AgTech Visionaries Leading the Future of Agriculture in 2024, May 2024

Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.

Editor’ s Note

Futurists in Agriculture

Agricultureisbeingreformedbyvisionarypioneers,

individuals,andorganizationscommittedto harnessingthepoweroftechnologytoaddressthe challengesfacingourglobalfoodsystem.Theseinnovators arenotmerelyobserversofchangebutarchitectsofafuture wheresustainability,efficiency,andresilienceare paramount.

Fromprecisionagricultureandverticalfarmingtogene editingandblockchaintechnology,visionariesare exploringadiversearrayoftoolsandtechniquesto revolutionizeeveryaspectoffoodproduction,distribution, andconsumption.Butbeyondtechnology,thesevisionaries areguidedbyamoreprofoundethos–acommitmentto socialresponsibility,environmentalstewardship,and

economicequity Theyunderstandthatthefutureof agriculturecannotbedivorcedfrombroaderissuesofsocial justice,climatechange,andeconomicdevelopment.

Byleveragingtechnologytoempowersmallholderfarmers, conservebiodiversity,andpromotesustainablepractices, seersarenotonlydrivinginnovationbutalsofosteringa moreinclusiveandresilientfoodsystemforall.

Aswelookaheadtothechallengesandopportunitiesthat lie,letusdrawinspirationfromthetrailblazerswhoare leadingthewaytowardabrighterfutureforagriculture. ThroughthelatesteditionofAgTechVisionariesLeading theFutureofAgriculturein2024,theirvision,creativity, andperseveranceremindusthatinthefaceofadversity, innovationisnotjustaluxury–itisanecessity

PrestonBannister

C O V E R S T O R Y

Connecting Farmers with Technology:

Kelly

Miller

on Leveraging Innovation for Perpetual Advancements

A r t i c l e s

14

Precision Agriculture

Maximizing Efficiency through Data-Driven Farming

18

Revolutionizing Agriculture

The Role of Technology in Modern Farming

James M.

Max Floyd Simon, Tom Jacob Smile Irvin

Dominique T.

David Stokes

Angela Ruskin

Lusy Jameson

Visionaries Leading the Future of Agriculture in 2024 AgTech

Featuring Institute

AnujMaheshwari ManagingDirector& Head,Agri-Food

DavidBabson ExecutiveDirector

Temasek temasek.com.sg

MassachusettsInstitute ofTechnology web.mit.edu

KellyMiller DirectorofAgTech

CompeerFinancial compeer.com

LaurenMackenzie LeadSustainability ManagerforForests LandandAgriculture

WeitzeOoi ManagingDirector

ColesGroup colescareers.com.au

DoleSunshineCompany dolesunshine.com

Brief

AsaManagingDirectorandHeadofAgri-FoodatTemasek, Anujleadstheglobalinvestmentactivitiesinthisspace,witha focusonenvironmentalsustainabilityandsocietalimpact.

AdvancedResearchProgramDirectorworkingtoaddress globalenergy,agriculture,climate,andenvironmental sustainabilitychallenges.

KellyistheDirectorofCompeerFinancial,amember-owned FarmCreditcooperativeprovidingfinancialproductsand servicestosupportagricultureandruralcommunitiesin Illinois,MinnesotaandWisconsin.

LaurenistheLeadSustainabilityManagerofColesGroup, withaworkforcebeingdiverseincludinggroceriesandliquor retailoperations,online,manufacturing,cleaningandtrolley services,drivers,supplychain,andcommercialandcorporate services.

WeitzeOoiisManagingDirectorofDoleSunshineCompany, deliveringhigh-qualityfreshandpackagedfruitwithpositive impactonpeople,planetandprosperity

KellyMiller Director AgTech

Cover Story

Connecting Farmers with Technology:

Kelly Miller

on Leveraging Innovation for Perpetual Advancements

‘‘

Kelly’s role at Compeer Financial encompasses a range of key responsibilities and day-to-day activities aimed at driving innovation and supporting the adoption of technology within the agricultural sector.

