Agtech - So What?

The Authenticity Premium in AgTech Marketing with Camille Grade from Bushel and Travis Martin from Magnetic Ag

23 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

AgTech companies make promises to investors to grow fast and be quick to iterate or change direction. But they also make promises to customers who thi...

Win-Win Business Models for Farmers and Startups with Marissa Cuevas Flores of MicroTERRA

09 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Balancing the desire to do good with the need to build a business that can scale is a challenge for every entrepreneur. Particularly in agriculture, f...

Genetics, biosecurity, and the cutest sheep in the world with Dr Belinda Cardinal, Caprotek

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Managing the genetic quality of a herd can be a wicked challenge for Australian farmers. We’re a country with a small number of animals relative to ...

The Tricky Business of Scaling Soil Tech - Adam Litle, CEO, Sound Agriculture

12 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The science and technology of soil is rapidly evolving, but translating it into a scalable business that can offer viable products to farmers has long...

FROM THE VAULT: Mark Ferguson on science, sheep, and the tech-enabled future of genetics

22 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Originally released: 20 February, 2020We’ll be back with new episodes in January 2022, but for the holidays we thought we’d bring back a favorite ...

What's the role of government in agtech ecosystems? Salvatore Lavallo, Abu Dhabi Investment Office

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s fair to say most entrepreneurs (and farmers!) aren’t big fans of government rules and regulations for fear of being slowed down by red tape a...

Bonus Ep: Later-Stage Agtech Startup Wrap, feat. Anastasia Volkova, Regrow

08 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Where are all the women founders in agtech, especially at later-stage startups? What does an acquisition really feel like, and when does it make sense...

Later-Stage Agtech Startup Lessons #3 - Charles Baron, Farmers Business Network

01 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Farmers Business Network is one of the most well-funded startups in agtech. Just recently, they announced a $300M Series G round, bringing their total...

Later-Stage Agtech Startup Lessons #2 - Paul Lightfoot, BrightFarms

17 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

“When you say, ‘can I have your money?’ Then, people speak the truth.”Paul Lightfoot is a serial entrepreneur who has learned several lessons ...

Later-Stage Agtech Startup Lessons #1 - Michael Gilbert, Semios

03 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this 3-part series, we’ll share the lessons from agtech startup founders who have grown their agtech companies from idea to at least 100 employee...

Bonus: Investing in tech to enable regen ag

28 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Venture investment into technology companies that have the potential to scale regenerative agriculture is accelerating. However, it is a relatively ne...

Why You Should Give a F*ck About Farming - Gabrielle Chan

20 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Does the average citizen actually need to care about how their food is produced? This is the central question Australian author and journalist, Gabrie...

Farmers and Startups: Lessons and Tips for Collaborating

06 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The divide between farmers and startups can seem like a chasm. Tech culture and agriculture have evolved from completely different backgrounds, and ev...

Bonus: The Economics of Valuing Natural Capital - Ken Henry, former Treasury Secretary of Australia

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Ken Henry became well-known in Australia for his bold economic reforms as the Treasury Secretary throughout the 2000s. His approach to conservatio...

100th Episode Special: our most popular guests on soil carbon, regen ag, and the future of agtech

22 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For our 100th episode (hooray!), we’ve brought back some of our most popular guests to check in on what’s changed in their businesses and in agtec...

Getting Off the Commodities Treadmill - Loran Steinlage

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Loran Steinlage has been labeled a ‘regenerative’ farmer and branded a conservationist, yet as a farmer in Iowa, in many ways he’s far from the ...

Designing Crops to Change the Plant-Based Food System - Matt Crisp, Benson Hill

25 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Benson Hill is designing crops and ingredients for some of the world’s most popular plant-based food brands. But the company has no intention of bec...

Bonus Episode: Did Silicon Valley Kill Agtech?

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Silicon Valley model for innovation has worked famously for many software based companies, such as Facebook and PayPal. However, when it comes to ...

