Agtech - So What?

Just because something can be done, doesn’t mean it should be. In agtech, this is a reminder that no matter how cutting edge the science or technology, when it comes to commercialization, functionality and novelty are simply not enough. This is especially true in the complex area of chemistry and the emerging industry of biologicals.
This episode features two scientists who, instead of viewing the publication of their research as an end point, have made it the beginning of a venture-backed startup journey. Dr. Jacqueline Heard, CEO of Enko Chem, a US agtech startup that has raised over $50M to develop novel crop protection solutions, and Dr. Nancy Schellhorn, CEO of RapidAIM, a Tenacious Ventures portfolio company that spun out of Australia’s CSIRO, join us to discuss:

• The journey from researcher to founder within the deeply technical landscape of ag inputs
• The challenges of transitioning from scientist to venture-backed startup founder
• Two business models that, as mentioned in Part 1 of this series, are helping overcome some of the challenges in bringing new inputs to market

Topics: biologicals, ag-inputs, business-model, venture-startups

Can capitalism be a force for good? David Lee left the traditional corporate world to work for some of the most bullish startup companies in agrifood tech, including Impossible Foods and AppHarvest, where he was appointed the company’s President earlier this year. David did this out of a belief that the levers of capitalism and consumerism are the fastest ways to transform the food system. He says the key to address the world’s urgent food sustainability problems is by creating consumer movements.In this bonus episode, David speaks to Sarah as part of fireside chat at the recent Future Food Asia 2021 conference. They discuss:

• The role of impact investing in agrifood tech, including using venture capital and SPACs (special purpose acquisition companies), and why David believes ‘funding failures’ is okay.
• Why changing consumer behaviors around food is so difficult.
• The growing opportunities for agrifood tech, particularly in Asia.

Companies: Impossible Foods, AppHarvest • Topics: venture-startups, food-systems, agtech-ecosystem, alt-protein

Farmers are under pressure to shift toward lower chemical intensity production. Biologicals are touted as one possible solution, promising natural, chemical-free alternatives to inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides. But biologicals also have a reputation for being ‘snake oil,’ with companies making claims that seem too good to be true, or that don’t stack up outside the lab.
So what’s the science behind biologicals, and how do we know they work? And when they do work, how do we get them in the hands of more farmers?
This episode features Jarrett Chambers, founder and President of ATP Nutrition, a Canadian plant nutrition company, and Shane Thomas, agronomist and author of Upstream Ag Insights, to discuss:

• What biologicals are, and how to think about the different categories
• What’s driving interest in biologicals from farmers, agribusinesses, and investors.
• What characteristics, business models, and incentives can help ensure biologicals fit into established farming systems.
• How digital tools can be used to bring credibility to the biologicals market

Topics: biologicals, ag-inputs, research, ag-tech-adoption

Agriculture in India has been thrust onto the international stage as the world watched and celebrities tweeted about the tens of thousands of farmers camped out in Delhi to protest against governmental reforms which loosen rules around the sale, pricing, and storage of produce. Farmers say these changes prioritize corporate interests and threaten livelihoods, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi argues they will lead to greater efficiency and ultimately income for smallholder farmers.
In this episode, Sarah is joined by colleague Komal Patel to unpack why farmers are protesting, what’s working (and what’s not) in India’s agricultural system, and what it means for agtech and innovation. It features:

• Mekhala Krishnamurthy - Senior Fellow at the Center for Policy Research and Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at Ashoka University.
• Venky Ramachandran - agritech consultant and author of Agribusiness Matters

• How can India open up agricultural markets without hurting the livelihoods of its farmers?
• How can public policy incentivize agtech and private investors, while also ensuring a fair system that doesn’t just benefit the powerful?
• The slippery slope of policy reforms
• How India’s agricultural system can move forward sustainably and successfully

Topics: government-policy, agtech-ecosystem, food-systems, people-culture

We’d all like to be able to predict what the next big technological disruption or trend will be. But while we can't exactly do that, we can look at signals happening today, and use them to drive our thinking about the future. In this bonus episode, Sarah Nolet presents five future forces shaping innovation in food and agriculture, and shares insights about what these forces mean for producers, investors, and entrepreneurs today.
You may know Sarah as the host of this podcast, but in this bonus episode you’ll hear a slightly edited version of a keynote talk she gave based on research Agthentic Advisory conducted for AgriFutures Australia.
In this talk, Sarah examines the interconnecting technologies, trends and market signals which are poised to change how society produces, eats and even conceptualizes food.The five forces she discusses are:

• Viral disinformation in the food system
• Interconnected digital infrastructure
• Rewiring the grid
• Domesticating the cell
• New geographies of climate change

Topics: agtech-ecosystem, food-systems, finance-investing, innovation

Agrifood value chains are known for their efficiencies: they’ve been optimized to grow, process, and deliver massive amounts of safe food all over the world. But efficiency is no longer enough. Consumers and investors want supply chains that are climate resilient (or positive), sustainable & ethical, and free from waste.
How can we deliver against these pressures? What changes in technology and practices will be needed? How do we build trust so consumers and industry alike have confidence in the sustainable promises farmers, companies & brands make?
In this panel we examine how farmers can capitalize on the increasing value of growing sustainable food, the opportunities for new players and new technologies to remove food waste and packaging from the supply chain, and signals indicating that the mood around sustainability might be about to shift.
Our guests include:

• Olympia Yarger, CEO and Founder, Goterra
• Jessica Vieira, Senior Director of Sustainability, Apeel Sciences
• Lachlan Monsbourgh, Head of Sustainable Business Development, Rabobank

Topics: supply-chain, food-systems, corporates

Jana Hocken is a dairy farmer and “lean farming” consultant. After an international career in engineering and lean manufacturing at Toyota, Jana moved to a farm in New Zealand with her husband. At the time, she knew very little about agriculture. But, after witnessing inefficiencies on her own farm, such as people regularly making multiple trips to the same paddock, she quickly realized the principles of lean could be applied. Jana has now released her own book and training materials, to help other farmers work smarter.In this episode Jana speaks about:

• How lean has revolutionized farming at her 1000 cow dairy by increasing team involvement, improving systems, and getting rid of inefficient practices.
• How adopting lean has allowed their farm to experiment with and adopt more technology
• Lessons in how to bring your team along with you through changes

Companies: Toyota • Topics: ag-tech-adoption, livestock-dairy, business-model, people-culture

Nitrate leaching in New Zealand, largely driven by the rapid expansion of dairy, has left waterways so polluted that some are unsafe to swim in. But the government is on a mission to fix this and restore the country’s ‘clean and green’ reputation. To tackle this issue, as well as other environmental concerns, the government is mandating that all farmers (not just dairy) report on water contaminants and other sustainability measures, including greenhouse gas emissions.In this episode hear from:

• Mat Hocken - owner/operator at Grassmere Dairy and a 2018 Nuffield Scholar focused on innovation in farming
• Bridgit Hawkins - Chief Sustainability Officer at CropX, NZ

Topics: livestock-dairy, irrigation-water, government-policy, climate-risk

Vonnie Estes has been at the forefront of genetics in agriculture for 30 years. She’s witnessed the public backlash over GMO crops in the 1990s, as well as the hype over biofuels in the U.S in the 2000s. Vonnie has also seen great advancements in plant breeding and genetics, working for Monsanto, Dupont, and Syngenta, as well as with multiple ag and biotech startups.
In her current role as Vice-President of Technology at the Produce Marketing Association, Vonnie helps companies navigate the confusing agtech landscape, investigating the sorts of food innovations consumers want (such as better taste), as well as innovations the world will increasingly need, such as drought and flood resistant crops. In this episode she talks about:

• The communications challenges in navigating science vs. emotion when introducing new technologies in food
• What business models will win as new innovations in gene editing and soil carbon come to market
• How emerging ag and biotech companies will transform supply chains

Companies: Produce Marketing Association, Monsanto, Dupont, Syngenta • Topics: genetics-breeding, people-culture, government-policy, food-consumer

Experts and tech companies alike are claiming that soil carbon payments hold huge potential as a new revenue stream for farmers and a weapon against climate change. Yet, others say it’s all hype. One thing is clear though: it’s a confusing and rapidly evolving space, with new technologies and incentive schemes emerging weekly.
In this week’s episode, we feature a panel of experts from across tech, policy, and corporate agribusiness. We tackle issues and barriers in soil carbon, and the potential benefits and consequences of moving from practice-based to outcomes-based approaches to measurement and verification. We also discuss why a focus on accuracy in soil carbon measurement is actually holding the industry back, as well as the role of big food companies in soil health.
On the panel:

• Richard Heath - Executive Director, Australian Farm Institute
• Rob Waterworth - CEO, FLINTpro
• Paul Scoullar - Strategic Sourcing Manager, Mars Petcare

Topics: carbon-markets, soil-health, government-policy, finance-investing