Q What are you most looking forward to in your role? A In the near future, I hope to achieve two things: 1. Developing the best set of metrics on how much harvest labor our members (and the specialty crop industry!) save with the startups we support and work with. 2. To provide partners and stakeholders with startup investment opportunities that deliver high returns.
Left: Lisa and Walt
Below: The Duflock family
(companies getting started, in market and ready for prime time). 3. Sentinel Project: We are in the midst of developing a reference architecture that will help future harvest automation startups develop and scale equipment platforms faster; more specifically, we’re aimed at fundamentally changing the course and speed of the current 5-10 development timeframe at a $250,000 price point, to now building a robot in 3-5 years at a $100,000 or less price point . Q What attracted you to Western Growers? A I was looking to move to either one of two places: an agtech startup to go and build something or Western Growers to help other folks build something. I just returned from back-to-back road trips where I participated in scope meetings with WG members across California and Arizona to learn more about their innovation needs. I can say with 100% conviction that the BIGGEST impact I can have on the ag industry right now is in this role as VP of Innovation. Working for our members and helping startups is what gets me up every morning with no alarm clock ever needed.
Superior protection for organics with OMRI Listed ® IFCO RPCs
Broad product range & best product quality
Optimal product protection
Highest hygiene standards
Fast, stable & efficient cooling
More sustainable in production & use than single-use packing
Organic approved RPC and process
Stephanie Metzinger interviewed Walt Duflock for this profile.
www.ifco.com
JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2021
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