AstheDirectorofAgTechatCompeerFinancial, KellyMillerbringsawealthofexperienceand expertisecultivatedoverheryearsinagricultural lending.Withacareerspanningmultipleroles,including loanofficer,productmanagementleader,andinnovation& strategylead,Kelly'sjourneyhasledhertotheforefrontof agriculturaltechnology

ForKelly,thetransitionfromlendingtoproduct managementsparkedasignificant"ah-ha"moment, revealingthetransformativepotentialoftechnological advancementsforfarmers.Sherecognizesthattechnology offersfarmersandruralcommunitiestheopportunityto enhanceefficiencyandproductivityintheirdailyoperations andbusinessendeavors.

Inhercurrentrole,Kellyisdedicatedtoprovidingdigital financingsolutionstofarmersanddriveinnovationwithin theagricultureindustry.Bypartneringwithagretailersto offerpointofsaleandembeddedfinancing,farmersareable tomakepurchasesandruntheirbusinessesontheirown terms,whetherthey’reintheirfields,makingpurchasesat theirlocalretailerorin-personatoneofCompeer’soffices.

EmpoweringAgTechInnovation

Kelly’sroleatCompeerFinancialencompassesarangeof keyresponsibilitiesandday-to-dayactivitiesaimedat drivinginnovationandsupportingtheadoptionof technologywithintheagriculturalsector.Sheplaysan essentialroleinestablishingandmaintainingrelationships withAgTechpartnercompanies,bothnewandexisting.She collaboratescloselywiththesepartnerstoevaluateand integratecutting-edgetechnologiesthatalignwiththeneeds ofCompeerFinancial’sclients.

WhileleadingtheAgTechProductandSalesTeams,Kelly overseesagroupofprofessionalsresponsiblefor developingandmanagingAgTechproductsandsolutions. Herrolealsoincludesdrivingandsupportingchange managementfordigitallendingadoption,wheresheis activelyinvolvedindrivingchangemanagementeffortsto facilitatetheadoptionofdigitallendingsolutionswithin CompeerFinancialandamongitsclients.

TransformingAgriculture

Kellybelievesthatagricultureisrootedinrelationship selling:lending,inputsales,realestatetransactions,and anythingelsefarmersbuy Thechallengewiththatisthe changemanagementthatisrequiredfortheteamsacrossall

ofthoseindustriestosupportadifferentwayofdoing business.BasedonKelly'sexperience,clientsarereadyto domoreandmorebusinessonline,andtheagriculture industryhastokeepup.

FosteringaCultureofInnovation

Kellysharestheimportanceoffosteringinnovationand collaborationwithinherteamtodrivetechnological advancementsinagriculture.ThiscultureiswhatCompeer isstrivingtowardsasanorganization.Afewkeycultural behaviorsthatKellyemphasizestodrivegrowthin Compeerincludecultivatinghealthyrelationships, innovatingtostayaheadofthemarket,andchampioning changetoevolvetothenextlevel.

Kellyregularlyasksacoupleofverytacticalquestions: "Whathastobetrueforthistohappen?"and"Howmight webeabletogetthisdone?"Additionally,Kellyconsiders, "Ifwestartedover,whatwouldwedodifferently?"Finally, KellyseeksinputfromAgTechpartners,valuingtheir thoughtsandideas.Kellybelievesthatactivelisteningto partnersandclientsiscrucialforlearningandgrowth.

InsightsonNewTrends

Kellyiskeenonemergingtrendsandtechnologiesin AgTech,particularlytheroleofAI,whichshebelieveswill playasignificantroleinagriculturallendinginthelong run.Kellyexpressesamixtureofexcitementand apprehensionregardingthepotentialofAItobetterserve farmers.

Tostayupdated,shefaithfullyreadsafewresourceseach week.TheseincludeShaneThomas'sUpstreamInsights,as wellasinsightfulblogpostsandLinkedInpostsfrommany ofCompeer'spartners.Kellyfindsthesesourcesinvaluable forstayinginformedaboutthelatestdevelopmentsand insightsinAgTech.

BalancingInnovationandPracticality

Kellyrecognizesthedelicatebalancebetweenbothbeing innovativeandpracticalindigitalchannels.Shebelieves thatthemostsuccessfulinstancesintheirdigitalchannels haveoccurredwhentherewasfullbuy-infromthesales team,andtheyeffectivelyconveyedthevalueproposition tothefarmers.Sheunderstandsthatfarmersaremore willingtotrynewwaysofdoingbusinessifitcomes recommendedbyatrustedpartner Thus,Kellyunderscores theongoingimportanceofrelationshipsinthisbusiness,

eveninthecontextofadvancingtechnologyand digitalization.