Carbon neutrality and tackling misinformation in red meat - Jason Strong, Meat and Livestock Australia

11 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Red meat is increasingly seen as the “bad guy” when it comes to climate change. Undoubtedly, animal agriculture has an impact on the environment, ...

Is the Future of Farming Hands-Free?

28 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For some, the concept of hands-free farming is terrifying; for others, the prospect is game-changing and exciting. But, is fully autonomous farming re...

Biologicals and chemistry: finding ways to commercialize the science

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Just because something can be done, doesn’t mean it should be. In agtech, this is a reminder that no matter how cutting edge the science or technolo...

BONUS EP: Capitalism for Good, feat. David Lee from AppHarvest and Impossible Foods

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Can capitalism be a force for good? David Lee left the traditional corporate world to work for some of the most bullish startup companies in agrifood ...

Biologicals: snake oil or science, and how do we know?

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Farmers are under pressure to shift toward lower chemical intensity production. Biologicals are touted as one possible solution, promising natural, ch...

What's caused the farmer protests in India and what does it mean for innovation in Ag?

16 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Agriculture in India has been thrust onto the international stage as the world watched and celebrities tweeted about the tens of thousands of farmers ...

Bonus Episode: The five forces shaping the future of food and ag, with Sarah Nolet

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’d all like to be able to predict what the next big technological disruption or trend will be. But while we can't exactly do that, we can look at ...

Sustainable Supply Chains: eliminating waste and unlocking business opportunities

02 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Agrifood value chains are known for their efficiencies: they’ve been optimized to grow, process, and deliver massive amounts of safe food all over t...

Lean Farming - Jana Hocken brings Toyota's famous operating model to agriculture

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jana Hocken is a dairy farmer and “lean farming” consultant. After an international career in engineering and lean manufacturing at Toyota, Jana m...

New Zealand's Dairy Pollution Problem - how an urgent issue is driving innovation

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nitrate leaching in New Zealand, largely driven by the rapid expansion of dairy, has left waterways so polluted that some are unsafe to swim in. But t...

Bringing the public with you... lessons in social license and plant genetics, with Vonnie Estes

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Vonnie Estes has been at the forefront of genetics in agriculture for 30 years. She’s witnessed the public backlash over GMO crops in the 1990s, as ...

What's the incentive? Drivers and barriers to turning soil carbon into a commodity

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Experts and tech companies alike are claiming that soil carbon payments hold huge potential as a new revenue stream for farmers and a weapon against c...

The agtech adoption dilemma: Irrigation

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We have the technology to measure and improve water efficiency on farms, yet adoption remains low- why is this?This episode explores our hypothesis in...

The promises and pitfalls of making livestock sustainable

10 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Livestock, and especially cows, get a bad rap when it comes to climate change. But is this fair? There’s no doubt that cows emit methane; however, s...

Can a small non-profit farm near NYC change the food system?

24 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture has a lofty mission: to change the food system. It’s an idyllic 400 acre farming property just north...

Busting food and farming myths - Rob Paarlberg on a scientific approach to food policy

10 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In a world where food and farming are highly polarized issues, Rob Paarlberg’s approach is to follow the evidence. This has earned him great respect...

How can big companies like Coca-Cola impact the sustainability of our food system?

27 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There’s always going to be some skepticism about the motives of ‘Big Food’ companies. But, for reasons such as risk management, consumer pressur...

What it's REALLY like to work in an agtech startup

13 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re looking at a career in agtech, chances are you’re going to spend time working with startups. But what’s it like to work IN an agtech s...

Breaking into agtech when you're not from a farm and "don't look the part"

16 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How do you get a career in agriculture or agtech, when you’re not from a farming background? In this episode, we meet four women who’ve become agt...

Scaling up Soil Carbon Markets - feat. guests from Cargill, Nori and more!

02 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The race is on globally to scale carbon markets, where farmers can sell the carbon they sequester in their soil to buyers who want to offset emissions...

