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Eggs up, wheat down: what's made the most cash for farmers? The Welsh government's plan to protect the environment, increase biodiversity and punish polluters. And warnings of innovation brain drain without more investment in agri-tech.Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
In this episode: News Wrap | Taiwan hungry for NZ dairy products1:34 – Senior reporter Richard Rennie wraps up his trip to Taiwan, a fascinating market that's hungry for NZ dairy products and has a discerning and high-value consumer base.Market Insights | In-lamb ewes hit the saleyards10:26 – AgriHQ analyst Fiona Quarrie wraps up the early sales for in-lamb ewes. With less breeding stock on the hills there's fewer buyers but prices are holding for now.Feature | Energy as a new crop option for farms14:40 – Farmers now have a new and simple way to diversify into electricity generation. Farmlands Flex offers the technology, infrastructure and collective buying power for farmers to not only save on energy bills but also build resilience in the grid. Farmlands chief executive Tanya Houghton explains the initiative to Bryan.Feds Focus | Freshwater reforms get a tick from Feds26:11 – Federated Farmers vice-president Colin Hurst says he's happy with the proposed freshwater reforms that should empower catchments to solve their environmental issues themselves. The Final Word34:29 – State Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown has told Pāmu to up its game and provide the government a better return. But what is the value we expect from the state-owned farmer? Is it just dollars or does Pāmu offer other things that help our industry flourish?
Farmers now have a new and simple way to diversify into electricity generation. Farmlands Flex offers the technology, infrastructure and collective buying power for farmers to not only save on energy bills but also build resilience in the grid. Farmlands chief executive Tanya Houghton explains the initiative to Bryan.
Send me a messageIn this episode of the Sustainable Supply Chain podcast, I'm joined by Gary Loh, CEO of DiMuto, who brings a refreshing perspective on fixing the fractured agri-food trade. Gary's insights shine a light on the 30% of food wasted globally and how digital tools like AI, IoT, and blockchain can help us reduce that figure.We discuss why traditional silos, where growers, packers, shippers, and retailers rarely share data, need to be broken down. Gary explains how DiMuto's approach aligns economic incentives for everyone in the supply chain, driving transparency and reducing food waste. He also delves into how real-time data is empowering smallholder farmers, opening up access to trade financing and reducing costly claims.We also touch on the impact of US tariffs, shifting climate conditions, and FSMA 204 compliance, and why digital transformation is no longer optional. Gary's journey from finance to agriculture shows that real change comes when you address the incentives and give farmers and buyers the tools to see the full picture.If you're serious about building a transparent, resilient supply chain, or just curious how aligning incentives, AI and data can cut waste in our global food system, this episode is worth a listen.Elevate your brand with the ‘Sustainable Supply Chain' podcast, the voice of supply chain sustainability.Last year, this podcast's episodes were downloaded over 113,000 times by senior supply chain executives around the world.Become a sponsor. Lead the conversation.Contact me for sponsorship opportunities and turn downloads into dialogues.Act today. Influence the future.Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson Discover how technology is reshaping our lives and livelihoods.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous supporters: Alicia Farag Kieran Ognev And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent episodes like this one.Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities:If you/your organisation is interested in sponsoring this podcast - I have several options available. Let's talk!FinallyIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - feel free to just send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or send me a text message using this link.If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover it. Thanks for listening.
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Otipy, an agritech firm, ceased operations, impacting 300 employees.Learn about Otipy's journey, its $44M funding, and the reasons behind its failure.
On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with MindHive Global CEO James Bayly about winning the Start-up and Agritech categories at the recent 2025 NZ Hi-Tech Awards, its use of AI to detect blemishes and grade the quality of hides at leather tanneries and its global expansion, including a partnership with the world's largest leather processor... He talks with Tor Pedersen of Broomore Farm in Raglan about winning the regional supreme title at the Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards, his efforts to continue the family’s dedication to balancing environmental stewardship with profitability and his love of motocross... And he talks with CNH NZ Business Manager John Gilbert about a new initiative from Case IH to support the Meet the Need food charity, its biggest ever Fieldays promotion and the volume of tractor and machinery sales so far this year. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.
Dom talks with MindHive Global CEO James Bayly about winning the Start-up and Agritech categories at the recent 2025 NZ Hi-Tech Awards, its use of AI to detect blemishes and grade the quality of hides at leather tanneries and its global expansion, including a partnership with the world's largest leather processor. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.
O episódio do Agro & Tech Podcast, apresentado por Lucas Ordonha, traz uma entrevista com Thiago Zampieri, CEO da Corelab, especialista em tecnologia e inovação. A conversa aborda a experiência de Thiago com o hackathon agro, a fundação da startup Bart, sua fusão com a Diabria, formando a 7. Ele explica o conceito de hackathons, a evolução da tecnologia no agronegócio, inovação dentro e fora da porteira e o impacto da sucessão familiar na adoção de novas soluções. Além disso, discorre sobre o papel das startups, spin-offs e redes de inovação dentro das empresas, trazendo insights valiosos sobre o futuro do agro e a importância da tecnologia disruptiva para aumentar a eficiência e produtividade. #agroetech FICHA TÉCNICAApresentação: Lucas OrdonhaProdução: Agro ResenhaConvidado: Thiago ZampieriEdição: Senhor A - https://editorsenhor-a.com.brSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
O episódio do Agro & Tech Podcast, apresentado por Lucas Ordonha, traz uma entrevista com Thiago Zampieri, CEO da Corelab, especialista em tecnologia e inovação. A conversa aborda a experiência de Thiago com o hackathon agro, a fundação da startup Bart, sua fusão com a Diabria, formando a 7. Ele explica o conceito de hackathons, a evolução da tecnologia no agronegócio, inovação dentro e fora da porteira e o impacto da sucessão familiar na adoção de novas soluções. Além disso, discorre sobre o papel das startups, spin-offs e redes de inovação dentro das empresas, trazendo insights valiosos sobre o futuro do agro e a importância da tecnologia disruptiva para aumentar a eficiência e produtividade. #agroetech FICHA TÉCNICAApresentação: Lucas OrdonhaProdução: Agro ResenhaConvidado: Thiago ZampieriEdição: Senhor A - https://editorsenhor-a.com.brSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Send me a messageIn this week's episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I'm joined by Bryan Parkes, Head of Innovation Acceleration at Zespri, the world's largest marketer of kiwifruit. Bryan shares how Zespri is taking a bold, practical approach to climate resilience through its Zespri ZAG Innovation Fund - an annual US$2 million commitment to agricultural innovation funding.We dig into why Zespri is using a venture clienting model—not venture capital—to attract global solutions for the kiwifruit industry. Instead of taking equity, they offer grants and technical support to agri-tech startups, making it easier to pilot and apply new ideas quickly.From using moth-inspired biosensors to detect rot early, to field trials of biochar for long-term carbon storage and soil health, Bryan outlines how they're making sustainable agriculture grants work in the real world. We also discuss how this work aligns with Zespri's ambition to become carbon positive by 2035, and how many of the solutions being tested could be transferable across other crops and food systems.If you're involved in agri-tech, sustainability, or food innovation, this conversation offers deep insights into one of the most hands-on approaches to funding for agri-tech startups. It's a look into a funding model that prioritises environmental sustainability grants and scalable impact over PR hype.Keywords: Zespri ZAG Innovation Fund, agricultural innovation funding, sustainable agriculture grants, kiwifruit industry innovation, climate resilience funding, funding for agri-tech startups, environmental sustainability grants, agri-tech funding opportunities, Innovation Fund, agritech support.Support the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper
If you're keen to share your story, please reach out to us!Guest:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondayton/https://www.tract.eco/careers/Powered by Artifeks!https://www.linkedin.com/company/artifeksrecruitmenthttps://www.artifeks.co.ukhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/agilerecruiterLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enginearsioTwitter: https://x.com/EnginearsioAll Podcast Platforms: https://smartlink.ausha.co/enginears00:00 - Enginears Intro.00:58 - Jon Intro.05:02 - TRACT Intro.07:28 - Engineering challenges at TRACT.13:47 - Traceability challenge within AgriTech and sustainability space.17:17 - Optimisation challenges at TRACT.22:32 - Next 12 months at TRACT.26:01 - Where do TRACT operate?27:01 - Business growth at TRACT - where are the plans to grow?31:33 - Jon & TRACT Outro.32:55 - Enginears Outro.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Agritech firm Bontia Bio has patented world-first technology which could bring a massive shakeup to the billion-dollar global animal treatment market.
