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N o t e N o t e
Inaworldincreasinglyshapedbyinnovationandclimateurgency,agriculturestands
atthecrossroadsoftraditionandtransformation.ThiseditionofInsightsSuccess titled, The 10 Most Visionary AgTech Leaders Transforming the Future of Agriculture in 2025,isacelebrationofthepioneerswhoarereimagininghowwegrow, distribute,andsustainfoodforgenerationstocome.
FromAI-poweredprecisionfarmingtobiologicallydrivensoilregenerationanddronebasedcropanalytics,AgTechhasmovedfarbeyondincrementalchangeit’srewriting theveryDNAoftheindustry.Buttechnologyaloneisn’twhatmakesthistransformation remarkable.It’sthevision,resilience,andpurposeoftheleadersbehindit.
Inthisissue,wespotlighttentrailblazerswhoarenotjustsolvingtoday’sagricultural challengesthey’reanticipatingtomorrow Thesearetheinnovatorswhoseeopportunity whereothersseelimitations,andwhobalancecutting-edgesciencewithadeeprespect forthelandanditsstewards.Theirworkspanscontinentsandclimates,buttheysharea commonbelief:thatsustainable,equitablefoodsystemsarenotonlypossible,but inevitablewiththerightleadership.
Asyouturnthesepages,you’llencounterstoriesofdisruption,collaboration,andbold ambition.Theseleadersremindusthatthefutureofagricultureisn’tconfinedtofields andfarms,it’sbeingshapedinlabs,boardrooms,andacrossdigitalnetworks.
Wehopethiseditioninspiresnewconversationsandarenewedcommitmentto nurturinginnovationattherootsofourglobalfoodecosystem.
Happy Reading!
C O V E R S T O R Y
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A R T I C L E S
From Field Data to Farming Decisions
How to Embrace the Future of Precision Agriculture?
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From Research to Results
How to Implement Smart Farming Solu ons Effec vely?
C O N T E N T S
AndreasNeuman
Founder&CEO
BrandonFish
ChiefExecutive Officer
HunterSwisher
Founder&CEO
JoshuaAuerbach
Founder&CEO
KevinMcDoneld
ChiefExecutive Officer
RoryAronson
ChiefExecutive Officer
SharonCittone
Founder&CEO
TimBaloian
ChiefExecutive Officer
TomAdams
ChiefExecutive Officer
VincentHarkiewicz
Founder&CEO
Brief CompanyName
UAV-IQPrecision Agriculture uaviq.com
SwiftHarvest swiftharvest.net Phospholution.Inc phospholutions.com
AmericanSorghum americansorghum.com
NeuponicsAIInc neuponicsai.com
FarmBotInc farm.bot
EdiblePlanetVentures edibleplanetventures.com BaloianFarms baloianfarms.com
RoryheadsFarmBotInc,pioneeringopen-source,automated farmingrobotsforsustainableandpreciseagriculture.
BrandondirectsSwiftHarvest,anagtechfirmfocusedon digitaltraceabilityandadvancedanalyticsforefficientcrop production.
HunterisatthehelmofPhospholutions,Inc,innovating phosphorusmanagementtoenhancecropyieldwhilereducing environmentalimpact.
JoshualeadsAmericanSorghum,promotingsustainablegrain productionandexpandingtheuseofsorghumasaclimatesmartcrop.
KevinleadsNeuponicsAIInc,acompanyleveragingAIand advanceddatasystemstooptimizehydroponicagriculture.
RoryheadsFarmBotInc,pioneeringopen-source,automated farmingrobotsforsustainableandpreciseagriculture.
SharonisthevisionarybehindEdiblePlanetVentures,aglobal platformsupportinginnovationandsustainabilityinthefood ecosystem.
TimoverseesBaloianFarms,afourth-generationfamily-run farmproducinganddistributingfreshvegetablesacrossthe U.S.
Pairwise pairwise.com
Grownetics.Inc grownetics.com
TomdrivesinnovationatPairwise,abiotechcompanyusing geneeditingtodevelophealthierandmoresustainablefruits andvegetables.
VincentsteersGrownetics,Inc,integratingautomationanddata sciencetomaximizeefficiencyincontrolled-environment agriculture.
KevinMcDoneld ChiefExecutiveOfficer
Inc.