Farming eggs the startup way - Sarah Sivyer on continuous improvement and customer intimacy

18 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Sivyer had multiple roles in the corporate world before she decided to start farming eggs. She grew up on a farm, but was completely new to chic...

Changing human behavior - how Matt Crozier introduced technology to a 200 year old sheep station

04 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Cavan Station might have well-known owners today (the Murdoch family), but the large property in southern New South Wales has long held a place in Aus...

From defense to disruption, how companies are approaching sustainability in the food system, with Mary Shelman

21 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mary Shelman is an internationally recognized agribusiness consultant and speaker, and the former Director of Harvard Business School’s Agribusiness...

"Not a cheerleader, not the enemy", journalist Sarah Mock on making windows in the walls around agriculture

07 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Mock isn’t afraid of having tough conversations and shining light on thorny issues in the agriculture industry. A journalist with experience i...

Regen Ag Series #5: Our Verdict

23 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Regen Ag Series #5: Our Verdict, with Sarah Nolet and Matthew Pryor from AgThentic and Tenacious VenturesIn this final wrap up episode of our regenera...

Regen Ag Series #4: Greenwashing or Good Business? Live debate.

09 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The gloves are off as our expert panelists debate whether regenerative agriculture can improve farming businesses… or if it’s all hype.Host Sarah ...

Supplying sustainable beef to McDonalds with Nicole-Johnson-Hoffman of OSI Group

26 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Is it possible for large food corporations like McDonald’s to “scale for good?” Nicole Johnson-Hoffman is in charge of supplying beef to McDonal...

Regen Ag Series #3: Why major food companies are supporting regen ag with Jay Watson of General Mills

12 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When a company commits to regenerative agriculture practices - it can be accused of ‘greenwashing’ - making people believe it’s doing more to he...

Regen Ag Series #2: Sam Trethewey on applying startup business model insights to produce carbon positive beef

29 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sam Trethewey believes ‘regenerative agriculture’ is not a dirty word - but simply the future of farming. Astonishingly, he produces wagyu beef in...

Regen Ag Series #1: Mark Wootton on carbon-neutral farming at Jigsaw Farms

15 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Wootton is well-known in the Australian agriculture industry as a pioneer in carbon-neutral farming. In 2011, Jigsaw Farms, his family property i...

Ep 70: Karmen Mehmen on growing a family farm through 40 years of change

01 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Karmen Mehmen is a corn and soybean farmer in Iowa alongside her husband Stan and their son Kyle and daughter-in-law Kerri. Their farm, MBS Family Far...

Ep 69: Renée Anderson "Cotton Farm Girl" on social media and social license

17 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Renée Anderson is a farmer in Emerald, Queensland, Nuffield Scholar, agronomist, and overall champion for the cotton industry. In this episode, she s...

Ep 68: David Carter on becoming the world's only carbon neutral fishing company

03 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

David Carter is the CEO of Austral Fisheries, one of Australia’s largest integrated commercial fishing companies. Austral Fisheries is notable for b...

Ep 67: tips from three leading farmers using tech everyday (live from evokeAG)

20 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This episode, live from the 2020 evokeAG conference in Melbourne, features three innovative Aussie producers: Brad “Jonesy” Jones; Sue “Chilla”...

Ep 66: Jim Chambers (Trimble) and Derek Norman (Bayer) on agtech acquisitions

06 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode is all about corporate investments and acquisitions in agtech. Two guests, Derek Norman (VP at Leaps by Bayer) and Jim Chambers (Pre...

Episode 65: The Alternative Protein Debate: live from Australia's first virtual, national agtech meetup

22 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Coming to you live from Australia's first national, virtual AgTech Meetup, this episode explores what alternative proteins are, how big they'll become...

Ep 64 Pete Nelson on partnering with growers to build better agtech

08 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week Sarah is joined by a guest host, Cass Mao, Principal Advisor at AgThentic, to chat with Pete Nelson of AgLaunch about how growers and agtech...