Felix Collins, founder of Full Circle Biotech, speaks with Jeremy Au about how biology, not machines, is transforming the future of food. Felix shares how his company turns agricultural waste into affordable, high-quality protein using insects, fungi, and bacteria. They unpack why SEA farmers care more about savings than slogans, how superstition meets pragmatism on shrimp farms, and how skipping big feed mills unlocked faster scale. Felix also opens up about building alone in a basement with buckets of waste, and why cost, not carbon credits, is the real key to decarbonizing food systems. It's a candid look at resilience, innovation, and why Southeast Asia may lead the next global food revolution. 02:22 Insect Farming as a Protein Solution: Early efforts to teach contract farmers in Kenya failed; he shifted to centralized operations to reduce complexity and improve scale. 05:11 Farmers Adopt Cost-Saving Tools, Not New Habits: Felix found that Southeast Asian farmers don't chase productivity—they adopt tools that reduce cost and keep daily routines intact. 13:20 Scaling Without Feed Mill Support: With no guaranteed offtake from large feed companies, Full Circle started producing and selling its own pellets to collect farmer data and grow sales. 24:35 Southeast Asia is Agritech's Edge: Fragmented supply chains and extreme price sensitivity make the region ideal for fast adoption of low-carbon, affordable feed solutions. 29:00 Carbon Credits Are Unreliable: Felix explains that while carbon credits are theoretically valuable, their volatility and complexity make them less effective than carbon taxes or direct market incentives for driving real change in food systems. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/felix-collins-feed-from-waste Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
This time Robert Morrison, Head of Farms, UK Agri-Tech Centre and Mike Jones, Dairy Technical Manager, UK Agri-Tech Centre join the team.Like usual we start with both their backgrounds, to get them to where they are today with UK Agri-Tech Centre.It's been a year since we visited the South West Dairy Development Centre (SWDDC) with Mike, and so we have a little catch up with how the herd is now doing, but it's also been a year since UK Agri-Tech Centre was formed when three agri-tech centres merged to form one single entity.A lot has happened in that time with the SWDDC continuing to help develop new technology for the UK dairy industry. It has also received many overseas visitors at its facilities, with its opportunities for innovation having become the envy of the world, with countries looking to duplicate its model, to be able to do the same in their own countries.This was recorded in April 2025, and all information was correct at the time of recording.Send us a textFor more information about our podcast visit www.chewinthecud.com/podcast or follow us on Instagram @chewinthecudpodcast or X/Twitter @chewinthecudpod. ChewintheCud Ltd is also on Facebook & LinkedIn. You can also email us at podcast@chewinthecud.com
This week:Senior reporter Richard Rennie discusses a new app that gives farmers a precise pasture measurement by simply taking a short video of a paddock on a smartphone. He reports on the government's plan to wind up the Green Investment Fund and talks to one of its success stories, Ruminant Biotech. And there's news on a big farm sale in the Waikato/Coromandel region.Senior reporter Richard Rennie discusses a new app that gives farmers a precise pasture measurement by simply taking a short video of a paddock on a smartphone. He reports on the government's plan to wind up the Green Investment Fund and talks to one of its success stories, Ruminant Biotech. And there's news on a big farm sale in the Waikato/Coromandel region.Federated Farmers spokesperson Sandra Faulkner is over the moon at the government's decision to favour wool products in state buildings. She says it will bring confidence back to an industry that has been lacking it for some time.
Senior reporter Richard Rennie discusses a new app that gives farmers a precise pasture measurement by simply taking a short video of a paddock on a smartphone. He reports on the government's plan to wind up the Green Investment Fund and talks to one of its success stories, Ruminant Biotech. And there's news on a big farm sale in the Waikato/Coromandel region.
Explore the rise & fall of Deep Rooted, the AgriTech startup backed by Accel. Learn why it shut down despite $24+ Mn funding, along with key takeaways for founders!
Explore Greenikk's failure. India's agri-tech startup aimed to fix the banana supply chain, but had to shut down.Learn key reasons & lessons for entrepreneurs!
In this week's show:Senior reporter Neal Wallace wraps up his trip to Singapore, where he visited some of the innovative food technology and production businesses that are at the heart of the nation's big food business.Forest scientist Simeon Smaill from Scion tells Bryan that if we're to plant the number of native trees we need to, we're going to have to apply the same scientific rigour we showed when we were focused on pine trees. Federated Farmers health and safety spokesperson David Birkett says changes to the health and safety regulations are a positive step for farmers. He says improved farm safety will come from a ground-up approach, not from more box-ticking.
Senior reporter Neal Wallace wraps up his trip to Singapore, where he visited some of the innovative food technology and production businesses that are at the heart of the nation's big food business.
What happens when the local farmers refuse to work with you? You build your own vertical farming factory. In this episode, Anja Brachmüller, COO at Veganz, shares the company's remarkable 13-year evolution from a single supermarket to an innovative food tech powerhouse with three factories across Europe. Discover how a small cashew cheese operation transformed Veganz's business model, and learn about their groundbreaking vertical farming technology that grows protein-rich peas using just 5% of the water required for traditional agriculture - potentially solving food security challenges worldwide. This episode is part of the series about the CIRCULAZE Summit from November 2024.
