin Machell (Highland Ag Solutions)By converting the modern farm into a comprehensive digital platform, Highland Ag Solutions is virtualizing the business of agriculture. Highland Hub is a powerful digital ecosystem designed for growers, marketers, food safety directors, packing house managers and other agricultural employees. From soil to sale, it provides tools to help you run your business more easily and efficiently, with the goal of enhancing farm operations, easing the regulatory burden and maximizing your finished-good returns.Segment 2 - Cole Powers (IntelliCulture)IntelliCulture's farm management software prevents costly mistakes on the farm. They offer a hardware equipment logger to capture data from farm equipment and broadcast it to their cloud database. They identify inefficiencies, recommend corrections and help advise crucial spending decisions. IntelliCulture offers affordable and manufacturer-independent tool and prioritizing features based on farmer feedback. They approach development from the mindset of a farm manager, by spending time in the field and ultimately putting farmers first.Guest ResourcesJustin Machell - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-machell-23791226/Highland Ag Solutions - https://www.highlandhasit.com/Cole Powers - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colepowers/Intelliculture - https://www.intelliculture.com/Show LinksInternational Fresh Produce Association - https://www.freshproduce.com/Fresh Takes on Tech - https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFreshProduceAssociation/Twitter - https://twitter.com/IntFreshProduce/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-fresh-produce-association/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/intlfreshproduceassn/

We are talking with Lydia Ashburn (Growth Marketing, CarbonSpace), Kaitlin Mercier (VP of Partnerships, Routeique) Greg Gatzke (President, ZAGtech)Join us as we discuss:Developing best-in-class standards for carbon monitoringUnderstanding how to improve and enhance back-office processes and automationThe importance of cyber-security and how to protect your companySegment 1 - Lydia Ashburn (CarbonSpace)Carbon footprint monitoring is especially challenging when accounting for emissions from farms, fields, or forests. Companies in agriculture, food processing, forestry, and wood products lack instruments to measure the footprint of their operations and supply chains.CarbonSpaceTech is developing a carbon footprint monitoring platform to bring a new level of transparency to these organizations.Our proprietary AI technology core is processing several layers of satellite, sensor, and inventory data, which yields high spatial resolution and near real-time analytics. It was elegantly designed to create an ultimate self-onboarding tool for monitoring emissions from different types of lands.The CarbonSpace platform provides actionable insights about farm, field, and forest emissions to facilitate climate-responsible decisions and to unleash the carbon offset potential of our customers.Segment 2 - Kaitlin Mercier (Routeique)Routeique gives fast-moving consumer goods businesses unprecedented supply chain insight, foresight and oversight. In partnership with them they use this new transparency to make their enterprises more efficient, competitive, sustainable, responsive, and profitable than ever before.Segment 3 - Greg Gatzke (ZAG Technical Services)ZAG is the #1 IT services provider to Western Agribusinesses. With knowledge and experience gained from decades in the industry, they understand the 24/7/365 nature of business. The biggest names in agriculture and fresh produce trust ZAG to deliver technology solutions that protect their business, improve profit margins, and enable new capabilities.Guest ResourcesLydia Ashburn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydia-ashburn-07a0a373/CarbonSpace - https://carbonspace.tech/Kaitlin Mercier - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlin-mercier-4357b617/Routique - https://routeique.com/Greg Gatzke - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greggatzke/ZAG Technical Services - https://www.zagtech.com/Show LinksInternational Fresh Produce Association - https://www.freshproduce.com/Fresh Takes on Tech - https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFreshProduceAssociation/Twitter - https://twitter.com/IntFreshProduce/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-fresh-produce-association/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/intlfreshproduceassn/