StrategicPartnershipSelection

AtCompeerFinancial,Kellysharesthattheteamhas developedtheAgTechbusinessunitwithago-to-market strategycenteredaroundpartnershipsandcollaborations. Whenvettingpotentialpartners,Kellyandtheteam consideracoupleofkeyfactors:

Ÿ AlignmentofValues:Theyensurethatthevaluesof bothpartiesalign,asthisiscrucialforasuccessfuland sustainablepartnership.

Ÿ UniqueOfferings:Theyassesswhethereachpotential partnerofferssomethinguniquethatcomplementsthe strengthsofbothparties.Thisensuresthatthe collaborationbringsaddedvaluetoeachother

Ÿ StayinginZoneofExpertise:Kellyhighlightsthe importanceofeachpartnerstayingwithintheir"zoneof expertise."Forexample,CompeerFinancialleverages

Kelly is dedicated to leveraging agricultural technology to empower farmers and drive innovation within the industry.

itsexpertiseinlendingandmakingstrongfinancial decisions,whileallowingotherpartnerstocontribute theirspecializedknowledgeandskillsintheirrespective areas.

MeasuringImpactinAgTech

Kelly understands that farmers are more willing to try new ways of doing business if it comes recommended by a trusted partner.

KellymeasuresthesuccessandimpactofAgTechsolutions implementedthroughvariousmetricsandfeedback channels,including:

Ÿ Adoption:TheAgTechteamassessesthelevelof adoptionofAgTechsolutionsamongfarmersand clients.

Ÿ Learningsfromeachpartner:Thisincludes understandingthechallengesfaced,successesachieved, andopportunitiesforimprovement.

Ÿ LearningsfromClientFeedback:Kellyandherteam activelysolicitfeedbackfromclientsandfarmerswho utilizetheAgTechsolutions.

Throughtrackingadoptionrates,learningfrompartners, andlisteningtoclientfeedback,Kellycaneffectively measurethesuccessandimpactofAgTechsolutions implemented,ultimatelydrivingcontinuousimprovement andinnovationintheagriculturalsector.

GuidingYoungProfessionals

Kellyadvisesyoungprofessionalsaspiringtomakean impactinthefieldofagriculturetechnologytoconsiderthe following:

Ÿ Becuriousandaskquestions

Ÿ Believeinthemissionandleadership

Ÿ Listentofarmers/clients

StrengtheningCollaborationsforAgriculturalProgress

Kellydescribestheevolutionasamovementtowards enablingfarmerstoconductbusinessinthesameseamless mannerastheydointheirconsumerlives.Shebelievesthat

‘‘

Kelly

is keen on emerging trends or technologies in AgTech, particularly the role of AI, which she believes will play a significant role in lending in the long run.

farmersandruralAmericadeserveaccesstoeasyand efficientwaysofconductingbusiness,whichservesasa drivingforcetocontinuepushingprogressandinnovation inagriculturethroughAgTechinitiatives.

Lookingahead,Kellyiscommittedto:

Ÿ Growingpartnerships:Kellyaimstostrengthen partnershipswithlike-mindedorganizationstofoster collaborationanddrivefurtherinnovation.

Ÿ Relentlessimprovementofclientexperience:Kelly prioritizescontinuouslyimprovingtheclientexperience, ensuringthatfarmershaveaccesstothebestservices andtechnologiesavailable.

Ÿ Payingattentiontotrendsandactingonthem:Kelly emphasizestheimportanceofstayingvigilantabout emergingtrendsinagricultureandswiftlyactingupon themtostayaheadofthecurve.

Ÿ Failingquickly,learningandgrowing:Kellyencourages acultureofembracingfailureasameansoflearning andgrowing.Byfailingquickly,shebelievesthat valuablelessonscanbelearned,leadingtofurther progressandinnovation.

Throughthesestrategies,Kellyisdedicatedtodriving positivechangeandadvancementinagriculture,benefiting bothfarmersandruralcommunities.