Narayan Lal Gurjar, the founder and CEO of EF Polymer, has a mission to solve one of agriculture's most pressing issues—water scarcity. Hailing from a farming community in Rajasthan, India, Narayan's journey into agri-tech was deeply personal, inspired by his father's struggles with water shortages. In this episode, Narayan opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, sharing the challenges, setbacks, and successes in creating a sustainable, food waste-derived solution that helps farmers thrive in water-scarce areas. He reflects on the importance of perseverance and resourcefulness, stressing how crucial these traits were in transforming his idea into a reality. Narayan also touches on the critical role mentorship, education, and community support played in his growth. Join us for an insightful conversation on innovation, sustainability, and how Narayan's vision is making a lasting impact on both farmers and the planet. Discover the trials of building a startup from the ground up and the valuable lessons that have shaped his path toward empowering millions of farmers worldwide. Highlights 00:00 Introduction to Narayan Lal Gurjar and EF Polymer 02:32 Narayan's Early Life and Inspiration 12:10 The Journey of Innovation and Prototype Development 26:30 Overcoming Challenges and Building a Startup 29:18 Innovative Solutions for Water Scarcity 30:54 Overcoming Challenges in Entrepreneurship 41:23 Key Learnings and Reflections 46:56 Scaling and Future Aspirations 48:14 What Not to Do as an Entrepreneur Follow Narayan and his team at EF Polymer here: https://efpolymer.com/
L'agriculture est en pleine transformation sous l'effet des innovations technologiques. Patrice Duboé, directeur de l'innovation pour l'Europe du Sud chez Capgemini, revient sur les innovations et tendances du récent Salon de l'Agriculture de Paris. En partenariat avec CapgeminiDu suivi des cultures par satellite à l'optimisation de l'irrigation et à l'élevage intelligent en passant par les colliers connectés pour animaux, la tech révolutionne le secteur. Patrice Duboé, nous explique comment les outils numériques aident les exploitants à mieux gérer leurs ressources et à préparer l'avenir.Dans cet épisode, nous explorons :L'analyse des parcelles agricoles grâce aux images satellites et aux drones.L'utilisation de tracteurs autonomes et d'outils connectés pour optimiser les rendements.Le rôle des colliers connectés pour le suivi du bétail et le bien-être animal.L'impact de la tech sur la gestion de l'eau et la réduction des traitements phytosanitaires.L'apport du numérique dans la gestion administrative et la formation des agriculteurs.L'innovation numérique s'impose ainsi comme un levier essentiel pour répondre aux défis agricoles et environnementaux d'aujourd'hui.-----------
Narayan Lal Gurjar, the founder and CEO of EF Polymer, has a mission to solve one of agriculture's most pressing issues—water scarcity. Hailing from a farming community in Rajasthan, India, Narayan's journey into agri-tech was deeply personal, inspired by his father's struggles with water shortages. In this episode, Narayan opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, sharing the challenges, setbacks, and successes in creating a sustainable, food waste-derived solution that helps farmers thrive in water-scarce areas. He reflects on the importance of perseverance and resourcefulness, stressing how crucial these traits were in transforming his idea into a reality. Narayan also touches on the critical role mentorship, education, and community support played in his growth. Join us for an insightful conversation on innovation, sustainability, and how Narayan's vision is making a lasting impact on both farmers and the planet. Discover the trials of building a startup from the ground up and the valuable lessons that have shaped his path toward empowering millions of farmers worldwide. Highlights 00:00 Introduction to Narayan Lal Gurjar and EF Polymer 02:32 Narayan's Early Life and Inspiration 12:10 The Journey of Innovation and Prototype Development 26:30 Overcoming Challenges and Building a Startup 29:18 Innovative Solutions for Water Scarcity 30:54 Overcoming Challenges in Entrepreneurship 41:23 Key Learnings and Reflections 46:56 Scaling and Future Aspirations 48:14 What Not to Do as an Entrepreneur Follow Narayan and his team at EF Polymer here: https://efpolymer.com/
Tim and Tyler recap their experince and takeaways from World Agri-Tech last week and share some updates for the multiple "hats" they wear. — This episode is presented by MyLand. Learn more HERE. — Links Nuss Farms - https://nussfarms.com Polaris Energy Services - https://polarisenergyservices.com AgList - https://aglist.com World Agri-Tech - https://worldagritechusa.com
Agritech in Uzbekistan: helping small-scale farmers recover from communist farming methods Uzbekistan is tackling the many problems it faces in farming and agriculture with the help of technology. During its time as part of the Soviet Union, the country was forced to grow cotton which led to major environmental problems. The country has 5.5 million smallholders, many of whom are women. A new digital platform called Growz is creating tech solutions for smarter and more sustainable farming as well as allowing the farmers easier access to customers and suppliers. Murod Khusanov, the founder and CEO of Growz, was at Web Summit Doha and spoke to editor Ania. Generating Power from Gravity In the last of his series of reports from the Consumer Electronics Show, Jez Donaldson reports on a technology that generates power from Gravity – he's on the show to explain how it all works. The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ania Lichtarowicz. More on this week's stories: Growz Jez Donaldson Production Manager: Liz Tuohy Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/ Follow us on the socials: Join our Facebook group Instagram BlueSky If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Contact us by email: hello@somewhereonearth.co Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484 Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Special guest Michaela Eschbach, Deputy Chair of the Cambridge Tech Week Steering Committee, joins us to give the inside scoop on Cambridge Tech Week 2025 (15th – 19th September 2025).We discuss what will be taking place during the week including:• Seizing the AI Advantage - this year's overarching theme focuses on how Cambridge's deep-tech ecosystem is leading AI innovation.• Industry Deep Dives - expect discussions on MedTech, CleanTech, AgriTech, Quantum, and Semiconductors.• Fringe Events - running throughout the week, these independently organized sessions allow for even more engagement and networking.• Innovation Alley - a dedicated space for the most cutting-edge startups to showcase their technology, now extended to two days due to popular demand.Cambridge Tech Week is a must-attend event for startup founders and scaleups seeking investor connections, VCs and investors scouting the next big breakthrough in AI and deep tech, corporate leaders and policymakers shaping the industry, and academics and researchers driving innovation.Produced by Cambridge TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Stage content at events like World AgriTech is always of highest quality but there are conversations happening behind the scenes that give a sense of what's happening in the industry. Brook Cunningham, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Corteva Agriscience, and Rob Dongoski, Food and Agribusiness Leader at Kearney, joined us for a conversation at World AgriTech to get perspective on many topics, including: A volatile market – and the reminder that it's also cyclical The tipping point for investors and the critical questions they have beyond just yield at this point in time Corteva's balanced approach between internal and external innovation and the company's areas of focus when it comes to investment and partnership How Kearney is advising companies seeking investment – of all sizes – in this volatile time (hint: don't go it alone) Areas of innovation that are seeing traction from investors The importance of creating certainty around the noise – from regulatory to policy and beyond How they both see this market cycle differently than past cycles The role of food and consumers in this next evolution of food and agriculture Crystal ball: what are the conversations at World AgriTech like five years from now?
Stage content at events like World AgriTech is always of highest quality but there are conversations happening behind the scenes that give a sense of what's happening in the industry. Brook Cunningham, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Corteva Agriscience, and Rob Dongoski, Food and Agribusiness Leader at Kearney, joined us for a conversation at World AgriTech to get perspective on many topics, including: A volatile market – and the reminder that it's also cyclical The tipping point for investors and the critical questions they have beyond just yield at this point in time Corteva's balanced approach between internal and external innovation and the company's areas of focus when it comes to investment and partnership How Kearney is advising companies seeking investment – of all sizes – in this volatile time (hint: don't go it alone) Areas of innovation that are seeing traction from investors The importance of creating certainty around the noise – from regulatory to policy and beyond How they both see this market cycle differently than past cycles The role of food and consumers in this next evolution of food and agriculture Crystal ball: what are the conversations at World AgriTech like five years from now?
AgriZero chief executive Wayne McNee talks to Bryan at the Wānaka Show about their new investments in emissions reduction technologies. He also gives his thoughts on the backlash AgriZero faces from some quarters by those questioning the need to invest in greenhouse gas reduction.
In this episode, Loye and Fola discuss: (1) the evolving foreign policy of Kenya under President William Ruto and its implications for regional diplomacy; (2) the budget crisis in South Africa, where the ANC's proposed VAT increase has sparked controversy within the coalition government; and (3) an overview of the African venture capital landscape, including the challenges faced by startups and the need for self-reliance in funding.Time stamps00:00 Kenya's Foreign Policy12:35 South Africa's Budget Crisis24:22 Africa's VC Landscapehttps://www.instagram.com/thebrief.xyz/
Chaque jour, découvrez la pépite du jour dans la France Bouge avec Elisabeth Assayag.
Un secteur de pointe qui nourrit le monde. En effet, si on élargit l'agriculture, AgriTech, à la nourriture, FoodTech, on estime que la France possède plus de 200 start-up, reflétant un véritable dynamisme. Et 40 d'entre elles sont notamment présentes au Salon de l'Agriculture. -----------------------------------------------------------------------SMART TECH - Le magazine quotidien de l'innovationDans SMART TECH, l'actu du numérique et de l'innovation prend tout son sens. Chaque jour, des spécialistes décryptent les actualités, les tendances, et les enjeux soulevés par l'adoption des nouvelles technologies.