We are talking with Mike Meinhardt (EVP of Sales, Provision Analytics), Karen Long (VP of Sales, iFoodDS), and Diane Wetherington (Founder & CEO, iDecisionSciences)Join us as we discuss:Efforts being made to digitize all touch points in the produce supply chan cycleUpdates on new initiatives to improve safety and traceability Work being done to create innovative technology solutions that support the modernization of the fresh produce supply chain.Segment 1 - Mike Meinhardt (Provision Analytics)Provision makes cloud software to streamline food safety and QA. Clients can build simple digital templates that expedite recordkeeping, with automatic schedules, rules, and alerts that increase compliance. All food safety and quality data is centralized in one hub with automatic history and customizable reporting. This makes it faster to complete audits, and easier to analyze processes.Segment 2 - Karen Long (iFoodDS)iFoodDS is a leading provider of food supply chain safety, traceability and quality solutions for farmers, harvesters, shippers, packers, processors, distributors, retailers and foodservice. iFoodDS HarvestMark Traceability and iFoodDS' other cloud-based offerings provide advanced analytics and insights for safety, regulatory compliance and process improvements.Segment 3 - Diane Wetherington (iDecisionSciences)Since 2009 IDS has worked in the specialty crop industry collecting and managing confidential producer, processing, packinghouse and handler data and providing quantitative analysis and scientific support on behalf of the fresh produce industry.Guest ResourcesProvision Analytics - https://www.provision.io/Mike Meinhardt - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-meinhardt-1518248/Karen Long - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlongifood/iFoodDS - https://www.ifoodds.com/Diane Wetherington - https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-wetherington-32a57711/iDecisionSciences - https://www.idecisionsciences.com/Show LinksInternational Fresh Produce Association - https://www.freshproduce.com/Fresh Takes on Tech - https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFreshProduceAssociation/Twitter - https://twitter.com/IntFreshProduce/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-fresh-produce-association/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/intlfreshproduceassn/

We are talking with Kaitlin Mogentale of Pulp Pantry, Charles Swartz of Compact Membrane Systems and Jeff Beegle of mobius.Join us as we discuss:Opportunities for repurposing fruit and vegetable pulp into nutrient rich foodsTechnology advancements to help fruits and vegetables stay fresher, longerNew uses for produce waste to be repurposed in the horticulture, agriculture, and food service packaging industriesSegment 1 - Kaitlin Mogentale (Founder) of Pulp PantryPulp Pantry is dedicated to transforming forgotten, nutrient-rich ingredients such as high fiber juice pulp into delicious, healthy hand-made snacks that make it easy to get your daily servings of fruit, vegetables and fiber anytime, anywhere.They specialize in delicious paleo, vegan, gluten-free and refined sugar-free foods. Their first product to market is a crunchy grain-free granola that will change the way America eats breakfast - packed with flavor, fiber and wholesome fruits and vegetables.Segment 2 - Charles Swartz (Product Manager) of Compact Membrane SystemsCMS creates technology to capture and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, avert global warming, and transform industry into a long-term sustainable enterprise. One membrane system at a time.Optiperm™ produce is an ethylene-selective membrane for extending the shelf life of post harvest produce. This membrane can be used anywhere produce is stored to remove ethylene and slow the ripening of fruits and vegetables. A membrane patch or unit can be added to existing storage containers or modified atmosphere environments as a modular and cost effective ethylene removal solution.Segment 3 - Jeff Beegle (Chief Science Officer, Co-Founder) of mobiusMobius is creating a world where There's Wonder in Waste. They are a mission-driven company focused on eliminating waste by leveraging industrial organic waste streams from agriculture, forestry, paper and biofuel & biorefining industries to create new materials and chemicals.Their first product is a proprietary, biodegradable polymer made from lignin, a natural material found in all grasses and trees that is produced as waste at a rate of over 50 million tons each year by the paper and biofuel industries. With this biopolymer, they are creating a bio-based, biodegradable plastic pellets for applications in horticulture, agriculture, food service packaging, and beyond.Guest ResourcesKaitlin Mogentale - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlinmogentale/Pulp Pantry - https://pulppantry.com/Mobius - https://www.mobius.co/Jeff Beegle - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lieutbeard/Charles Swartz - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-swartz-a0b9b855/Compact Membrane Systems - https://compactmembrane.com/Show LinksInternational Fresh Produce Association - https://www.freshproduce.com/Fresh Takes on Tech - https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/Facebook -

