Evan Fraser is a food systems innovation expert, the Director of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph in Canada, and the Founder of Feeding9Billion.
Though he didn't grow up on a farm, he brings a multi-disciplinary and systems approach to his work, with degrees and work experience in various fields from anthropology to atmospheric chemistry to agriculture. His passion for agriculture comes from his love of good food and summers spent spent working on his grandfather’s farm (more on that in the episode).
In this episode, Evan and I cover two main topics:

1. Three big barriers to agtech adoption, and what’s being done to overcome them; and
2. The impact of COVID-19 on agricultural supply chains.

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

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

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

evokeAG, Asia Pacific's largest agrifood tech event, brought together 1300 innovators earlier in February this year in Melbourne, Australia. The jam-packed event featured international experts, innovative farmers, dozens of startups, and much more, showcasing what the region has to offer in agrifood tech innovation.
This bonus episode gives a taste of evokeAG and a live recording of the first panel on the main stage: The Asia-Pacific region and how we are rising. Panelists included:

• Andrew Coppin - Farmbot
• David Downs - NZTE
• John Hartnett - SVG Ventures/THRIVE
• Liza Noonan - CSIRO
• Sarah Nolet - Tenacious Ventures and host of AgTech...So What?

Agriculture is often vilified for its environmental impact. But what if agriculture could be carbon neutral? Is that even possible? And what would it cost?
Alisdair Tulloch, a fourth generation grape grower, believes it’s not only possible but also profitable.In this episode, Alisdair shares his family's journey to carbon neutral. Why did they decide to take action? How are they measuring? What improvements have they made, and how did they prioritize?
We also cover:

• The practices and management decisions Alisdair has made, and what’s working (or not);
• Why there’s a first-mover advantage of going carbon neutral;
• The ROI of carbon neutrality; and
• The potential of policies and carbon markets to unlock value for farmers.

• Instagram @keithtullochwine and @alisdairtulloch
• Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KeithTullochWine/

• https://keithtullochwine.com.au/
• info@keithtullochwine
• The Fine Wine Specialist, their national distributor: https://www.tfws.com.au

Mark “Ferg” Ferguson is a sheep geneticist who’s paying attention to how both consumer demands and emerging technologies are impacting growers. Drawing on his experience with dozens of clients around Australia and New Zealand, Ferg shares:

• insights for agtech companies, like the importance of personas and how to build relationships in a digital world;
• what the future of extension and consulting in livestock looks like;
• the role of cutting edge technologies in the sheep industry; and
• a vision for the future where consumers expectations are met and growers are profitable.

• https://www.nextgenagri.com/
• https://twitter.com/neXtgenAgri and https://twitter.com/Fergenetics
• https://www.nextgenagri.com/articles/farmer-people-that-farm-article-1
• Artificial Intelligence work: https://www.nextgenagri.com/articles/seen-one-seen-them-all
• NZ Merino: https://www.nzmerino.co.nz/

Mic Fels is someone I’ve wanted to speak with ever since I read an article he wrote about how his agtech is really making him money.
Mic not only crops about 11,000 hectares in Esperance, Western Australia, but has also built and commercialized a range of software products and machinery through his company, iPaddock.
Mic and I chat about where the real value is in agtech, and what building products has taught him about startups and about farming.
We also talk about:

• hard earned lessons and tips for working with tech;
• whether ideas or execution matter more; and
• which is harder…farming or building agtech.

• https://twitter.com/ipaddockapps
• https://www.ipaddock.com.au/
• https://www.ipaddock.com.au/how-i-make-money-out-of-ipaddock/

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

Fee Turner (Bitwise Agronomy) and Lee Coleman (FarmSimple) are both farmers as well as founders of agtech startups. They, along with six other farmer-led businesses, have been selected into the Farmers2Founders Bootcamp program, an intensive 3 month accelerator that is helping them take their business to the next level.
In this episode, Fee and Lee tell us about their farms, startups, and the challenges they're facing being farmers and founders.
Relevant links:

• https://www.bitwiseag.com/
• https://twitter.com/bitwiseag
• https://croppaco.com/
• https://twitter.com/CroppaCo

Stuart Austin is a regenerative farmer and self-proclaimed early adopter of technology.
In this episode we cover everything from how Stuart got involved in regenerative ag, to the tools he's using (and helping build) to make 6 and 7 figure decisions at Wilmot Cattle Company.
Stuart also shares his views on alternative proteins, transparency in agriculture, and the books and movies that he's found inspirational.
Relevant links:

• Wilmot Cattle Company- https://www.wilmotcattleco.com.au/
• Write up of the 2019 Field Day- https://www.maiagrazing.com/250-plus-graziers-attend-field-day-on-drought-resilience/
• RCS Grazing for Profit course- https://www.rcsaustralia.com.au/products/family-business/grazing-for-profit-2/
• Allan Savory’s TED talk- https://www.ted.com/talks/allan_savory_how_to_fight_desertification_and_reverse_climate_change
• You inc. by John McGrath- https://www.amazon.com.au/You-Inc-Attract-Amazing-Business/dp/0732276365
• Remember the Titans (trailer)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir1OH33uiwA
• Maia Grazing- https://www.maiagrazing.com/
• FarmBot- https://www.farmbot.com.au/

Ashlea Miles and David Ricardo are Australian farmers and founders of agtech startups Training Paddock and Farm Service Manager. They, along with six other farmer-led businesses, have been selected into the Farmers2Founders Bootcamp program, an intensive 3 month accelerator that helping them take their business to the next level.
In this episode, Ash and David share the story behind Training Paddock and Farm Service Manager, and reflect on the differences and similarities between running a farm and building a startup.
Relevant links:

• https://www.trainingpaddock.com.au/
• https://farmservicemanager.com/
• https://twitter.com/FarmServiceApp (@FarmServiceApp)