Adriel Yong, Orvel Venture Partner, and Jeremy Au discussed: How eFishery Fooled Investors: They examined the elaborate scheme that allowed eFishery to inflate revenue and mislead major investors. They broke down the warning signs, such as financial irregularities, CFO departure (similar to Zilingo failure signal) and too-good-to-be-true business model that were ignored until it was too late. Informal Business Practices: They discussed how informal business practices in Indonesia contribute to the perpetuation of fraud by senior executives. Adriel shared stories of where kickbacks, inflated supplier numbers, and fraudulent financial reporting were common. They noted that many investors struggle with due diligence in Southeast Asia because operational transparency is often low, and cash-based businesses make fraud harder to detect. They contrasted the startup environment with family-owned businesses, where profitability and dividend payouts serve as stronger incentives for financial discipline. Jeremy explored why foreign founders often exit Indonesia due to ethical dilemmas. Agritech Future: With eFishery's implosion leaving a gap in the market, they analyzed whether competitors will rise or if investor confidence in the sector has been permanently damaged. They debated whether eFishery can stage a recovery similar to Luckin Coffee in China, or whether the board will write off the investment. They acknowledged the chilling effect the scandal has already had on future investments in Indonesia, agritech and Southeast Asia. Jeremy and Adriel also discussed prior fraud cases, ethical business executives and board governance. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/efishery-agritech-implosion Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
Episode 45 - Dr. Anna MacMillan, impact investment leader and ESG advocate, drives change in HealthTech, AgriTech, and food security as a Government Venture Partner and founder of Women in Investments. Disclaimer: Please note that all information and content on the UK Health Radio Network, all its radio broadcasts and podcasts are provided by the authors, producers, presenters and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge. As a service to our listeners/readers our programs/content are for general information and entertainment only. The UK Health Radio Network does not recommend, endorse, or object to the views, products or topics expressed or discussed by show hosts or their guests, authors and interviewees. We suggest you always consult with your own professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advisor. So please do not delay or disregard any professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advice received due to something you have heard or read on the UK Health Radio Network.
Hugh has zero background in recruiting but extensive experience in agriculture. How did he leverage his industry knowledge and establish a recruitment firm that rapidly grew in five years? You will most certainly enjoy learning about his mindset, strategies, and how he overcame several roadblocks when he founded Cultura Connect, a company specializing in recruitment within the agriculture, food, and forestry sectors. Since its inception, the business has experienced rapid growth. They're now a team of 13 with extensive knowledge and experience in agriculture and related fields. Hugh is passionate about nurturing and developing talent in the agricultural, food, and forestry industries, leveraging his experience and unique insight into the challenges of building effective teams. Episode Outline and Highlights [02:11] Hugh's background in the agricultural industry and recruitment. [11:30] Key stages in building Cultura Connect. [20:15] Overcoming the challenges of building your internal team. [26:58] Roadblocks and solutions that Hugh and his team have encountered in a remote setup. [38:42] Taking time to overcome other challenges in a new recruitment business. [44:41] Discussion on Cashflow Metrics and KPIs. [48:31] Hugh's absolute keys to success. [51:48] Minimum standards that Hugh looks for members of his team. [54:28] Branding and marketing strategies. Industry Knowledge is a Key Differentiator in Niche Recruitment Hugh's story shows how deep industry expertise can become a recruitment agency's strongest differentiator. His agricultural background became a powerful business advantage, enabling Cultura Connect's rapid growth. His background in agriculture and tech became a critical differentiator in successfully bridging the gap between agricultural expertise and talent acquisition. Focusing on his strengths and leveraging his background gave him the following advantages: Niche credibility due to his agriculture experience. Accurate candidate assessments. Extensive network. A clear understanding of his client's needs. Understanding of innovation and upcoming trends (ex. AgriTech). Leveraging your field background and experience as a recruiter can be an invaluable key factor in your success when launching your recruitment business. Choosing the Right People is the Main Key to Success What Hugh and his business partner have accomplished in the past 5 years is phenomenal. Since its inception, the business has experienced rapid growth with now a team of 13! When I asked him to summarize his absolute key factors to success, he mentioned: “Getting the right people, people that really understand the industry. That's allowed us to be seen as the Agricultural specialist, the forestry specialist, food specialist. Because we've got that team of individuals, all those individuals are passionate about that. They're passionate about doing a good job, they're committed and I guess ultimately they fit with our culture. So people will be one of the key things for us.” Ironically, building an internal team can be challenging for recruitment business owners. Hiring the wrong person can reduce growth, profit, and cash flow. Hugh focuses on minimum brand values when identifying someone who will be part of their team. Some of these are: Passion for the Industry Compassion Resilience Team Orientation Integrity Proactivity Quality over Quantity These values highlight Hugh's emphasis on creating a team that is not only skilled but also aligned with Cultura Connect's cultural and ethical requirements. Best Practices in Remote Team Management Hugh also shared pragmatic approaches to managing a remote team. Cultura Connect's approach to remote work is a great example of maintaining team performance and culture without a physical office. Their success stems from a deliberate balance of virtual and in-person connections. However, there are critical elements and cadences that are present: Team rhythm: 6-weekly in-person work sessions combined with weekly virtual meetings Quarterly activities: Structured team-building events (from hiking to canoeing) Strategic onboarding: Initial 3-4 days in-person with ongoing mentorship Flexible workspaces: Supporting team members who prefer occasional office settings The model enables growth while reducing overhead costs, demonstrating how remote-first can strengthen rather than compromise recruitment operations. Hugh Pocock Bio & Contact Info Hugh Pocock is the Founding Director of a recruitment business, Cultura Connect - specializing in recruitment for agriculture, food, and forestry sectors. The business was founded in 2020, with his business partner Tom Marsh, where they have successfully combined Hugh's 20+ years of experience in agribusiness with Tom's 20+ years of experience in recruitment. The business has grown rapidly since its inception with the development of a team of recruitment experts with in-depth knowledge and experience in agriculture and related sectors. Born and raised on his grandparent's dairy farm in Shropshire, a passion for agriculture was formed from Hugh's early years. Heavily involved in Holstein Young Breeders in his youth, then going on to graduate with a degree from Harper Adams, Hugh pursued a career in cattle genetics and gained over 15 years of experience in a variety of high-level commercial roles. In 2016 Hugh signed a farm tenancy, with his wife and two children, on a 100% grass-based 150 acre farm near Whitchurch, Shropshire. Here they farm New Zealand Romney sheep, Polled Dorset Sheep and Wagyu cattle. Sustainability and working closely with nature is their farming philosophy, managing the farm with multiple environmental stewardship initiatives. Hugh is passionate about nurturing and developing talent in the agricultural, food, and forestry industries, and having the opportunity to work with a multitude of businesses across these sectors gives him a unique insight into the challenges of building and retaining high-performing teams. Hugh on LinkedIn Cultura Connect website link Cultura Connect on Instagram People and Resources Mentioned Matt Walsh on LinkedIn Tom Marsh on LinkedIn Overdue Invoices? Here's How to Collect Your Placement Fee! Connect with Mark Whitby Get your FREE 30-minute strategy call Mark on LinkedIn Mark on Twitter: @MarkWhitby Mark on Facebook Mark on Instagram: @RecruitmentCoach Subscribe to The Resilient Recruiter If you've been enjoying the podcast, please take two minutes to leave a review. Your review is greatly appreciated because it helps us attract a bigger audience and help more recruiters.
Hendrik Van Asbroeck shares Astanor Ventures' exciting approach to venture capital, fueling groundbreaking, impact-driven startups revolutionizing the future of food and agriculture.In this insightful conversation, Hendrik discusses his firm's mission to create a more sustainable and regenerative food system globally, drawing on his own journey from corporate finance to clean tech.He explains Astanor's focus on balancing financial returns with measurable positive impact, using proprietary methodologies to assess both. Hendrik also delves into the challenges of scaling sustainable technologies in a highly subsidized industry, as well as the importance of building diverse, international teams to navigate cultural differences in the global food market.Hendrik shares Astanor's strategies for supporting European startups in the US, and vice versa, to drive widespread adoption of regenerative solutions. This episode offers a unique window into the world of mission-driven venture capital, providing valuable insights for anyone interested in the future of food, agriculture, and sustainable investing.-- Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts! Searching for new podcasts on sustainability? Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions. Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies.Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact. Tune in on…YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726…to listen to the latest episodes!00:28: Introduction01:15 Career journey & joining Astanor Ventures05:01 Technology & innovation for a better future08:13 Journey toward a regenerative food system12:18 Market dynamics and investment challenges14:53 Finding investors aligned with Astanor's vision17:40 Astanor's unique approach21:10 Measuring impact beyond financial returns24:07 Parallels between energy and food sectors27:52 Potential for success in agricultural food ecosystem29:47 Differences between U.S. and European markets33:32 The balance between people and technology35:47 Challenges with technical founders and key mistakes madeUseful links: Astanor's website: https://astanor.com/Astanor's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/astanor/ Hendrik Van Asbroeck's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-van-asbroeck-86192965/?originalSubdomain=be Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/Simon Leich's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/
In this episode, we dive into the hard truth about why exits in MENA are so challenging, the role of tariffs in protecting domestic production, and how bad actors have tarnished the reputation of an entire industry. Sky also gives us a masterclass on navigating capital markets, working with your board (hint: don't deprive them of their learning moments), and what to do when you're stuck with an inflated valuation. From ag-tech failures to billion-dollar blunders and business model innovation at scale, this conversation is packed with insights for founders, investors, and anyone interested in the future of food production.Support for the show comes from Capital.com, a global investment platform with offices in Dubai. Click herefor a chance to win AED 1m.