Live from IFPA's Global Show: Technology's Critical Role in Local Produce and Controlled Environment FarmingA very special live podcast from IFPA's 2022 Floral and Produce show! We are talking with Craig Hurlbert and Dave Vosburg of Local Bounti, John Purcell of Unfold, and Ali Daniali of HRVSTS.Join us as we discuss:Networking at a global level at the IFPA's Floral and Produce Show. Growing customer demand for locally grown produce Sustainability in the food system.The challenges and possibilities of controlled environment farming. Using Data to inform growing operations. Segment 1 - Craig Hurlbert (CEO) and Dave Vosburg (Chief Innovation Officer) of Local Bounti“Controlled environment food growing is very capital intensive, so this model will require management to have a strong understanding of running capital intensive operations.' - CraigLocal Bounti is an indoor farming company with an aggressive growth plan over the next five years to deliver delicious, great texture, flavorful products to their customers all across the United States, locally grown. The demand for locally grown produce is there, the logistics and infrastructure is evolving. People want convenience, less shelf time, flavor, and low price points. Salad kits are a good example of a winning product right now. Local Bounti is expanding to Texas and Oregon and looking into acquiring other facilities as well. Segment 2 - John Purcell (Chief Strategy Officer) of Unfold“Controlled environment [farming] is a confluence of amazing technologies; I like to describe it as Silicon Valley meets Salinas Valley.” — John According to John, this industry is a huge mashup of many sectors in tech, “a confluence of technologies.”People are drawn to this work because they want to use their skills on something that matters. The reason they get attracted to this is because of the work done producing food in a way better for the planet. It's new in some ways, but in some ways, it's not. There's a cross fertilization of ideas and technologies from outdoor crop growing and indoor crop growing happening all the time these days.John suggests we look at the technologies that are out there, and let's figure out how to apply them.Segment 3 - Ali Daniali (CEO/Founder) of HRVSTS“We've flipped the equation. For growers, it's actually a push versus pull type of equation, where the buyer is actually telling the grower what to grow” — AliHRVSTS grows and sells specialty produce to food service companies. Using data they can get specialty leafy greens from seed to customer in 7 weeks or less, depending on the crop. They use data to eliminate the inefficiencies in the system and also contract with small growers and help new farmers get online quickly. Guest ResourcesLocal Bounti - https://localbounti.com/Craig Hurlbert - https://www.linkedin.com/in/craighurlbert/David Vosburg - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bdavidvosburg/Unfold - https://unfold.ag/John Purcell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jppurcell/HRVSTS - https://hrvsts.com/Ali Daniali -

A very special live podcast from IFPA's 2022 Floral and Produce show! We close out our season on nutrition with a panel of experts with Vonnie on the lasting impact technology has made and continues to grow on for the farming and fresh produce industries. Our panel includes Haven Baker, CBO at Pairwise, Jenny Du, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs at Apeel Sciences and Katie Seawell, Chief Commercial Office at Bowery Farming. Join us as we discuss: How technology can impact improving accessibility and lifespan of fresh produce Helping set up for the next wave of entrepreneurs in the health and food industry Improving access to produce to all communities How younger generations are creating higher demand for fresh produce

The market for fresh and delicious produce is continuing to expand thanks to innovations in biotechnology.  The latest in produce expansion is the purple tomato!  Thanks to Nathan Pumplin, President and CEO at Norfolk Health Produce, the purple tomatoes' nutritious qualities will be reaching markets as early as 2023 and it's all thanks to the innovation in biotechnology for growing produce.  Join us as we discuss: The health benefits of the purple tomato compared to others The USDA's new rules and regulations for biotechnology growing The changing the conversation on GMOs and their health benefits  Expanding with more produce after the purple tomato

The limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables is the biggest reason consumers aren't getting their recommended daily requirements of produce.  With the help of Tom Adams, CEO at Pairwise, they are innovating through technological advances in the farming and growing industries to help expand and increase access to fresh produce for everyday consumers.  Join us as we discuss: Using technology to break down barriers on access to fruits and vegetables  Availability perspective vs cost perspective when it comes to fresh produce   How Pairwise's innovation will help address climate change  Consumer transparency of new growing techniques 

From government programs to private sector initiatives, giving people access to options for healthy food choices is a big challenge.  Thanks to our guest Sam Hoeffler, Program Manager at Reinvestment Partners, the Eat Well program helps families throughout North Carolina not just by giving access to purchase healthy food choices but also provides funding to impoverished communities to purchase fruits and vegetables. Join us as we discuss: The Eat Well program in North Carolina and expanding it nationally  Creating access to both urban and rural communities  The White House Conference on Hunger 