C O V E R S T O R Y
Theagriculturesectorisbeingtransformedonadeep
levelbyartificialintelligence,automation,and sustainability Withtheworldgrapplingwith increasingchallenges—climatechange,resourceshortages, andfoodsupplytofeedanexpandingpopulation—AgTech leadersareredesigninghowfoodisgrown,distributed,and consumed.Here,innovationisnotachoice;itisamatterof survivalandadvancement.Arenownedleaderinthe AgTechindustryisKevinMcDoneld,theChiefExecutive Officer(CEO)ofNeuponicsAIInc.Heisleadingthe companytowardsafutureexponentialdigital transformation.
Foundations:
Kevin’spathtobecomingCEOofNeuponicsAIInc.is foundedonalife-longinterestintechnologyandproblemsolving.Withastrongacademicrecordinmechanical engineeringandcomputerscience,Kevinrapidly establishedhimselfasaninnovativethinker.Earlyinhis career,heheldpositionsatNASA,NorthrupGrumman,and FluorCorporation,wherehewasexposedtoadvanced technologyandcomplex,multidisciplinaryprojects.These earlyexperiencesrefinedhistechnicalskillsandinstilledin himanunstoppabledeterminationtomeetchallengesheadon.“These experiences instilled in me a passion for innovation and a drive to tackle challenges head-on.”says Kevin.
HistechnicalproficiencywasfurtherattestedtobyatopsecretNASAclearanceandasetofprofessional certifications,whichhighlightedhisdedicationto excellenceandongoinglearning.
AsKevin'scareerevolved,heassumedincreasingly powerfulpositions,suchasleadinginnovationasaGE contractorandservinginleadershiprolesatworldgiants likeNobleCorporation.Theseexperiencesenabledhimto honehisstrategicvision,leadcross-functionalteams,and solvehigh-stakesproblems.Mostnotably,Kevin spearheadedeffortsthatsavedmorethan$200millionin downtime,reflectinghiscapacityforhandlingcomplexity andproducingconcreteoutcomes.
Heshares,“These roles not only developed my capacity to handle complexity but also stoked my entrepreneurial drive.”
Hisleadershipwascharacterizedbyacombinationof technicalcompetence,strategicvision,andanaptitudefor motivatingteamstowardhighlyambitiousobjectives. Everyaccomplishmentstrengthenedhisconvictionthat innovation,tenacity,andflexibilityarethepillarsof enduringinfluence.
Kevin'sentrepreneurialdriveculminatedinthe establishmentofNeuponicsAIInc.,anAgTechstartupwith anambitiousvision:totransformagricultureusingAIdrivensolutionsandhigh-techaeroponicstechnology Leveragingdecadesofexperienceandpartnershipwith aeroponicsvisionaries—includingindividualswith backgroundssupportedbyNASAfunding—Kevinaimedto overcomethelongstandinglimitationsofverticalfarming andconventionalagriculture.
Kevinspearheadedthecreationofthepatent-pending NeuponicssystematNeuponicsAI,arevolutionary innovationthatintegratesartificialintelligence,predictive analytics,andnewfarmingmethods.Thesystemis intendedtoaddressglobalfoodsecurityissueswhile minimizingresourceusageandenvironmentalfootprint.
OneofthekeyareasKevin’sinnovationshavefocusedon iseliminatingtheexcessivecapitalandoperationalcosts (CapExandOpEx)andlownutritionalvaluethattendto afflictverticalfarming.NeuponicsAItechnologyeliminates theseissuesby:
• Avoidingtheuseofexternalwatersupply
• Consuming95%lesswaterthanconventionalfarming practices
• Runningcompletelyoff-gridandsolarpowered
• Growingawidevarietyofcrops
ThesequalitiespositiontheNeuponicssystemasthe groundbreakingshiftforsustainablefarmingthatmakes highreturnspossible,eveninenvironmentslowin resources.
“Our technology uses 95% less water than traditional methods, does not use an external source of water supply, eradicates the pain points of vertical farming, is run completely off the grid, and powered solely through the sun.”expressesKevin.
AI-PoweredPredictiveAnalytics
AttheheartofNeuponicsAI’sinnovationistheintegration ofAI-drivenpredictivesystems.Thesetoolsoptimize operations,anticipatechallenges,andenabledata-driven decision-making,ensuringthateveryaspectofthe cultivationprocessisbothefficientandresilient.