Maximizing Efficiency through Data-Driven Farming

Intheexpansivecanvasofmodernagriculture,theage-oldadage

"knowledgeispower"ringstruerthaneverbefore.Withtheadvent ofprecisionagriculture,farminghastranscendedtherealmof intuitionandguesswork,embracingadata-drivenapproachthat promisestorevolutionizethewaywecultivatetheland.From optimizinginputsandmaximizingyieldstominimizingenvironmental impact,precisionagriculturerepresentsaparadigmshiftinhowwe harnesstechnologytofeedagrowingglobalpopulationwhile safeguardingtheplanetforfuturegenerations.

TheEssenceofPrecisionAgriculture

Atitscore,precisionagricultureisaboutleveragingdatatomake smarter,moreinformeddecisionsonthefarm.Gonearethedaysof treatingentirefieldswithuniformamountsoffertilizers,pesticides,and water;instead,farmersnowuseacombinationofsensors,drones,GPS technology,andadvancedanalyticstomonitorcropsinrealtimeand tailortheirmanagementpracticestospecificconditions.Byapplying inputsonlywheretheyareneededandintherightamounts,farmers canmaximizeefficiency,minimizewaste,andoptimizeresourceuse, leadingtohigheryields,lowercosts,andareducedenvironmental footprint.

TheEyesandEarsoftheFarm

Centraltothesuccessofprecisionagriculturearesensors–small,lowcostdevicesthatcanmeasureawiderangeofvariables,fromsoil moistureandtemperaturetonutrientlevelsandpestpopulations.By deployingsensorsthroughouttheirfields,farmerscancollectdataon keyagronomicparameterswithunprecedentedgranularityand precision,allowingthemtomonitorcrophealthandperformancein realtime.Armedwiththisknowledge,farmerscanidentifypotential issuesearly,intervenepromptly,andmakeadjustmentstotheir managementpracticesonthefly,ultimatelyleadingtohealthiercrops andhigheryields.

TakingFarmingtoNewHeights

Anothergame-changerinprecisionagricultureistheuseofdrones–unmannedaerialvehiclesequippedwithcamerasandsensorsthatcan

capturehigh-resolutionimagesanddatafromabove.By flyingovertheirfieldsatregularintervals,farmerscan collectvaluableinformationoncrophealth,nutrient deficiencies,irrigationpatterns,andpestinfestations, enablingthemtodetectproblemsearlyandtakecorrective actionbeforetheyescalate.Moreover,dronescancover largeareasquicklyandefficiently,providingfarmerswitha comprehensiveviewoftheiroperationsandhelpingthem makedata-drivendecisionsthatoptimizeyieldsand minimizecosts.

GPSTechnology

Intherealmofprecisionagriculture,GPStechnologyplays acrucialroleinhelpingfarmersnavigatetheirfieldswith precisionandaccuracy.ByintegratingGPSreceiversinto theirtractors,planters,andotherequipment,farmerscan preciselytracktheirmovementsandactivitiesinthefield, ensuringthatinputsareappliedattherighttimeandinthe rightplace.Moreover,GPStechnologyenablesfarmersto createdetailedmapsoftheirfields,identifyingareasof variabilityandoptimizingmanagementpractices accordingly Whetherit'sadjustingplantingdensities, varyingfertilizerrates,orimplementingsite-specificpest controlmeasures,GPStechnologyempowersfarmersto maximizeefficiencyandproductivitywhileminimizing waste.

AdvancedAnalytics

However,perhapsthemosttransformativeaspectof precisionagricultureistheuseofadvancedanalyticstoturn rawdataintoactionableinsights.Byharnessingthepower ofmachinelearning,artificialintelligence,andbigdata analytics,farmerscananalyzevastamountsofdata collectedfromsensors,drones,andothersourcestoidentify patterns,trends,andcorrelationsthatwouldbeimpossible todetectwiththenakedeye.Frompredictingcropyields andoptimizingplantingschedulestoidentifyingemerging pestthreatsandmanagingsupplychainlogistics,advanced analyticsenablesfarmerstomakesmarter,moreinformed decisionsthatdriveproductivityandprofitability.