Three girls from Mayo have launched a mobile app called HerdSync that provides a simple means to digitise farm records. The enterprise came about from a personal farming experience while participating in afterschool programming with the girls-in-STEM charity Teen-Turn. Teenagers Katie Jennings (15) and Mary Lillibeth Curry-Glynn (16) from Knock and Aoibheann Mangan (18) from Hollymount developed the app HerdSync to record animal and land data from farms as well as to track day-to-day tasks and chores. The idea for the business came to Katie while she was helping her father with cattle on the farm. When they were trying to record the animal tag numbers, the notebook fell and got wet and dirty. Katie decided there had to be a better way to record the details. The app's first iteration won Katie first place in the junior category at Technovation Ireland's Regional Pitch event. From there she entered into Teen-Turn's Incubator-to-Accelerator activities in 2023 to expand the team and build a business. HerdSync is now part of Teen-Turn's Innovators programme, backed by BNY in 2024. Innovators support Teen-Turn student enterprises as they graduate to building and/or scaling their businesses. "BNY are proud supporters of Teen-Turn Innovators, which supports young women in the startup of their own companies to become employers themselves and contribute to resilient economic systems that better their communities," Paul Kilcullen, CEO of BNY Fund Services Ireland and Country Head. The girls are currently trialling their app with early adopters but will make it widely available in early 2025. Recently distinguished for Achievement in Innovation from Enterprise Ireland during the Innovation Arena Finals at the National Ploughing Championships, HerdSync is already in daily use on farms in Connacht. Katie explains, "The idea is to empower farmers with informed herd management-to bring data science technology to them-, but without it being time-consuming or complicated, it's as easy as 'Digitise. Simplify. Amplify'!" Teen-Turn, an Irish charity, addresses, in addition to gender equality in the workplace, economic inclusion for girls from areas where higher education is uncommon by providing hands-on practical experience and mentorship in STEM and entrepreneurship through extracurricular learning opportunities. Teen-Turn Co-Founder, Joanne Dolan, praised the girls' work. "What Katie, Mary Lillibeth and Aoibheann have produced distinguishes itself from the current market in that it offers an easy-to-use, no frills farm management solution that maintains records in a tidy and centralised way."
In this episode, we visit the AgriTechE REAP conference – the annual showcase for the latest innovations in agriculture.We find out how simple innovations can make farming more profitable – enabling farmers to work smarter rather than harder.From completing Sustainable Farming Incentive applications at the push of a button to using semen analysis to breed better livestock.We talk to start-up agri-tech entrepreneurs and some of the biggest global names in farming who are embracing big ideas to boost productivity.We get together with the Silicon Valley expert who explains how artificial intelligence is available now – and how farmers can get involved.And we meet the co-founder of a fledgling business on a quest to brew the perfect cup of coffee from UK-grown ingredients.This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann TaskerTo contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also message us by texting the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.
Il Governo sta valutando se sviluppare una “chat di Stato” in grado di proteggere le comunicazioni sensibili tra alti funzionari e membri dell’esecutivo. È sufficiente costruire un’app di questo tipo per essere certi che un messaggio non venga intercettato? Non bastano i normali sistemi di messaggistica protetti da crittografia end-to-end? Lo abbiamo chiesto a Corrado Giustozzi, esperto di cybersecurity e partner di Rexilience.Il problema della sicurezza delle informazioni se lo pongono anche le aziende e il mercato da tempo propone varie soluzioni. Felice Biancardi, uno dei fondatori e AD di Fragmentalis ci illustra un approccio che sfrutta la polverizzazione dei dati.Torniamo ad occuparci di tecnologie, applicazioni e soluzioni digitali in ambito agricolo con Flavio Cozzoli, Chief Digital Officer di XFarm, scaleup che ha recentemente raccolto capitali per 36 milioni di euro.Ci occupiamo anche del mercato della compravendita fra aziende e di una piattaforma che digitalizza e centralizza i processi di acquisto B2B, pensato soprattutto per grossisti e distributori, rendendo l’esperienza simile a quella a cui siamo abituati nel mondo dell’e-commerce B2C. Ne parliamo con Mario Parteli, fondatore e co-CEO di Volta, startup che ha recentemente raccolto capitali per 6 milioni di euro.E come sempre in Digital News le notizie di innovazione e tecnologia più importanti della settimana.
You have probably noticed that I keep coming back to the subject of agriculture on this podcast – for very good reasons – it is critical to the U.S. export economy. And then it occurred to me – here, practically in my own backyard, in Shelby County, TN, we have the most amazing not-for-profit organization – Agricenter International. So, it is our good fortune that the President and CEO, John Butler, agreed to be my guest and enlighten us all about the Agricenter. John's background is both unique and fascinating. I hope you enjoy our conversation.After you've listened, we would love to hear your thoughts and comments, which you can post at https://www.exportstoriespodcast.com/ or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.
In the startup ecosystem, building a company from the ground up without extensive capital is an impressive feat, as Anand Chandra has demonstrated. But building one in agriculture—a sector with deeply embedded challenges—is a story of grit, vision, and tenacity. Anand's company, Arya Collateral has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Quona Capital, the U.S. International Development Finance Corp, Lightrock, and Stride Ventures.
"Find your community. If you're building in clean tech or, you know, agritech, it doesn't matter. Like news or whatever, find where your people are. Find that community. Talk to them. Peers are so important, it doesn't matter. Even if they're competitors to you. You know, people start from one point and they end up somewhere else completely. So it doesn't really matter. There is enough room for everyone to sort of thrive in that industry."Priyanka and Shannon share their journey from non-tech backgrounds in finance and consultancy to creating a tech platform that is gaining significant traction and backing from industry giants like Snapchat. They discuss the challenges and triumphs of building a startup, the importance of unbiased news, and how they managed to capture the attention of mentors like Mark Cuban.The conversation delves into the future of social media, the impact of AI on content creation, and the importance of meeting your audience where they are. This episode is packed with insights for anyone looking to innovate in their field, regardless of their background. Get started on a more successful and sustainable small business with our range of free tools at mydailybusiness.com/freestuff Want to know more about AI and how to harness it for your small businesS? Join our new monthly AI chat for small business owners, starting at the end of November 2024. You can join anytime at www.mydailybusiness.com/AIchat Ever wanted to write your own book and build your brand authority or start your own podcast to connect with and grow your audience? Check out our How to Start a Podcast Course or How to Get Your Book Published Course at our courses page. Connect and get in touch with My Daily Business via our shop, freebies, award-winning books, Instagram and Tik Tok.