Kevinshares,“Our patent-pending Neuponics system exemplifies this philosophy by integrating cutting-edge AI, advanced aeroponics, and off-grid capabilities to revolutionize agriculture.”
LeadershipPhilosophy:Innovation,Agility,and Collaboration
Kevin'sleadershipatNeuponicsAIischaracterizedbyan unwaveringcommitmenttoinnovation,adaptability,and lifelonglearning.Heplacestheutmostimportanceon remainingabreastofindustrytrends,utilizingproprietary AIsolutions,anddevelopinganadaptiveculture.This forward-thinkingmindsetpreparesteamstocounter economicfluctuations,technologicalchanges,and
geopoliticaldevelopmentswithconfidence.
Kevinstates,“Keeping ahead of the curve in an increasingly fast-paced global business world demands an unwavering focus on innovation, adaptability, and lifelong learning.”
Collaborationandstrategicforesightformthecruxofhis thoughtprocess.Byinteractingwiththeleadersinindustry, observinginnovativetechnologiesonthehorizon,and synchronizingaimswithenvironmentallyconscious practices,KevinkeepsNeuponicsAIabreastofovercoming foodscarcityandresourcedeficiency.
Kevinisoftheopinionthatinnovationthrivesinaculture thatharmonizesboldexperimentationwithstrategicrisk management.AtNeuponicsAI,headvocatesforopen communication,cross-functionalcollaboration,andthe applicationofcontemporarytoolssuchasMSTeamsand proprietaryAI-basedmaintenancesystems.
Thisculturenotonlydrawsthebestandbrightest,butalso givesemployeestheabilitytogivetheirbest,tofuel innovationandoperationalexcellence.Employee-focused initiativesandasharedpurposeguaranteehighlevelsof engagementandloyaltythroughouttheorganization.
Allleadershavetheirturningpointsthatprovetheirmettle. ForKevin,oneofthosemomentscamewhenheoversaw mechanicalengineeringatNobleCorporation.Charged withredesigningadangerouswastecollectionsystemon drillingrigs,hewaschallengedbythecostoftheinitial investment.Holdingfasttohisanalysisandvision,Kevin providedasolutionthateliminated70%ofhazardouswaste andsaved83%ondisposalexpenses.
“This success not only confirmed my confidence and creativity but also highlighted the value of resilience and data-driven decision-making in adversity ”sharesKevin.
Thistaleistypicalofhisstyle:faithindata,dedicationto long-termvalue,andthewillingnesstoseekoutradical solutions.
TechnologyistheenginebehindNeuponicsAI’sgrowth strategy.Byembracingdigitaltransformationanddatadrivendecision-making,Kevinensuresthatthecompany remainscompetitiveintherapidlyevolvingAgTech landscape.TheNeuponicssystem’sintegrationofAI, predictiveanalytics,andadvancedaeroponicsoptimizes resourceallocation,enhancescropyields,andminimizes downtime.
Kevinshares,“Embracing technological advancements enables us to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving AgTech landscape.”
OngoingoptimizationoftheAI-drivenplatformandrealtimeinsightsfromdataprovideunparalleledvalueto customersandstakeholders,makingNeuponicsAIamarket leader
Kevin'svisiongoesbeyondtechnologyinnovation.He believesincreatingmeaningfulchange,empowering communities,andestablishingnewstandardsfor sustainableagriculture.Heseekstodebunkmythsthat restrictthespaceofverticalfarmingandpromotesscalable, profitable,andsustainablesolutionstobesuccessfulinany setting.
Movingforward,Kevinpredictsanumberofrevolutionary trendscharacterizingtheupcomingdecade.Ecotechnologieswillcontinuedeveloping,withtheemergence ofadvancementssuchasair-to-watertechnologyandsolar operationbecomingthemainstreamwayofresolving resourceshortage.