Ep63 Evan Fraser on 3 barriers to agtech adoption and impacts of COVID-19 on agriculture

25 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Evan Fraser is a food systems innovation expert, the Director of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph in Canada, and the Founder of F...

Ep 62 Allison Kopf on indoor ag business models and women in agtech (rebroadcast)

18 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We hear all the time that we need to "feed the world" and that "agtech can help" But what role will indoor farming play? How do th...

BONUS Episode: Live panel from evokeAG 2020 featuring global agrifood tech experts

11 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

evokeAG, Asia Pacific's largest agrifood tech event, brought together 1300 innovators earlier in February this year in Melbourne, Australia. The jam-p...

Ep61 Alisdair Tulloch on the first-mover advantages of going carbon neutral

04 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Agriculture is often vilified for its environmental impact. But what if agriculture could be carbon neutral? Is that even possible? And what would it ...

Ep 60 Mark Ferguson on science, sheep, and the tech-enabled future of genetics

19 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mark “Ferg” Ferguson is a sheep geneticist who’s paying attention to how both consumer demands and emerging technologies are impacting growers. ...

Ep 59: Mic Fels on startup buzzwords and where the real value is in agtech

05 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mic Fels is someone I’ve wanted to speak with ever since I read an article he wrote about how his agtech is really making him money.Mic not only cro...

Ep 58: Fiona Aveyard on drought, dust storms, and value-adding

22 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Agtech is about more than the technologies. It's about new business models in agriculture,and of course the innovators driving changes along the value...

Ep 57 Fee Turner and Lee Coleman on being farmers and agtech founders

07 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Fee Turner (Bitwise Agronomy) and Lee Coleman (FarmSimple) are both farmers as well as founders of agtech startups. They, along with six other farmer-...

Stuart Austin on the tools for regenerative agriculture

18 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Stuart Austin is a regenerative farmer and self-proclaimed early adopter of technology. In this episode we cover everything from how Stuart got involv...

Meet two of the farmer-led startups in the Farmers2Founders Bootcamp

04 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Ashlea Miles and David Ricardo are Australian farmers and founders of agtech startups Training Paddock and Farm Service Manager. They, along with six ...

Aidan Connolly on facial recognition for cows

20 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Aidan Connolly is the CEO of Cainthus, and agtech startup using cameras and machine learning to help farmers make better decisions. Before that, Aidan...

(Live Panel) What does it take for researchers & startups to collaborate in agtech?

06 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Coming to you live from the AgTech Meetup in Sydney, this panel explores what it takes for startups and researchers to collaborate successfully in agr...

Murray Scholz on the GMO and Sheep Controversies

23 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Murray Scholz farms with his wife Emma in Southern NSW and the Eastern Riverina on the foothills of the snowy mountains. They grow wheat, canola, lupi...

Victor Friedberg on Systems Investing and Transition from Commodity to Identity

09 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s guest, Victor Friedberg is the co-founder of S2G ventures, a Chicago-based firm that has backed companies across the ag and food industries ...

Tim Hammerich on Careers in AgTech

25 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Tim Hammerich, who grew up on a hobby farm in Northern California selling pigs, goats and ducks, is the Founder of AgGrad and the host of the Future o...

Ep 49: Rachel Hay on the role of women in agtech adoption

11 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Dr. Rachel Hay, social scientist at James Cook University and boutique pig farmer, shares insights from her PhD on the role of women in agt...

Ep 48: Peter Thompson (responding to climate risk)

21 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode is the 4th in the theme Responding to Climate Risk, brought to you in partnership with the Australian Farm Institute. Check out epis...

Episode 47: Live Q&A with Dan Harburg of IndigoAg

07 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode is a live recording from the Sydney AgTech meetup. Our guest is Dan Harburg, senior director at Indigo Ag. IndigoAg is one of agtech...