Some of the most nutritious food on Earth is unfortunately some of the toughest produce to grow.   With the help of Joyce Van Eck, Associate Professor at Boyce Thompson Institute, the practice of gene editing in crops is better understood by farmers and other growers to increase production and access to highly nutritious crops.   Join us as we discuss: Plant biotechnology and bringing gene editing to our food Studying plant genes to improve crop growth  Boyce Thompson Institute's physalis improvement project  Understanding CRISPR to fast track domestication of crops and helping combat climate change

Students are heading back to school, where and how are they getting healthy produce? Thanks to Fred Espinosa, Food Service Director for the San Diego Unified School District. and Janelle Manzano, Specialist for the Farm to School Program, students are getting access and education to the “full plate” of their lunches and even growing their own produce to consume!  Join us as we discuss: The Farm to School program in the San Diego Unified School District  Creating a hands-on experience for students with school gardens Expanding throughout all of California  Attending the IFPA food conference

Growing crops at full capacity is one of the many extreme challenges for farmers. But there are innovations that help them create new techniques to meet these challenges head on — like vertical farming.  With the help of Netled and Kasey Snyder, Sales Operations Manager, they are expanding the innovation of vertical farming to help farmers grow their crops at a higher capacity in any condition nature throws at them.  Join us as we discuss: The early stages of the vertical farming process Marketing Netled to prospective growers and U.S. expansion  Developing new technologies in farming Making vertical farming commercially viable

The uncertainty of farming conditions is one of the toughest challenges the produce industry faces.  Thanks to Founder and CEO Ros Harvey of The Yield, their mission is to help create a digital playbook based on valuable data from farmers that will help protect their produce. Join us as we discuss: Establishing digital playbooks to improve growing and supply chain conditions Solving uncertainty in farming, like weather Developing a sales cycle based on value through data collection

Nexus Robotics is one of this year's winners in IFPA's Fresh Field Catalyst technology accelerator. It was founded in 2017 by engineering students from Halifax who wanted to disrupt and improve traditional farming practices.  They're building innovative robotic tools that will free growers from backbreaking repetitive tasks — and encourage Canada's agriculture industry to become more sustainable.  Teric Greenan is the COO, and his city-born perspective helps him ideate incisive solutions to agricultural issues.  Luc Labbe, CEO at Nexus, brings a wealth of experience and in-depth agronomic knowledge. Join us as we discuss: How robotic tech will help solve the agricultural labor shortage and lower costs Teaching robots how to identify between different plants and eradicate weeds Automating the dirty and dangerous jobs that no one wants to do Adding value for farmers

With the current supply chain issues, enjoying fresh and nutritious produce is more costly and difficult than ever before.  Consumers demand consistency, which hasn't been possible with traditional methods. But technology is enabling producers to deliver great value and the best possible eating experience. Kaitlin Fitzgerald is the VP of Sustainability at one of IFPA's Fresh Field Catalyst winners, Sound Agriculture. They're passionate about building a better and more sustainable food system.  Dorn Wenninger, Senior VP Produce at UNFI, is her mentor in our program and an industry expert with over 30 years of experience in the field.    Join us as we discuss: The qualities buyers expect from their produce and how tech makes this possible How providing consistency and a great experience increases repeat business Partnerships, packaging, and produce branding Taste, freshness, and affordability

The IFPA's Fresh Field Catalyst is a six-month tech accelerator has brought together startups and global corporations to create innovative solutions for the challenges currently facing the produce industry. My guests today are current Fresh Field participants, Julie Escobar, Chief Commercial Officer at DiMuto, and her invaluable mentor in the program, Judy Clark, CEO at Fresh Texas. Traceability is critical to consumer confidence, supply chain success, and fostering sustainable growing practices. It also encourages more much-needed global investment in agriculture.  Join us as we discuss: Managing farm-to-table data through apps and QR codes for speed and accuracy Supporting the move to sustainable practices  Connecting the farmer to the consumer and opening up Pacific Rim markets How IFPA's tech accelerator helps startups build crucial relationships