Noor Sweid is an influential figure in the world of venture capital and entrepreneurship, especially in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. She is the founder and Managing Partner of Global Ventures, a UAE-based venture capital firm that invests in high-growth startups across emerging markets, particularly focusing on technology and innovation.Before establishing Global Ventures, Noor held key leadership positions in various industries. She was the Chief Investment Officer at The Dubai Future Foundation and led the first ever dual listing of Depa on NASDAQ Dubai and the London Stock Exchange.In addition to her business roles, Noor Sweid is a strong advocate for diversity and women in business. She is known for her efforts to foster entrepreneurship in the MENA region and has been featured on several prestigious lists, including Forbes Middle East's “Most Powerful Women in Business.”Outside of her business expertise, Noor very candidly opens up about her work-life balance, working with her father, motherhood and her daily routine.0:00 Intro3:08 Wealth, Health, and Education6:56 Have We Become Too Transactional as a Society?8:03 Are We Slaves to Our Phones?10:00 Raising Kids in the Age of Technology13:00 The Accidental Entrepreneur18:00 Joining the Family Business21:28 Starting Zen Yoga34:26 Challenges of Being an Entrepreneur25:12 Founding Global Ventures30:22 VC in the MENA29:02 Tech Innovation33:54 HealthTech FinTech37:00 AgriTech41:00 The Future of Healthcare44:07 AI46:54 The Future of Education53:04 Being a Shark on Shark Tank57:06 Sharing Knowledge in Arabic1:0210 Work Life Balance1:07:29 Exercise and Gratitude1:12:00 Lessons from Motherhood1:16:00 Breaking New Trails1:18:00 Creating 13,000 Jobs1:21:30 Conviction vs. Arrogance1:26:00 Relaxation Reflection1:32:10 The Importance of "The Pause"1:37:00 Dreams1:38:40 Wrapping Up: Reflections and Future PlansNoor SweidInstagram https://bit.ly/47wX5GBLinkedIn https://bit.ly/3Zy9iJ6Forbes https://bit.ly/3zoHMDbGlobal VenturesWebsite https://bit.ly/4guQznDThe Mo ShowYoutube https://bit.ly/3nDwsZvApple Podcast https://apple.co/3J9ScX4Spotify https://spoti.fi/33dzsC2Google Podcast https://bit.ly/3ebB7xNAnghami https://bit.ly/3mRo1uyInstagram https://bit.ly/2KAwq5vX https://bit.ly/3KanEnJTikTok https://bit.ly/43L92poWebsite https://bit.ly/3H2DhMMEmail info@themopodcast.comPresented By KAFDThe AppWebsite https://bit.ly/3YktQUIInstagram https://bit.ly/3YFpWGnX https://bit.ly/3LMJOziLinkedIn https://bit.ly/3A0b2QJCreditsNoor Sweid | GuestRyan Ismail | COOFaisal Nejaim | Show ManagerTito | Creative DirectorYoussef Hamieh | Production ManagerPowered by “STUCK?” | Translators
On the latest episode of the Hemp Podcast, we take the show on the road once more — this time to Cornell University's Hemp Fiber and Grain Field Day at the Agritech Campus in Geneva, New York. Among the many voices on this episode is Christine Smart, director of Cornell Agritech, who's leading groundbreaking work on hemp diseases and crop resilience. Hailey Green, a recent Cornell MBA grad and founder of Green Acres Processing, talks about her ambitious plans to establish the first full-scale hemp-processing facility in New York, despite the financial challenges that lie ahead. “We're a couple million dollars away, which is probably the story of everybody that says they want to do processing at this point,” she said. I also spoke with Maciej Kowalski, a Polish hemp entrepreneur who just wrapped up a trip around the U.S. to learn more about hemp processing. He highlighted the disconnect he sees in the U.S. between farmers and textile manufacturers, stressing that fiber quality must start in the field. “The textile people don't care about what's happening in the field, and the cultivators don't care about what happens afterward. That's not the way to make a good product,” he said. Shelby Ellison, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is working to collect and preserve feral hemp genetics from across the U.S., preserving the genetic diversity of hemp, which can be used to breed more resilient and adaptive varieties. So far, she and her team have collected more than 1,500 individual plant samples across 14 different states in the U.S. Pennsylvania hempcrete builder Cameron McIntosh talks about the growing interest from federal agencies, including the Department of Energy, in addressing not only operational emissions but also the embodied carbon in construction materials. We also hear from Pennsylvania hemp farmer Steve Groff, who shares a remarkable story about seeing an albino deer on his drive to Geneva. Groff's white deer might be a good omen for the industry, but it's definitely a good omen for this episode of the podcast. Thanks to Our Sponsors! IND HEMP Mpactful Ventures Forever Green Music by Tin Bird Shadow
Empowering Women in AgriFood Tech: A Conversation with Amy Wu of From Farms to Incubators - In this episode of the Leading Voices in Food podcast, host Norbert Wilson speaks with Amy Wu, the creator and content director of From Farms to Incubators. Amy shares her inspiring journey in highlighting and supporting women, particularly women of color, in the agri-food tech industry. Learn about the origins of her groundbreaking documentary and book, her vision for a vibrant community of women innovators, and the crucial role of education, mentorship, and policy in advancing women's roles in this sector. Interview Summary I have a great set of questions for you. So, the first thing, could you just tell our listeners a little bit more about From Farms to Incubators? Sure. From Farms to Incubators is a special initiative and project that tells the stories of women in this fast-growing field known as ag tech, sometimes interchangeably used as Agri food tech as well. The mission of it is really to get more women involved in ag tech through storytelling, through resources, and also through education and training. I also would describe it as a multimedia content platform. I actually came to this as a journalist and as a storyteller that uses storytelling to amplify the voices of women leaders and entrepreneurs in this field. It's also a documentary and a book and also a website where we archive their stories and their biographies as well. Thanks for that overview, and you just talked about the book and the documentary From Farms to Incubators: women innovators revolutionizing how our food is grown, which uses storytelling to highlight women innovators and how women innovators in the Agri food tech are doing their best. But there's also a movement and the community and this multimedia platform. Why did you expand from the book and documentary into this larger network? That's a really good question. Briefly, as some context, I kind of fell into this project. It was a bit of serendipity. I was a reporter in Salinas, California, which is the vegetable salad bowl of the world. Ag is a huge industry, a 10 billion industry. And I was covering government and agriculture. And I observed that there were not a lot of women at the helm of the table, whether it be at farms or also in this growing field of ag tech as well. So it started off as a documentary. I got a grant from the International Center for Journalists, and then ultimately I got another grant from the International Media Women's Foundation to do a short documentary to profile three women who are entrepreneurs in ag tech. It was great. It was at the time in 2016, which now was ages ago, I guess. It was really hard to find women in ag, in this field of ag tech, women creating the innovations to tackle some of the biggest challenges that farmers are facing, especially under climate change. So, it could have ended there because the documentary turned out to be very, very well received. It's screened at hundreds of places, and I would have panels and discussions and the women would look at each other like, 'my gosh, I didn't know there were other women doing this too. Can you connect us? We'd love to convene further.' And then educators, community leaders, agribusinesses, investors just didn't know they existed as well. So, what happened was the stories kind of multiplied and multiplied as the more that I collected them. And then I decided to put it into a book profiling about 30 women in this growing field. And to answer your question, Norbert, why is it continuing is that I saw a real need for women to have a community, women in agriculture and innovation and food systems to have a community to connect with one another, to potentially build friendship, build collaboration, build partnership, creating a collective vision sometimes and a place for them. I didn't plan on it. So, I guess the storytelling connects them. We've also have resources like a database that connects them and the goal is really so that they can have a community where they can build more. They can either build out their own startups. They can build their careers, build their professions. And then it kind of grew more legs. Now we're also extending into the area of education and training to try to get younger women, young people, youth. To see that agriculture, hey, may not be traditionally sexy. I mean, tractors and overalls are still what a lot of people think about it, but there are so many other opportunities in the food system for young people as well, especially since we all have to eat. So, how are farmers going to be producing the food for 10 billion people in 2050, right? Who's going to produce the food? How are we going to do it? Especially under the auspices of climate change, the weather's getting crazier and crazier. That's sort of why it has expanded from the stories all the way to what it is today. This is a great story and I would love to hear a little bit more about some of the women and their innovations. And if I may, I would like for you to actually even explain a little bit about what you mean by the ag food tech or Agri food tech as you're talking about these women. Broadly defined, is any kind of innovation that makes it easier, frankly, for farmers to do their work, to grow more efficiently, and to also increase [00:06:00] their yield. I can give some examples of what innovation is. Blockchain addresses food safety, really. It traces everything from the seed to all the way on the shelf, right? So if there's any safety issues, it's used to trace back, where did that seed come from? Where was it grown? What field was it in? And that really helps everybody in the food systems a lot more, right? We have sensors connected with drones. I forgot to mention