Kevinemphasizestheimportanceofglobalcollaboration, investmentininnovation,andprioritizingresource efficiencytoaddressfoodsecurityandclimate vulnerabilities.NeuponicsAI’ssolutionsaredesignedto
feedpopulationssustainably,withreducedcapitaland operationalexpenditures,andwithoutrelianceonexternal waterorpower
ArobustorganizationalcultureisKevin'scorestrengthof leadership.Hehasbuiltanopen,energeticwork environmentfocusedonrespectforoneanother,open communication,andindividualgrowth.Aligningthe organization'spurposewithsense-makingworkinspires employeestowardachievingexcellenceanddeliveringa positiveoutcome.
“Our vision of tackling world food security challenges and minimizing our impact on the planet motivates our employees to harmonize personal values with company objectives.”saysKevin.
Thishumantouch—emphasizingpurpose,teamwork,and continuouslearning—drivesNeuponicsAI’ssuccessand positionsitasabeaconofinnovationinAgTech.
Kevin'stransformationfromengineertovisionaryCEOisa testamenttothestrengthofinnovation,grit,andpurposeful leadership.WithNeuponicsAI,hehasredefinedwhatis achievableinagriculture,creatingtechnologiesthat consume95%lesswater,areoff-grid,andempower communitiesacrosstheglobe.Hisunflinchingcommitment todata-drivendecision-making,strategicvision,and human-focusedleadershiphasputNeuponicsAIatthe forefrontoftheAgTechrevolution.
Asthesectorkeepsgrowing,Kevin’svisionand perseverancewillcontinuetobeaguidingspirit,motivating otherstoacceptchanges,investininnovation,andwork togethertowardsresolvingtheworld'sbiggestissues.
Kevin’slegacyisoneofrevolutionaryinfluence—on farming,oncommunities,andonthedestinyofourplanet.
Precisionfarmingisnotafad;itisthefutureof productive,sustainableagriculture.Withthe growingpopulationaroundtheworldandclimate changeyieldingincreasinglymorepressure,theneedfor moreintelligent,productivetypesofagriculturehasnever beengreater.Precisionagricultureleveragesdata, technology,andsciencetooptimizecropyields,reduce waste,anddirectresourceswithexactprecision.Adjusting tothisfutureinvolvesacclimatingtonewtoolsandreemphasizingtheoldermethodsoffarminginordertostay competitiveaswellasgreen.Realizingthepathto successfulimplementationofprecisionagriculturerequires aquantumleapintothetechnologiesavailable,thedatadrivendecision-makingprocesses,andtheassociated changeinmindset.
Amongthemajorpillarsofprecisionagricultureisthe applicationofsophisticatedgadgetssuchasGPSdevices, IoTsensors,drones,andsatelliteimaging.Thesetools providefarmerswithreal-timeinsightsintosoilconditions, crophealth,moisture,etc.Inopeningupthepotentialfor workingwithfieldsonasite-specificbasis,technology helpstodelivertherightamountofwater,fertilizer,and pesticidestoexactlywhereandwhentheyareneeded,and therebyreducewastageandincreaseyield.
Shiftingtowardsatechnology-basedagriculturalsector meansinvestmentinequipment,ofcourse,butalsotraining andsupportinfrastructure.Therehastobesomebaselevel oftrainingwhichfarmersacquiretounderstandthe functioningofthesedevicesaswellashowonecanread andusethedatageneratedbythem.Governments,
educationalinstitutions,andbusinessenterpriseshaveto cometogethertoprovidebalancedresources,funds,and trainingprogramstoenabletransition.
Dataanalysisisattheheartofprecisionagriculture's efficiency.Bylong-termdatacollectionandanalysis, farmerscanidentifytrendsandmakeanticipatorydecisions. Forexample,predictiveanalyticscanforecastdiseases breakingoutthroughweatherpatternsandtrendhistoryto allowforanticipatoryactioninordertosalvageentire crops.
Butdataaccessisuselessiffarmerscannotdoanything withdataotherthantoacceptitpassively.Thatinvolves friendlysoftwareplatformswhichwilltakeunprocessed dataandprocessitintoactionableadvicethatfarmerscan interpret.Thoseplatformswillneedtobecompatiblewith theliteracylevelsandskillsofdifferentfarming communities,sothebenefitsofdatafarmingdonotgoto largefarmingonly
Precisionagricultureissustainableinitself.Itallowsfor optimalutilizationofnaturalresourcesbypreventingwater andfertilizerfrombeingusedexceptwheretheyaremost necessary Thissavesthesurroundingecosystem, minimizesrunoff,andgenerallybenefitstheenvironment forthebetter.Byreducingtheapplicationofdrizzle chemicals,farmerscanalsocutthecarbonfootprintoftheir farms.