In the latest season of Fresh Takes on Tech, we explore companies from International Fresh Produce Association's Fresh Field Catalyst Accelerator and start things off by talking with Elad Mardix, CEO & Co- Founder at Clarifruit & Barbara Guerpillon, Global Head of Ventures at Dole Sunshine Company about how they're working together for sustainability in produce.   Join us as we discuss: How Clarifuit is helping the Dole Sunshine Company with their six sustainability commitments  How Clarifruit uses technology to create realtime data for freshness and quality  What challenges are present by working with quality control from the cloud 

In the last 30 years, food production has changed dramatically thanks to technological advances.  Technology has made it so we have a deeper insight into everything from what's being grown on every square foot of land, to responding quickly to the ever shifting needs of the consumer.  In the last episode of the season, I'm joined by John Purcell, CEO & President at Unfold, as we reflect on the conversations from previous episodes and talk how technology plays a role in every facet of growing produce.  Join us as we discuss: How technology is being used and adapted in different production methods The organic,regenerative and indoor movements  How technology is going to help make an impact on climate change

The food systems supply chain is a vast network of people and products that is ever evolving.  If you're working with more than 4,500 supplies, working together to create a more sustainable future that's good for the planet and for the people, becomes that much more of a challenge.  Walmart depends on each step working together to build the future for their consumers.  In this episode, I'm joined by Walmart's Marco Reyes, Sr. Director Industry Initiatives and Portfolio Management, Michael Yates, Sr. Director Innovations Agricultural Strategy, and Laura Himes, Senior Merchandising Director, to talk about how the retailer is working across the food systems to provide good food from soil to shopping cart.  Join us as we discuss: How the supply chain is working to build a healthy supply chain  Communicating with consumers on how and where produce was grown  Technologies part in food systems 

Pesticide free, locally grown and certified food safe controlled environmental agriculture.  Is this the future of farming? Should we switch to an efficient method of farming that preserves water?   In this episode, I'm joined by Katie Seawell, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Bowery Farming, to talk about vertical farming, its efficiency, sustainability and quality.  Join us as we discuss:  The logistics behind controlled environment agriculture  Bowery's philosophy around vertical farming  The social, economic and environmental benefits of indoor farming

Some weeds produce 250,000 viable seeds per plant. When you're an organic farmer caring for your soil and crops by hand, one weed can cause a huge problem! So why do farmers go organic if it's so difficult?  In this episode I talked to Russell Hamlin, General Manager at Grimmway Farms, about organic agriculture, the challenges of organic farming and why it's so important. George Szczepanski, Director, Production, Supply Chain & Environmental Policy at International Fresh Produce Association joins us at the end of the episode to talk about the association and why organic farming is important to the industry, the environment and the consumer.  Join us as we discuss: Why Grimmway Farms believes strongly in organic farming The challenges surrounding organic farming  The importance of soil health and maintenance in organic farming 

Often we don't see it until it's been packaged and placed on the shelves, but the fruits and vegetables we consume on a daily basis are grown from an ever-changing set of practices concerning environmental, social and governance factors.  But how is that system sorted, refined and defined? That's where Shelby comes in.  In this episode of Fresh Takes on Tech, I'm joined by Shelby Layne, Director, ESG Hub at Bolthouse Farms, to talk about how she's taking on the complicated ecosystem of regenerative agriculture.  Join us as we discuss:  The ESG Hub and it's connection to regenerative agriculture  What it means to help create harmony with regenerative agriculture  Working towards creating a transparent and unified system of agriculture

The organic ecosystem is as varied and complex as the U.S landscape. The industry faces a number of challenges including consumer confusion around what organic means, input and product shortages in organic supply chains, competition from new environmental labels, and the concern that some NOP rules are limiting further growth and innovation that has been achieved in other markets.  In this episode, I'm joined by Kathleen Merrigan, Executive Director and Professor at the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems Arizona State University and the Former Deputy Secretary of USDA, to talk about the complexity of organic and the potential for its future.   Join us as we discuss: The definition and standards of organic,  How does sustainable agriculture and vertical farming fit in Acceptance of biotechnology and genome technology in organic agriculture  Resources: Organic Trade Association  The Critical To-Do List for Organic Agriculture: 46 Recommendations for the President 