robotics as well, which is a fast-growing area of ag tech. Everything from self-driving tractors to laser scarecrows to another level of robots that are picking specific kinds of fruits and vegetables that's tackling labor challenges. I don't foresee that ag tech necessarily is a replacement by the way of people. It's actually offering more opportunities because we need people who are very knowledgeable that kind of innovation. And then you also asked a bit about the stories of the women in ag tech, for example, in the film and in the book and so forth. Soil sampling is a fast-growing area of ag tech. There's the story that I have in the book and also in the movie of two young women who are Stanford PhD graduates. Who created a soil testing kit that makes it easy for farmers to just test their soil for diseases, for pests, and soil testing is traditionally, you know, very, very expensive for most farmers actually. Not easy for farmers to get access to it and to get the data, but the soil testing kit that they created makes it a lot easier for farmers, small farmers even, to access it. And why is that important is because the more knowledge, the more data that, and analytics that farmers can get, the more that they can make smart decisions about how much to fertilize, how much to irrigate. And that connects with the yield and their success. You know, another company that I can think about, another amazing woman. I just like her story, the story of AgTools and the story of Martha Montoya, who was actually an award-winning cartoonist. And she doesn't come from agriculture at all, and that's actually something that I want to highlight is a lot of these women are not farmers and don't come from agriculture. But she was a award winning cartoonist. I believe she was also a librarian and she fell into the food industry, and saw a need for having more data, offering more data and analytics to farmers. She created a system a little bit like a Bloomberg for farmers, where they can get real time data immediately on their phones, on their watches, so that they can get second by second data to make decisions on specific crops. Those are a couple of the stories that are in the book, but really what I want to highlight is that all of the innovation that they are creating addresses some of the biggest challenges that farmers are facing, whether it be labor issues,lack of water, some areas of our country are becoming more wet, others are becoming more dry, drones that are actually doing the irrigation now or drones taking photos to give more data to farmers as well on what is their land look like. You know, it could also be human resources related as well to manage staff. So mobile apps to manage staff on cattle farms. I mean, how big are the cattle farms sometimes, you know, 50,000 acres. So, it's really to save money and to create efficiency for farmers. If farmers are able to do their work more efficiently, they're able to generate greater profits, but it also allows for food prices not to rise. This has really big implications. Thank you for sharing those stories. And I love hearing about some of the individuals, but here's the question. I mean, why focus on women? What's important about what women contribute to this? And also, why are you also considering race as an important lens in this sector? Well, I would say, why not women? Because women have already been contributing to the global food system, whether in the production end or the decision makers at the head of the dinner table for thousands of thousands of years, arguably. So what I discovered is that their stories, their contributions, existing contributions were not being celebrated and were not being amplified. And I actually discovered that a lot of the women that I connected with were a bit shy about even telling their story and sharing it like kind of like, 'what is my contribution?' And I'm like, 'well, why aren't you sharing your story more?' So the goal of it really is to document and celebrate their contributions, but also to inspire. As I said, young women, next generation, all of us have daughters, nieces, granddaughters, you know, and then future generations to consider opportunities in a field where we need people. We need people who are smart and you don't have to be from a generation of farmers. You could be in science, engineering, technology, and math. You could just be passionate about it and you could be in the field. So that's the first aspect of it. And in terms of the lens of gender and race, there are not enough women in terms of just the startups in ag tech right now, only 2 percent of the billions of dollars being invested in ag tech startups. Only 2 percent are going into women led companies. It is very, very little. It is a problem that is deep rooted. And it starts with [00:12:00] funding. One problem is where is the funding coming from. Venture capitalists, traditional avenues of funding, where it is traditionally male dominated. So, there are many studies that show that investors will invest in companies where they connect with those who are leading the companies, right? So similar gender, similar backgrounds, similar stories. So, we're really looking to have a paradigm shift and move the needle of sorts and say that if there are more investors, there are more board members who are from a diversity backgrounds, then there will be more funding for women and those who are traditionally not leading agriculture, not in the leadership positions, not in the decision-making roles, right? There is a problem. There is a, what is a grass ceiling, not just glass ceiling, but grass ceiling. I hear you. I hear you. Now this is really fascinating. I know from colleagues who are in agriculture that there is this demand for more agricultural workers throughout the Agri food system. And if there is a demand, we're saying that our colleges that produce the potential workers aren't meeting those demands. One of the ways we can see that change is by having more women and more people of color join in. And so, this is a critical thing. And I would imagine also the experiences that people bring may be a critical part of coming up with new innovations. Diversity can do that. This is exciting that you're exploring this. I love what you're saying Norbert. I know I wanted to touch upon that about what you just noted is that it's also to create a pipeline, right? Education training is just so critical. And it makes me so happy to see that there are more and more programs at universities and colleges that are addressing programs in food systems, in agriculture, and increasingly in ag tech. So, whether it be courses or programs or certificates or eventually minors and majors, developing the pipeline of talent is really important and having mentors and mentees, which is something that now we're working on. This fall we'll have launched a menteeship program for women and for young people interested in ag tech and the first collaborator is the UC Merced in California. So, thanks for bringing that up. We have a couple of young people ready at the starting gates. Really excited. I will say just on a personal note, I was active in 4 H for most of my youth and that's the way I got involved in agriculture. So, touching or reaching out to folks in their youth is critical to get them excited and help them to make the connection so that they can do that work further. I'm glad to hear this work. In your view, what are some of the ongoing challenges and opportunities that women face in the ag tech sector or the Agri food sector? What are some of the things you're observing? Well, a continued challenge is having a place at the table, meaning at the leadership and decision-making level. And actually, as I noted earlier, the access to funding and not just the money, but the access to resources, meaning could be legal operational. Just how to get their startups or get their ideas out there. One example that I'm seeing that's again positive is that there's a growing number of incubators and accelerators specifically in food tech or ag tech that are is actually looking for candidates who are women or who are from underrepresented communities. The first thing is that they have a great innovation, of course, but the next thing that the incubators and accelerators are looking for is to have a diversity of perspectives. And to have representation, so seeing a lot more of that, whether it be. Individual accelerators, or even once at the university, right? Universities and colleges and the governmental level. The other challenge is access to farmers and connecting them with the farmers themselves. Cause farmers are very, very busy and that's highlighted and bolded. Increasingly just dealing with this chess game that's very hard to play with the weather, but also with their own resources. It's expensive being a farmer, equipment, labor. They don't often have the time, frankly, to beta test some of the innovations coming out. So how best to connect innovators with the farmers and to have them communicate with each other: like this is the innovation. This is how it's going to help your problem. Educating the farmers and allowing them to see that this is how it's going to address the problem that I have. So, the two are still kind of separate and access to each other is still, I would say, a major challenge. But right now, some of the solutions are, as I've noted, networking at conferences and convenings. Also, under the grant programs sometimes under the National Science Foundation or USDA, they are allowing more collaborative initiatives where you have educators, where you have policy, where you have the innovators, where you have the young people. Increasingly, seeing more and more of those kinds of projects and initiatives happen. So hopefully everybody will have a seat at the table and that would help women out a lot in the field as well. Awesome. Thank you for sharing those. And I love the fact that you're looking at not just identifying issues, but also trying to find ways of connecting folks to help overcome those challenges that women and women of color are facing in the marketplace. And it's the connections that are really critical. I appreciate you highlighting that. So, what is your ideal vision? Oh, one more thing I forgot to note is that in terms of connecting, there's also a database - a women in Agri food tech database, and I, and at least four or five other women in the field have been working on for at least four or five years now. We now have more than a thousand members. It's an