ChallengesandOpportunities

Despiteitsimmensepromise,precisionagricultureisnot withoutitschallenges.Forsmall-scalefarmersandthosein developingcountries,thecostofinvestmentinhigh-tech equipmentandinfrastructurecanbeprohibitive,creatinga digitaldividethatthreatenstowidenexistingdisparitiesin productivityandincome.Moreover,concernsaboutdata

privacy,cybersecurity,andtheethicalimplicationsofAI loomlarge,raisingquestionsaboutwhoownsandcontrols thevastamountsofdatageneratedbyprecisionagriculture systems.

However,amidstthesechallengeslieimmense opportunitiesforinnovationandcollaboration.From public-privatepartnershipsthatprovideaccesstoaffordable technologyforsmallholderfarmerstointerdisciplinary researchinitiativesthatexploretheethicalandsocial implicationsofAIinagriculture,thereisnoshortageof avenuesforprogress.Byharnessingthepowerof technologyinaresponsibleandinclusivemanner,wecan ensurethatallsharethebenefitsofprecisionagriculture, creatingamoresustainableandequitablefoodsystemfor generationstocome.

Conclusion

Inthegrandtapestryofhumanhistory,agriculturehas alwaysbeenastoryofinnovationandadaptation,of humansharnessingthepowerofnaturetofeedandnourish themselves.Andnow,aswestandonthebrinkofanewera infarming,precisionagricultureoffersusaglimpseofwhat thefuturemayhold–afuturewheredataisthecurrencyof successandtechnologyisthekeytounlockingthefull potentialoftheland.FromsensorsanddronestoGPS technologyandadvancedanalytics,thetoolsatourdisposal arelimitedonlybyourimagination.

Ultimately,thetruemeasureofsuccessinprecision agriculturewillnotbefoundinthebytesofdataorthe whirringofmachinesbutinthelivestouchedandthe communitiestransformedbythesetechnologies.Aswe chartacoursetowardamoresustainableandequitablefood system,letusnotforgetthefundamentalhumanvaluesthat underpinourjourney–empathy,stewardship,anda commitmenttoleavingtheworldabetterplacethanwe foundit.Intheend,thegreatestharvestofallisnotinthe fieldsofcropsbutintheheartsandmindsofthosewhodare todreamofabrighterfutureforall.

The Role of Technology in Modern Farming

IntheheartlandsofruralAmericaandacrosstheverdantfields

ofAsia,asilentrevolutionisunderway–onefuelednotby politicalupheavalorsocialmovementsbutbytherelentless marchoftechnology.Modernfarming,oncesynonymouswith manuallaborandunpredictableyields,isnowbeingtransformed byawaveofinnovationthatpromisestorevolutionizeagriculture asweknowit.Fromprecisionagriculturetoartificialintelligence (AI)androbotics,theroleoftechnologyinmodernfarmingisnot justaboutincreasingefficiency;it'saboutrewritingthevery narrativeoffoodproductionforarapidlychangingworld.

TheRiseofPrecisionAgriculture

Attheforefrontofthisrevolutionisprecisionagriculture,a holisticapproachthatleveragestechnologytooptimizeevery aspectoffarming.Gonearethedaysofblanketapplicationsof fertilizersandpesticides;instead,farmersnowusesensors, drones,andsatelliteimagerytomonitorcropsinrealtime,finetuninginputsbasedonprecisedata.Byapplyingfertilizersonly wheretheyareneededandpreciselytargetingpestsanddiseases, farmerscannotonlyreducecostsbutalsominimize environmentalimpact,leadingtomoresustainablefarming practices.

Precisionagricultureisn'tjustaboutmonitoringcropsfromafar; it'salsoaboutgettingupcloseandpersonalwiththesoil.Soil sensorsembeddedinfieldscanprovideinvaluableinsightsinto soilhealth,moisturelevels,andnutrientcontent,allowingfarmers totailortheirmanagementpracticestomaximizeyieldswhile minimizingerosionandnutrientrunoff.Byharnessingthepower ofdataanalytics,farmerscanmakeinformeddecisionsthat optimizeresourceuseandmitigaterisks,ultimatelyleadingto higherproductivityandprofitability.