Sustainability and its practices are constantly changing. Companies are seeing the value of having a dedicated team member to help navigate and speak to these changes.  In a special episode of Fresh Takes on Tech, I'm joined by Tamara Muruetagoiena, our new ​​Director of Sustainability at International Fresh Produce Association, to talk about her new role at IFPA and sustainability.  Join us as we discuss: What Tamara is excited to accomplish at IFPA How the produce industry is adopting sustainability practices  The role of policy and regulation in sustainability and some of the things slowing down the adoption  The next season of Fresh Takes on Tech

It makes sense why we use so much plastic in the food supply chain: It's versatile, predictable, and sterile. But with so much of it ending up in landfills, does the positive outweigh the negative? In this episode, I'm joined by William Orts, Research L eader at USDA-ARS, to tal k about solutions to the plastic problem, differences between degradability, and plans for the future. Join us as we discuss: 3 most important mandates & plastic's role in the food supply chain The difference between compostable, degradable, and recyclable  The most important breakthroughs that need to take place Patenting technology & strategizing for the year More information about guest William Ort: USDA-ARS Company Website: https://www.ars.usda.gov/ 

What if you could oversee and make adjustments — brushing every bug away or providing nutrients at the exact moment they are needed — at every stage of growth for a single fruit or vegetable?   It may sound like a pipe dream — but robotics and ai are making it a reality.   Gabe Sibley, Lawrence Ibarria, and Curtis Garner, the founders of Verdant Robotics, join the show to share how robotics as a platform is revolutionizing agriculture.  Join us as we discuss: Why solving agricultural challenges appeals to technologists The unprecedented control robotics and automation give agronomists Why robotics is the best tool for sustainable, organic agriculture   To hear all the freshest interviews in the produce industry, subscribe to Fresh Takes on Tech on Apple, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.   Listening on a desktop & can't see the links? Just search for Fresh Takes on Tech in your favorite podcast player. 

Companies are fighting to end food waste in more ways than one, from packaging technology to supply chain innovations.  In this episode, I'm joined by Dana Gunders, Executive Director of ReFED, who discusses the scope of the food waste problem and effective solutions, and Aidan Mouat, CEO and C o-Founder of Hazel Technologies, Inc., who talks about the role of innovation and new technologies in reducing food waste throughout the supply chain.  Join us as we discuss: New and emerging technology in the war against food waste How to effectively implement supply chain and infrastructure innovations 3 ways the produce industry could reduce food loss  More information about guests Dana Gunders and Aidan Mouat: Dana Gunders' LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-gunders/  ReFED Company Website: https://refed.org/  Aidan Mouat's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidan-mouat-53ba661a/  Hazel Technologies, Inc. Company Website: https://www.hazeltechnologies.com/ 

Organizations have long paid lip service to sustainability…   But these days, people are paying attention and it's no longer enough to talk the talk.  If you can't walk the walk on sustainability, you are putting your business at risk.  In this episode, I'm joined by Joel Makower, Chairman and Co-Founder of GreenBiz Group, who shares why sustainability matters more than ever and how you can start sustaining your business for the long-haul by becoming more sustainable.   Join us as we discuss: How sustainability mitigates risk The evolution of the sustainability role in business 3 steps for making sustainability a priority in your business

Today’s conversation is with Dana Worth, Senior Vice President at Plenty. Prior to Plenty, Dana spent nearly 6 years as VP of Sales and in Business Operations at Impossible Foods. Dana is a wealth of information on commercializing products in mission driven companies in high growth stages. We talk about the push and pull of retailers and consumers for healthy, nutritious food and looking for the “plant-based food moment” for CEA.

This podcast dives deep into genetics and CEA. I talk to Mohammed Oufattole, the newly named Chief Tech Oufattole at Revol Greens. Revol Greens is a CEA lettuce producer with locations in MN, CA, TX and GA. Their growth goal is to supply greens to the continental US consumer within 24 hours of harvest from one of their many locations. Mohammed has a deep background in genetics and brings experience of building new teams in R&D to Revol. He talks about the gains that can be made through breeding and why he is enthusiastic about CEA. Geek alert: This is one of my favorite topics but we keep it general enough I think all can enjoy!

