Agtech - So What?

• Have we hit the tipping point for autonomy in ag? With Shane Thomas and Matthew Pryor

  Over the past few years, the conversation about autonomy in agtech has moved from “but, does it work?” to “how can I get started?” This is a significant shift, indicative of autonomous machinery becoming a fully commercial category in agriculture.In this episode, Matthew Pryor, Founding Partner at Tenacious Ventures, discusses his recent observations at the Gatton Agtech Showcase, in QLD, Australia, highlighting the move towards production-ready autonomous machinery. He discusses how structure is now emerging in the Australian agtech autonomy market, including in sales and distribution, with a mix of companies from established equipment dealers to venture backed scale-ups. He predicts growth in this market to only compound in the coming years.Matthew and Sarah are joined by Shane Thomas, founder of Upstream Ag Insights, to also dive into recent agtech news and market trends.They discuss:The role of traditional dealership networks in an autonomous futureThe potential misuse of the term ‘autonomous’Regional variations in market dynamics around autonomy between Australia, the US, and CanadaThe forces reshaping crop protection, including the rise of non-chemical solutions such as laser weeding and electric weed controlUseful Links:Carbon Robotics raises $20m to build ‘another AI robot’?, AgFunder News Monarch Tractor sued over tractors that were 'unable to operate autonomously', TechCrunchIs Farmers’ Traditional Loyalty to Ag Equipment Colors Fading?, Farm EquipmentThe Four Forces reshaping the crop protection industry and what comes next, Upstream Ag InsightsThe Generics Revolution and the New Economic Geography of the Global Pesticide Industry, Journal of Agrarian ChangeThe Race to Define the Future of Ag Retail with Shane Thomas of Upstream Ag Insights, Agtech So What?Getting into the Weeds: AI, Computer Vision, and the Future of Non-Chemical Weeding, Agtech So What?Investment Notes: Azaneo, Tenacious VenturesDisrupting the AgTech Ecosystem with Ron Adner, Agtech So What?Vavilovian Mimicry, BionityFor more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.[0007:25] The role of dealerships in an autonomous future[00:17:45] The forces reshaping crop protection[00:25:20] Weeds adapting to non-chemical crop solutions

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• The Business Case for Electrifying Agriculture, with Cherry Grower Mike Casey

  In the race to decarbonize agriculture, the spotlight often falls on carbon sequestration, genetics, and alternative proteins. But have we overlooked something that’s right in front of us? Electricity.Mike Casey is a self-described “tech bro turned farmer” from Cromwell, New Zealand. Mike runs what’s believed to be the world’s first fully electric farm, made up of 21 electric machines, from irrigation systems and frost-fighting fans, to electric tractors and forklifts. His business is aptly named Electric Cherries, where power is generated from renewable sources on-farm. Mike says this has enabled him to save tens of thousands on energy costs every year, while also developing a business model for farming that’s both profitable and low-carbon.Sarah and Mike discuss:How an old diesel pump kicked off Mike’s electrification crusadeThe economics of going electric on a farm (and is it only possible in New Zealand or on a cherry farm?)What electric machinery changes (and doesn’t) about running a farm business Why farmers stand to benefit from the shift away from centralized, fossil fuel power generation to decentralized renewable energyMike is also the CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa, a movement helping Kiwis switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy. His mission is simple: make electric technology an economic no-brainer for every farmer and household.Useful Links:On-Farm Electrification isn't an equipment change, it's a systems change, Agtech So… What?Electric Cherries,  Evoke Ag presentation by Mike CaseyElectric Farms Report, Rewiring AotearoaThe future of (decentralized) fertilizer, with Jupiter Ionics (Tenacious portfolio company)For more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.