ArtificialIntelligence:Farming'sNewBrain

However,perhapsthemosttransformativeaspectoftechnologyin modernfarmingistheintegrationofartificialintelligence(AI). Poweredbyvastamountsofdatacollectedfromsensors,drones, andothersources,AIalgorithmscananalyzecomplexdatasets andextractactionableinsightsfasterandmoreaccuratelythan

everbefore.Frompredictingcropyieldsandidentifying pestinfestationstooptimizingplantingschedulesand predictingweatherpatterns,AIisrevolutionizingdecisionmakingonthefarm.

OneofthemostexcitingapplicationsofAIinagricultureis intherealmofpredictiveanalytics.Byanalyzinghistorical dataonweatherpatterns,soilconditions,croprotations,and pestoutbreaks,AIalgorithmscanforecastfuturetrends withremarkableaccuracy.Armedwiththisknowledge, farmerscanproactivelyadapttheirstrategiestomitigate risksandcapitalizeonopportunities,whetherit'sadjusting plantingdatestoavoiddroughtsordeployingpestcontrol measuresbeforeaninfestationtakeshold.

TheFutureofFarmLabor

Anotherareawheretechnologyisreshapingagricultureis intherealmofrobotics.Withlaborshortagesplaguing farmsaroundtheworld,robotsaresteppingintofillthe gap,performingtasksthatwereoncetheexclusivedomain ofhumanhands.Fromautonomoustractorsandharvesters toroboticweedersandfruitpickers,thesemachinesare revolutionizingthewaycropsareplanted,tended,and harvested,increasingefficiencyandreducingrelianceon manuallabor.

Butroboticsinagricultureisn'tjustaboutreplacing humans;it'salsoaboutaugmentingtheircapabilities. Collaborativerobots,orcobots,workalongsidehuman workers,takingonrepetitiveorphysicallydemandingtasks andfreeinguptheirhumancounterpartstofocusonmore skilledorstrategicactivities.Bycombiningthestrengthand precisionofrobotswiththeingenuityandadaptabilityof humans,farmscanachievenewlevelsofproductivityand competitivenessinanincreasinglychallengingmarket.

ChallengesandOpportunities

Ofcourse,thewidespreadadoptionoftechnologyin agricultureisnotwithoutitschallenges.Forsmall-scale farmersandthoseindevelopingcountries,thecostof investmentinhigh-techequipmentandinfrastructurecanbe prohibitive,creatingadigitaldividethatthreatenstowiden existingdisparitiesinproductivityandincome.Moreover, concernsaboutdataprivacy,cybersecurity,andtheethical implicationsofAIloomlarge,raisingquestionsaboutwho ownsandcontrolsthevastamountsofdatageneratedby precisionagriculturesystems.

However,amidstthesechallengeslieimmense opportunitiesforinnovationandcollaboration.From public-privatepartnershipsthatprovideaccesstoaffordable technologyforsmallholderfarmerstointerdisciplinary researchinitiativesthatexploretheethicalandsocial implicationsofAIinagriculture,thereisnoshortageof avenuesforprogress.Byharnessingthepowerof technologyinaresponsibleandinclusivemanner,wecan ensurethatallthebenefitsoftheagriculturalrevolutionare shared,creatingamoresustainableandequitablefood systemforgenerationstocome.

Conclusion

Inthegrandtapestryofhumanhistory,agriculturehas alwaysbeenthecornerstoneofcivilization,providing sustenance,livelihoods,andculturalidentityto communitiesaroundtheworld.Andnow,aswestandon thecuspofanewerainfarming,theroleoftechnology loomslarge,promisingtousherinafutureofabundance, resilience,andinnovation.Fromprecisionagricultureand artificialintelligencetoroboticsandbeyond,thetoolsatour disposalarelimitedonlybyourimagination.

Ultimately,thetruemeasureofprogressinagriculturewill notbefoundinthebytesofdataorthewhirringof machinesbutinthelivestouchedandthecommunities transformedbythesetechnologies.Aswechartacourse towardamoresustainableandequitablefoodsystem,letus notforgetthefundamentalhumanvaluesthatunderpinour journey–empathy,stewardship,andacommitmentto leavingtheworldabetterplacethanwefoundit.Intheend, thegreatestrevolutionofallisnotinthefieldsof technologybutintheheartsandmindsofthosewhodareto dreamofabrighterfutureforall.

Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful, and most noble employment of man.