Forsustainabilitytotakeholdinameaningfulway,farmers mustbeencouragedtowardlong-termecologicalthinking. Thatentailsadoptingcroprotation,covercrops,and regenerativetechniquesalongsidehigh-techmethods.Allof thesetakentogetherwillrestoresoilqualityanddiversity, renderingagriculturemoreclimate-resistant.
Thefutureofprecisionagricultureisasmuchintechnology asitisintechnicianswhooperateit.Asagriculture becomesincreasinglycomputerized,thereexistsaneedfor individualswithagriculturalandtechnicalbackgrounds. Therehastobeeducationalreformintheformofthe inclusionofagri-techcoursesinvocationaltrainingschools andcolleges.
Tobeachievedareinclusivityanddiversity.Inorderfor thistobeso,trainingprogramsmustbeextendedto smallholderfarmersandruralcommunitiesthatmaynotbe inapositiontoaccessformaleducation.Mobiletraining units,e-learningplatforms,andcommunitytraining workshopscanbeusedtobridgethegap,andprecision agriculturecanbemadeaccessibletofarmersfromall levelsofsocietyandutilized.
Governmentsneedtobeintheforefronttofacilitate adoptionofprecisionagriculture.Thepolicyinterventions needtobeupdatedtoallowinnovation,providesubsidiesor taxcreditsontakinguptechnology,andfacilitatefair accesstodigitalinfrastructure.Thisincludesexpanding ruralbroadbandinternet,whichisaprerequisiteformost technologiesofprecisionfarmingtobeuseful.
Apartfrompolicy,therealsoneedstobecooperation betweentheparties.Public-privatepartnershipsmayspeed upinnovation,whilefarmercooperativesandagribusiness networksmayofferaccesstocostlymachineryanddata analyticsservices.Withacollaborativeecosystem,allthe stakeholdersalongtheagriculturalvaluechaincanenjoy andshareinthetransformation.
Precisionagricultureisaboldmovetowardsthefuture directionoffoodgrowing,governance,andharvesting.It's notjustashadowofhigheryieldsandincome,butapathto higherenvironmentalstewardshipandfoodsafety.Farmers, policymakers,educators,andtechnologyprovidersmust unitetobridgethegap,developskillsets,andembracean innovationmindsetinordertostaketheirclaiminthe future.Astheworldcommunityisfacedwithcomplex agriculturalissues,precisionagriculturepresentsavisionof asmarterandmorecapableagriculturalfuture.
Theagriculturalsectorisundergoingaprofound
transformationdrivenbysmartfarmingsolutions. Theseinnovations,whichencompasstechnologies suchasInternetofThings(IoT)devices,artificial intelligence,precisionmachinery,anddataanalytics, promisetoboostproductivity,optimizeresourceuse,and promotesustainability.However,thesuccessfuladoptionof thesetoolsrequiresmorethansimplypurchasingthelatest equipment.Itcallsforastrategicapproachthataligns technologywithfarm-specificneeds,incorporatesadequate training,andensuresseamlessintegrationwithinexisting operations.Smartfarmingsolutionsofferthepotentialto revolutionizehowfoodisproduced,makingagriculture moreefficientandenvironmentallyfriendly.
This article highlights how farmers and agricultural stakeholders can effectively implement smart farming solutions to reap their full benefits.
Theinitialsteptowardeffectivesmartfarming implementationinvolvesathoroughassessmentofthe farm’suniquerequirements.Everyagriculturaloperation facesdifferentchallenges—whetherrelatedtosoilhealth, irrigationefficiency,pestcontrol,oryield predictability—andidentifyingthesepainpointsisessential toselectingrelevanttechnologies.Withoutthisclarity, farmsriskinvestinginsolutionsthatdonotalignwiththeir goalsorprovidemeasurablevalue.Equallyimportantis evaluatingthefarm’sinfrastructure,suchasinternet connectivityandexistingmachinerycompatibility,which arecriticalforthesmoothoperationofmanysmartfarming tools.