Hear from two professionals at Wells Fargo discuss this season’s topic: CEA. According to Top 100 Farm Lenders, Wells Fargo has been the nation's leading agricultural lender among commercial banks for 25 consecutive years. They bring farm-to-fork expertise to clients in the agribusiness, food, and beverage industries. I talk to Matt Servatius – Market executive for the Central Region and Karol Flynn Sector Analyst within Food and Agribusiness. They give their perspectives as a bank on financing, technology and where the industry is headed. As we’ve heard in other episodes, indoor Ag is a new industry with an underdeveloped ecosystem. Institutions like Wells Fargo will play a role in the build out and scale up of a successful industry.

AeroFarms is one of the early, venture funded Indoor Ag companies. In this episode, you will hear the interesting, long version of the origin story of the company. We also discuss the many partnerships and collaborations of AeroFarms and how the culture is built to support that. Roger Buelow, CTO + Stacey Kimmel, VP of R&D expand on AeroFarms innovations and vast R&D programs along with the building of the largest R&D indoor farm in UAE.

Sonia Lo is an indoor farmer, a chef, an angel investor and a mother of two who speaks seven languages and holds a third-degree black-belt in Tae-Kwon Do. Sonia has over 32 years of combined agriculture, technology and business experience. In the industry, Sonia was CEO of Crop One Holdings, Inc., a vertical farming company that owns FreshBox Farms and a joint venture with Emirates Flight Catering in Dubai. Most recently, Sonia was the CEO of Sensei Ag, an AgTech company focusing on CEA founded by Larry Ellison in Hawaii. This conversation goes where most do not in indoor Ag with Sonia’s unique experience and view of the industry. We spend time on business models and financing which are daunting issues in CEA right now. But we also talk about the political economy of CEA, the problems with lack of diversity, creating an ecosystem and how the industry needs to openly monitor, share and compare data on cost structure and carbon footprint.

This is the first episode in the last season of 2021 and is focused on Controlled Environment Ag. Nate starts off explaining CEA; it’s benefits and challenges. We talk about how Plenty improves food security, safety and availability. Unlike most vertical farms, Plenty grows on vertical towers instead of flatbeds. Nate has a great description on how this came about and the advantages. We also have an enlightening conversation on breeding for vertical farms. Whether you are a practitioner or are new to vertical farming, you will learn something from this engaging discussion.

As the federal government invests into carbon sequestration and as entrepreneurs explore "green financing," "negative foods," and carbon credit trading, what are the potential opportunities for producers of specialty crops? Are producers sitting on a gold mine, or is this fool's gold? We will explore these and other questions during this week’s Virtual Town Hall.

We speak with Jack Bobo, food futurist and the author of the book "Why Smart People Make Bad Food Choices." Jack talks about how we ended up with giant-sized food portions in the US and what can be done to redesign our food environment to make better food choices for healthier living. We talk about the role of innovation and technology in solving many of our problems and the imperative to get consumers on board.

In this episode, we speak to two executives from Bolthouse Farms about innovation. The Bolthouse Farms story is a great business case on what innovation and collaboration can bring to a company. Innovation is woven through everything they do and think about. There is also an open invitation to reach out to the company with innovative ideas/products/technology at innovation@bolthouse.com

Hear from Randy Pequignot about his journey as a field supervisor for Del Monte AND data management administrator. He uses software to accumulate Ag data from contract of growers through to the processing of snap beans. Randy gives a great view of what is important to him and how data management has helped his operation and his time management. It is always great to hear the voice of the customer of new technology!

The race to develop systems for carbon capture and reduction is on! We dig deeper into the carbon challenge and talk with two innovators who are working with food companies to ensure transparency across the supply chain. The speakers tie together the importance of ESG, effects of climate change, carbon programs and how technology is the “unlock” to solve these issues.

How safe is your information? How do threat actors get into your company and what do you do if it happens? Hear from the experts about the current state of affairs and how you should protect yourself and mitigate risk.

Listen to a real life example of Lipman Family Farms and their supply chain management technology adoption journey. We hear about the value of a good partner, constant iteration and finding the right pace of adoption.

What is gene editing? How is it different from GMOs? Today, experts will discuss real world examples of gene editing. The ability to develop climate-resistant crops with higher nutrition and less food loss are a couple of benefits of gene editing. Could this be the path forward for our industry to develop improved foods with lower environmental impact?

