AgTechx Events Sparking Technology-Led Disruption in Farming Regions
By Stephanie Metzinger I t is no secret that automation, big data and blockchain are disrupting traditional farming models. What may be unclear, however, is how this digitization of ag can be relevant to the specific crops you grow or how new technologies can be used to solve problems faced in the regions you farm. Last year, Western Growers launched AgTechx to bring technology to farmers in an effort to address issues in their own backyards. The first AgTechx premiered in the Imperial Valley on February 8, where nearly 200 farmers, researchers, technologists and agtech startups participated in R&D tours, fireside chats and panel discussions to dissect the labor and water issues in the desert region and discuss specific technologies being invented to help solve those challenges. Since then, AgTechx has traveled to Reedley, CA, to highlight progress around robotics and automation; to Coalinga, CA, to cultivate discussion on improving connectivity on the farm; and to Delano, CA, to delve into new technology that can aid the implementation of California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and minimum wage increase. To date, AgTechx events have educated more than 650 people. In 2018, AgTechx was comprised of three portions: • R&D Tours: Exclusive morning field tours where start-up companies and research and development specialists from tech giants such as Microsoft and Yamaha visited with Western Growers members to learn, first hand, what problems farmers are facing and what types of technologies can be developed to relieve those difficulties. • Junior AgSharks: Local junior high, high school and
community college students acted as “AgSharks” for the afternoon, where they heard pitches from start-up companies and teamed with venture capitalists to judge the startups and select a winner. • Education Session: In-depth panels and fireside chats about cutting-edge technologies and regional growing issues took place, encouraging discussion on how to bring forth new innovations that can address farmers’ most pressing concerns. A networking component was also built in, where start-up companies housed in the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology (WGCIT) provided 90-second pitches about their invention and attendees could later touch base with any desired startup during the exhibition showcase. This year’s AgTechx plans to bring much more. “We are going to focus on becoming more outcome- orientated,” said Dennis Donohue, lead of the WGCIT. “With that in mind, we are going to continue to collaborate and reflect the changes that are going on in the agtech world itself, but we are now going to plant more strategic flags to find solutions for our members as quickly as possible.” AgTechx events in 2019 will focus on bridging the information gap between Silicon Valley and rural America. New strategic initiatives such as building an “AgTechx Community” to foster future collaboration and discussion, as well as hosting stand- alone R&D days will play a significant role in identifying which technologies are most beneficial in key production areas. For example, a stand-alone AgTechx R&D day would entail a group of engineers visiting vineyards in the Central Valley to work with farmers to see what their automation needs are and discuss what features in a machine can be built to resolve those needs. “In a world that is becoming increasingly technical, there is a going to be a massive amount of information coming at our members in an accelerated speed. AgTechx is going to distill and translate that information and bring it directly to growers in their backyard,” said Donohue. Expect to see changes in the next AgTechx, which will be held in Sacramento at Bayer on February 7, 2019. In addition to enhancements to AgTechx, WG plans to integrate the “outcome-orientated” focus throughout all technology initiatives this coming year: • Grower Trial Network: A Grower Trial Network will be introduced this year, where a select group of WG members will be trialing and evaluating innovations coming out of the WGCIT. Members will be providing feedback to the start-ups, so entrepreneurs can fine tune their product and bring it from
AgTechx Coalinga
18 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2019
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