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• The realities of winding up an agtech app, with Nikki Davey

  What happens when an agtech startup with market pull, a clear mission, and global momentum still doesn’t make it?Nikki Davey is the founder of Grown Not Flown, which helped thousands of local flower growers reach customers who wanted sustainable blooms. Nikki’s app directly addressed the problem of ‘flower miles’. In Australia and the US, a store bought bouquet is likely to be made up of flowers that have been flown long distances, from places such as South America, Asia, or Africa.Nikki won the National AgriFutures Rural Women's Award in 2023 for Grown Not Flown, which helped to further establish the business. But, as the Grown Not Flown app was taken up across multiple countries, the challenge of scaling became harder for the startup and ultimately it was wound up. In this candid, episode Sarah and Nikki discuss:·  Misconceptions about the hardest part of founding an agtech startup.·  The realities of small founding teams,  finding investors, and scaling with limited resources.·  The emotional toll of what happens when your identity is tied to your startup.·  Why the end of a business does not mean the end of the missionUseful Resources:Victorian rural tech entrepreneur Nikki Davey named the 2023 AgriFutures Rural Women's Award National WinnerAre agtech startups just digital agribusinesses? Mark Kahn, Omnivore, Agtech So What?Sustainable Floristry NetworkFor more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.

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• Agtech trends: bundling, unbundling, LLMs and more with Shane Thomas and Matthew Pryor

  ‘Bundling’ is a well-known business strategy, especially in tech, where it’s not only used to increase sales and move slow-selling products, but also to tie customers into an ecosystem (such as Apple or Microsoft).So what about all the unbundling that’s been happening in agtech recently? While historically we’ve seen seed companies offer bundled options, such as seeds, crop management, and data products, there is now a trend towards ‘unbundling’ in agriculture. This is exemplified by Corteva’s recent decision to unbundle its seed and crop protection divisions into two publicly traded companies. Similarly, Farmers Business Network(FBN) has also spun off its global crop solutions business from its digital marketplace. In this episode, Sarah Nolet unpacks the bundling/unbundling dilemma in agtech with Shane Thomas, founder of Upstream Ag Insights and Matthew Pryor, Founding Partner at Tenacious Ventures. They discuss:The strategic impacts of unbundling for companies such as FBN and Corteva, as well as the broader impacts on farmers and markets.The market dynamics that encourage companies to bundle or unbundle.How Large Language Models (LLMs) are being used in agtech, including Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and other AI frameworks.Shane Thomas’ new AskUpstream AI tool.Recent acquisitions in agtech, such as the Growers Edge acquisition of FarmTestUseful Links:What Corteva’s Seed and Chemical Split Could Mean For Your Farm, Successful Farming Growers Edge Acquires FarmTest, Growers EdgeFarmers Business Network the latest to spin off company, following Corteva, Kraft Heinz, AgFunderNewsDTN acquires Grain Discovery, DTNAlphaEarth, Google DeepMindKraft Heinz to split a decade after merger in a bid to revive growth, The GuardianFor more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.

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• Putting cotton farmers at the forefront of the cotton industry, with Marzia Lanfranchi

  The biggest issue facing the cotton industry isn't fast fashion or water consumption. It's that the people growing cotton have been rendered invisible. The industry fixates on fiber quality and commodity pricing while the farmers themselves– and their role in determining sustainability outcomes– get lost.Marzia Lanfranchi, founder of the global community Cotton Diaries, is a strategic consultant working to improve supply chain sustainability in the cotton industry. She argues that cotton is viewed first and foremost as ‘a cheap fiber,’ instead of a commodity that is grown in the field. She has seen that when cotton is treated purely as "a cheap fiber" rather than an agricultural product shaped by farming practices, the entire system suffers, including the sustainability frameworks fashion brands are trying to build.In this episode, we discuss why putting farmers at the center changes everything.Sarah and Marzia discuss:What fashion brands miss or overlook about regenerative agricultureWhy cotton is often perceived as a ‘water thirsty crop’ (and why that is not always the case)How stories are useful ‘tools’ to help people visualize solutions to problemsHow traceability can be built into supply chains to help fashion brands improve sustainabilityUseful Links:Cotton Diaries “Manifesto”VejaLandfill to Farmfill: rethinking cotton waste (podcast)Promises of premiums won’t cut it to scale sustainable agrifood supply chainsFor more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.

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