Inadditiontoinfrastructure,understandingthescaleand typeofcropsorlivestockmanagedonthefarmguidesthe customizationoftechnologydeployment.Forexample, sensornetworkssuitedforlarge-scalegrainproductionmay differfromthosedesignedforhorticultureordairyfarming. Bytailoringtechnologychoicestooperationalspecifics, farmerscanmaximizeefficiencyandavoidunnecessary complexity.Thisfoundationpavesthewayforsmoother adoptionandintegrationofsmartsolutions.
Technologyalonecannotdrivesuccessfuloutcomeswithout thepeoplewhooperateitbeingadequatelyprepared. Implementingsmartfarmingsolutionsnecessitates comprehensivetrainingforfarmoperatorsandstakeholders todevelopproficiencyinusingnewdevicesand interpretingtheirdataoutputs.Workshops,demonstrations, andongoingeducationprogramsensureusersunderstand notonlyhowtooperatethetechnologybutalsohowto applyinsightstodecision-makingprocesses.This investmentinhumancapitalfostersconfidenceand encouragesproactiveengagementwithnewsystems.
Moreover,fosteringacultureofcontinuouslearningand adaptationisvitalastechnologiesevolverapidly.Farmers shouldremainopentoupgradingtheirskillsandupdating theirpracticesbasedonemergingtrendsandinnovations. Collaborationswithagritechexperts,researchinstitutions, andextensionservicescanprovidevaluableguidanceand troubleshootingsupport.Thisknowledge-sharingecosystem helpsmaintainsystemperformanceandunlocksthefull potentialofsmartfarming.
Centraltothevalueofsmartfarmingistheabilitytocollect andanalyzelargevolumesofdatafromdiversesources, includingsoilmoisturesensors,weatherstations,drones, andautomatedmachinery.Establishingrobustdata managementsystemsthatconsolidateandinterpretthis informationiscriticalforturningrawdataintoactionable insights.Centralizedplatformsenablefarmerstomonitor conditionsinrealtime,identifypatterns,andpredict outcomes,facilitatingpreciseinterventionssuchastargeted irrigationorpestcontrol.
Interoperabilitybetweendifferentsmartdevicesand softwaresystemsenhancesthiscapabilitybyallowing seamlesscommunicationandcoordinatedactionsacross
technologies.Farmsoftenuseequipmentfrommultiple vendors,makingcompatibilityapotentialchallenge. Adoptingopenstandardsandensuringsystemscan exchangeinformationsmoothlypreventoperationalsilos andenablescalable,efficientfarmmanagement.This integrationcreatesacohesivetechnologyecosystemthat supportsautomationandoptimizesresourceuse.
Collaborationplaysasignificantroleintheeffective deploymentofsmartfarmingsolutions.Partneringwith technologyproviders,agriculturaladvisors,andlocal farmingcommunitiescreatesasupportnetworkthat facilitatesknowledgeexchange,troubleshooting,and innovation.Technologyvendorswhooffercomprehensive customerserviceandtechnicalassistancecanhelpfarms navigatechallengesandoptimizesystemuse.Meanwhile, engagementwithlocalextensionservicesorcooperative groupsencouragesthespreadofbestpracticesand collectivelearning.
Suchpartnershipsalsoprovideopportunitiesforpilot programs,feedbackcollection,andco-developmentof solutionstailoredtospecificregionaloroperational contexts.Bynurturingtheserelationships,farmerscan benefitfromongoingsupportandadapttheirstrategiesas newtechnologiesemerge.Thiscollaborativeenvironment strengthenstheoverallagriculturalecosystemand acceleratestheadoptionofsmartfarming.
Implementingsmartfarmingsolutionseffectivelyrequiresa thoughtful,multi-dimensionalapproachthatencompasses needsassessment,skillsdevelopment,dataintegration,cost management,security,andpartnerships.Farmsthattakethe timetoplanstrategicallyandbuildcapabilitiesalongside technologyadoptionpositionthemselvestomaximize productivity,reduceenvironmentalimpact,andenhance profitability.Asagriculturalchallengesgrowincreasingly complex,smartfarmingoffersatransformativepath forward—onethatdemandscarefulexecutiontounlockits fullpromise.Embracingtheseinnovationswithintention andpreparationwillbekeytosecuringsustainablefood productionforthefuture.
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