CEO Mikael Courbot shares how Micropep is harnessing plant-derived micropeptides —tiny, naturally occurring molecules designed with AI and advanced modeling — to precisely target weeds and diseases. Learn how this breakthrough approach is giving farmers powerful, sustainable biological alternatives to traditional crop protection chemicals.

Chris Whitney, Chief Digital Officer at Monarch Tractor, shares how the company’s fully electric, driver-optional tractor is redefining power and productivity on the farm. By combining clean energy, advanced autonomy, and intelligent data systems, Monarch is helping drive a more efficient and sustainable future for agriculture. 

Kioti is redefining smart farming with a new generation of compact, autonomous technologies built to meet the needs of smaller farms. Chief Product and Technology Officer YJ Son discusses how the company’s innovations—from transport robots for orchard operations to AI-driven equipment—are boosting productivity and addressing critical labor challenges. Learn how Kioti is making advanced automation accessible to a wider range of growers and helping small farms thrive. 

 Dr. Frank Bai shares his global journey into precision and digital agriculture and highlights how sensors, drones, and AI-driven tools are shaping the future of farming. As an Assistant Professor at NC State, he bridges engineering and agriculture to tackle challenges in the field. In this episode, he discusses his autonomous scouting project at the Sandhills Research Station, innovative methods for screening drought tolerance in soybeans, and the growing role of digital technologies in making farming more efficient, sustainable, and affordable. The conversation also explores the importance of collaboration, technology adoption, and equipping the next generation of farmers for an increasingly automated, data-driven future. 

 Aaron Wells, Director of Engineering & Autonomy at Blue River Technology, a John Deere company, discusses the evolution of agricultural machinery—from traditional horsepower to advanced hardware and artificial intelligence. He explains how John Deere’s next-generation perception system, known as the “eyes and brain” of autonomous tractors, is transforming modern farming. This episode explores how AI, machine vision, and retrofit kits are making autonomy in agriculture possible, the engineering challenges of scaling autonomous tractors, and the future of precision ag technology for large-scale farming. 

Tom Williams, Director of Microbiology at BioConsortia, discusses how beneficial microbes are driving more sustainable agriculture by boosting nutrient availability, soil health, and crop performance. He shares how BioConsortia’s advanced microbial discovery platform and gene editing technologies are unlocking new opportunities for plant health and yield. The conversation also explores regulatory frameworks, grower adoption, and the exciting future of biological solutions in agriculture. 

Newly appointed Director of NC State’s Genome Editing Center (GEC), Tim Kelliher, shares his unique path from organic farming to the forefront of plant science. He explains how advances in genome editing offer a faster, more precise alternative to traditional breeding—delivering vital solutions for farmers in as little as 5–8 years. Get an inside look at the GEC and how genome editing is shaping the future of agriculture. 

Dr. Eyal Maori, co-founder of Tropic, is using advanced gene editing technologies to revolutionize tropical crops such as bananas, rice, and coffee. The conversation explores how Tropic developed proprietary tools like Agrotrop and GEiGS to overcome the unique challenges of editing tropical crops. Dr. Maori also highlights Tropic’s work on non-browning and longer shelf-life bananas, engagement with growers, the evolving regulatory landscape, and the company's vision to bring meaningful innovation to tropical regions where food security is most urgent. 

Genome editing pioneer Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou returns to AgTech 360 to share how CRISPR has advanced and expanded since his last appearance in 2021, transforming from a breakthrough technology into a global force across medicine, agriculture, and beyond. From scientific breakthroughs to real-world applications, he highlights how genome editing is reshaping food systems, farming, and human health. Rodolphe shares insights on the FDA approval of CRISPR-based therapies, the rise of gene-edited crops in global markets, and the growing role of AI in designing precision edits. He also reflects on the progress of regulatory frameworks, the importance of public trust, and what scientists, companies, and governments must consider as CRISPR scales from the lab to the marketplace. 

Dr. Jason White from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station explains how nano-scale materials, once seen as potential hazards, are gaining popularity and are now used to boost plant health, increase crop yields, and build climate resilience.  He discusses global collaborations, regulatory landscapes, and promising work using nano-nutrients to prepare crops for future stress. Learn how precision delivery through nanotech could reshape sustainable farming.