A conversation with Nate Storey about how Plenty thinks about and deals with food safety issues. Listen to this candid discussion about the challenges and types of solutions the produce industry (indoor and out) faces with food safety and traceability

I sit on the other side of the microphone with Sarah Nolet from the agtech….so what podcast. We discuss a wide range of topics from genetics to clean tech.

Kalera is one of the fastest-growing and largest vertical farming companies. It has high-yield, automated, data-driven hydroponic production facilities designed for rapid rollout with two operating facilities in Orlando, one in St Paul, MN and one in Atlanta. It plans to open five additional large-scale facilities across the US by early 2022, including locations in Houston, Denver, Hawaii, Columbus, and Seattle. Kalera has had a very busy year with the acquisition of Vindara, an indoor ag breeding company and building an impressive team and board. Hear from Daniel Malechuck the CEO of Kalera about their journey and also from Jade Stinson, co-founder and CEO of Vindara about the importance of breeding to indoor ag.

The development of agricultural biologicals - biostimulants, biopesticides and biofertilizers - is growing as global agriculture looks to move towards more sustainable ways to boost yields and new methods of crop protection. Growers are increasingly looking to agricultural inputs based on microbes to both reduce and complement the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilzers in their fields. Biological controls have been around for years, but represent only 10% of fungicide and sales and have not yet made a dent in nutritional inputs and skepticism still remains. This week's episode explores the many benefits of using microbes and the different approaches leaders in the field use.

Join a lively discussion with Paul Lightfoot, founder and president at Bright Farms. We talk about his journey with BrightFarms over the last 10 years and the strengths he sees with indoor growing around supply chain and water. Paul has also started a newsletter called Negative Foods and is on a mission to eat and promote foods based on regenerative farming practices that draw carbon from the atmosphere. Paul believes if we eat foods that draw down carbon on a net basis, our food system will be a lever to reverse climate change. We cover climate change, carbon negative foods, a challenge to organic crop systems and oysters and beer.

This episode focuses on the success story of fruit production in Chile. The public and private sectors have worked together to expand production of fruit using all types of technology and innovation. In 2019, the fruit-growing sector in Chile achieved record exports, of over $6.5 B US dollars with an increase of 3.6% compared to 2018. This is a reflection of Chile's strategy of expanding into new markets which has led to a significant increase in the number of export destinations, up from 78 markets in 2003 to 129 in 2019. Hear about the work being done in both sectors. And enjoy your winter blueberries.

I had so much interest in being on the podcast in Israel that we are doing Part 2! As a global innovation hub, Israel uses novel technologies to lead the AgTech and FoodTech industry towards a more efficient and sustainable future; it serves as a global laboratory for producing more food using fewer resources. Israeli start-ups are improving traditional agriculture by introducing new, groundbreaking technologies in the field. The country has a strong ecosystem with universities, a long history in food production with multinational VC’s and Corporates involved in financing and strong government support. In Part 2 of our episodes on Israel, we hear from experts and industry veterans on what is happening in Israel and why it is a good place to start a company. The conversation ranges from plant genetics to high-tech sensors gathering data to be analyzed by AWS. Across the entire supply chain from seed to fork, the country of nine million people is full of companies working on cutting-edge innovation.

I turn the microphone around with Tim and Tyler Nuss from The Modern Acre. We hit updates and insights in some hot topics in agriculture. We talk through the recent coming together of PMA and United Fresh, the latest in carbon markets, agtech exits including SPAC’s, indoor farming, and seeing a Rivian in the wild! This episode has it all.

As a global innovation hub, Israel uses novel technologies to lead the AgTech and FoodTech industry towards a more efficient and sustainable future; it serves as a global laboratory for producing more food using fewer resources. Israeli start-ups are improving traditional agriculture by introducing new, groundbreaking technologies in the field. The country has a strong ecosystem with universities, a long history in food production with multinational VC’s and Corporates involved in financing and strong government support. In Part 1 of the a 2 part series on Israel, we hear from experts and industry veterans on what is happening in Israel and why it is a good place to start a company. The conversation ranges from plant genetics to hyperspectral machine vision technology to supply chain disruption and innovation. Across the entire supply chain from seed to fork, the country of nine million people is full of companies working on cutting-edge innovation.