open-source database where you can click on a form, put your name there and information takes a few minutes and then you're added to this database where the women can be connected to each other as well. So that's another resource. Yeah. And I mean, even just having peer mentors, not just mentors who are above you and they've like solved all the problems, but having people to go along with you as you're developing and as they are developing can be a critical part. I know as an academic, that's important for me and has been important for me. And I can imagine the same is true in this space as well. So, I'm so grateful to hear about this work. Yeah. What is your ideal vision for women in Agri food tech in the next, say, five years? And how will the digital network for from farms to incubators play a role in achieving that goal or those goals? So, my dream - it always starts, I think, in the dreaming phase and then connecting that with also resources along the way. But if I could wave my magic wand, I would say that. We would have a lot more women in leadership and thought decision making positions in ag tech to the point where maybe we won't even need something like From Farms to Incubators anymore because they'll be already equal. The stories will be out there. So, it might be questionable as to why we have a special subgroup or network for this now. How to get to that vision, I think is the three components of increasingly having more stories, and the women tell their stories at public outreach. You know, it could be at conferences, it could be in their own communities, sharing their story out to the community of farmers, of local government, of schools, local schools and colleges and universities, gardening clubs. The second component is education and training, building a pipeline. A vision that I have is actually having a campus. A virtual, and also in-person campus where women, especially from women in underprivileged communities will have the opportunity to have training and to be connected with mentors and the rock stars in the ag tech and Agri food tech field. Where they will also be able to have a project and initiative and test it out and have something to add to their portfolio. To have classes and people who are teaching those courses as well, ultimately. And then also to just build up a hub of resources. Like I mentioned the database. I mentioned that we'd like to extend it to having resources where folks can easily access internships, fellowships, granteeships, where they can be connected to funding. If they need help with legal, HR, just all components of everything that's needed to have a successful organization. And it doesn't have to just be their own startup. It could be a job database of where we have larger organizations and companies that are building up their own ag innovation or food innovation center as well. So that is the vision. It's a big vision. It's a big dream. So we're going to have to kind of break it down into components. But I think taking it step by step is the way to go kind of like climbing Everest or doing a long distance swim. Yes, I can see where you're trying to go in this vision and I'm interested to know what, if any role policy could play and help advance that vision. Yeah, so what role could policy play in advancing this vision? Currently, when it comes to diversity inclusion in the ag tech field or even in agriculture, there is somewhat a lack of policy in a way. But then also with individual organizations and corporations, obviously, there is the movement of diversity inclusion. But also, I think it's very much with the hiring practices with HR. I think it's up to individual organizations, whether they be small, larger ones, governmental, to look at their own hiring practices. To look at who they are, how are they crafting the language when they look for a job, when they look at their leadership team, are there ways to further diversify it and when it comes to, gender, ethnicities, people who come from a rural area, urban. I mean, we all come with, from a diversity of perspectives and stories. I think a lot of it will come down to hiring practices and advancing this vision and with the individuals who are already working at those organizations to be more thoughtful and conscious about giving those who don't have a place at the table, a place and a voice at the table, giving everybody a chance. Because we have some amazingly talented and knowledgeable people who just traditionally in agriculture don't have families and generations who come from an ag background. But they do come with so much that they could offer. I would say that those are a couple of examples of that as well. And maybe, more discussion about policy is really needed on a larger level when it comes to farmers, when it comes to government leaders, when it comes to innovation leaders as well. And when it comes to educators and schools. I think the more the merrier when it comes to bringing folks at the table to open it up for discussion on solutions. I appreciate this. And, this idea of not just welcoming people so that they get in the door, but also creating change. Environments and spaces where people are actually welcomed once they're there. That it becomes a place where folks can be themselves and bring all of who they are to the work that they're doing. This is critical. Yes, absolutely. I want to touch upon that. My own story is I don't have an agricultural background myself. But when I first , landed in a place like Salinas, very much sort of an outsider because I'm not from there anyway, but also not in agriculture and then being a woman and being, you know, a Chinese American woman too, you know, I, I did feel that there was a challenge to kind of break into certain circles and to be welcome. Even despite my passion and enthusiasm, there was a little bit like, 'what is she? Why? Why? What? She, she doesn't know anything.' But I felt like it was the people who in the beginning, it was just a couple of people who were like, 'Hey, this is somebody who really wants to tell the story of what we're doing. Give her a chance.' You know, having advocates, frontline advocates made a huge difference. So that's what I'm hoping for, more frontline advocates. Amy, I want to pick up on a personal story out of this. I did my graduate training out at UC Davis, at University of California, Davis. And I worked on dairy policy, which I do not have a dairy background. And it was great to have a mentor who actually helped me. Who introduced me to a number of folks and working through extension and the California Department of Food and Ag. Folks made space for me, and they understood that I was interested in this particular policy and trying to understand what it meant. And I actually got to learn so much. It was because people just said, okay, we'll give you a try. And I did the best I could. I'm grateful for that. Creating these spaces is not hard. It's not impossible. It can be done. I'm really appreciative of your efforts to keep furthering that story. I love that story. And indeed Norbert it's like what you said, creating the space and even, even in the beginning and just having a couple of folks just to make space. And then I think the space is going to grow from there. I fully agree. I've got one last question for you. And it's, sort of related to the vision, but just also thinking long term. What impact do you hope your work will ultimately have on society. I hope that my work will create a bit of a shift ultimately. I mean, that's a rather large goal, but it's not just myself. As this project has grown and extended and expanded. It's really a joint team effort. I mean, along this journey, I've met folks who are mission aligned. And they also see the value in this, and they believe in something similar. Whether it be that they contribute their story, whether it be that they help write the stories, whether it be that they come be a guest speaker, and they share their career, and then they end up connecting with the younger person, every person counts in this. In making a shift. And it might take generations to completely have a paradigm shift, but I think that just moving the needle a bit is ultimately the goal, certainly. And in terms of the bigger picture of things, I'm hoping that it will continue to spark a discussion and ongoing conversation about the importance and the value of bringing different voices and people who traditionally were not given a space at the table when it comes to the food systems and agriculture. But who brings so much talent, so much to the table already. How we can make greater space for them as well, and how we can incorporate their talent and create a better food system for everybody. We all eat and we're looking at 10 billion people in 2050. So, looking at the people who are making those contributions and telling their stories and especially for those who traditionally have not had their voices told, I think is really, really important. I just keep the fire going, I guess. BIO Amy Wu is an award-winning writer for the women's Ag and Agtech movement. She is the creator and chief content director of From Farms to Incubators, a multimedia platform that uses documentary, video, photography, and the written word to tell the stories of women leaders and innovators in Agtech. It has a mission of highlighting women in food, farming, and farmtech, especially women of color. From Farms to Incubators includes a documentary and a book that spotlights women leaders in Ag and Agtech. The documentary and stories have been screened and presented at SXSW and Techonomy. The initiative was awarded grants from the International Center for Journalists and International Women's Media Foundation's Howard G. Buffett Fund. Amy was named on Worth magazine's “Groundbreakers 2020 list of 50 Women Changing the World” list. Since 2018 she has served as the communications manager at the Hudson Valley Farm Hub in Hurley NY where she runs the website, digital newsletter, and social media. Prior to starting From Farms to Incubators, Amy spent over two decades as an investigative reporter at media outlets including the USA Today Network where she reported on agriculture and Agtech for The Salinas Californian. She's also worked at Time magazine, The Deal and contributed to The New York Times, The Huffington Post and The Wall Street Journal. She earned her bachelor's degree in history from New York University, and master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.
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