Ep. 46 - Ben Krasnostein (responding to climate risk)

23 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we hear from Ben Krasnostein, co-founder and managing director of Kilara Capital, a company that helps facilitate investment opportuni...

E45 Andrew Whitlock (Theme: getting agtech ready)

11 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we hear from Andrew Whitlock, a farmer and precision agriculture consultant. Andrew has worked with many farmers over the years, both ...

Ep 44: Karin Stark and Jon Elder (responding to climate risk)

24 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Cotton farmers Jon Elder and Karin Stark have looked to technology (and their neighbors) for innovation to help them respond to climate risk. The 500 ...

Episode 43: Jess and Matt Fealy (Theme: getting agtech ready)

11 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Which countries are best prepared for agtech? And what can farmers do to get started today?In this episode we hear from a farming couple, Jess and Mat...

Episode 42: Anika Molesworth (Theme: responding to climate risk)

30 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Anika Molesworth is a passionate advocate for sustainable farming and climate change action. She can be heard on stage and in classrooms in Australia ...

Episode 41: Lachlan Sutton, Southern Cross Farms (Theme: getting agtech ready)

14 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Lachlan Sutton, Agribusiness Manager for Southern Cross Farms, has been involved with agriculture for his whole life. He was born and bred on his fami...

Episode 40: Tim Rethus (Theme: Getting AgTech Ready)

30 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Tim Rethus and his family are cropping farmers near Horsham in Victoria who have made a commitment to “sustainable, low cost farming”. As early ad...

Episode 39: An Update from AgTech - So What

08 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah here with a quick update on what's new and coming soon at AgTech - So What!

Episode 38: Angus Street, AuctionsPlus

26 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Angus Street - CEO, Auctions Plus This week AgTech So What? Comes to you live from the Sydney AgTech Meetup. Sarah Nolet hosts a conversation with Au...

Episode 37: Anthony Rudd, I-AG

18 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week's conversation is with Leeton, NSW based managing director of I-AG Pty Ltd Anthony Rudd. Anthony Rudd has a unique insight into the inte...

Episode 36: The Digital Ag Collective

14 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Digital Ag Collective with Kelly Pearce and Tanya Kilminster from the West Australian wheatbelt. This podcast conversation is about the develop...

Episode 35: EvokeAG Special 2. Live Panel - Faster, Smarter Farms

09 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

EvokeAG LIVE Special! In this Episode of AgTech So What we take you to a panel Sarah hosted at the recent Agrifutures EvokeAG Event. Get ready for eve...

Episode 34: EvokeAG Special. Live Panel - Alternative Farming

03 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week we come to you live from EvokeAG. EvokeAG is an exciting event showcasing the best of the best hosted by Agrifutures. Sarah Nolet hosts th...

Episode 33: Matt Roesner

25 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

  Matt Roesner is the technical director for his family's machinery business Roesner Pty Ltd. based in Harvey, Western Australia has been in existenc...

Episode 32: Jennifer Medway

28 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Medway, Sheep farmer, Gunning NSW Manager for research and innovation with AgriFutures Australia. Jennifer Medway is a 5th generation far...

Episode 31: Viv And Margaret

22 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Viv McCollum and Margaret Ayre We're trying something new on the podcast today - a joint conversation with two admirable women in the Ag Tech space...

Episode 30: Rob Sharkey, The Shark Farmer

13 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Rob Sharkey describes himself as a farmer, podcaster and an outfitter. He's a grain farmer from Illinois in the Unites States and has morphed into so...

Episode 29: Will MacSmith

06 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

  Will MacSmith is a farmer from Manildra in Central West New South Wales. Will and his business partner Hamish are trying to develop a system to rea...

Episode 28: Mark Mortimer

17 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As a child Mark Mortimer didn't like computers. It's a different story now - Mark has evolved to become an early adopter of technology in the field o...

Episode 27: Carl Lippert - FeedX

10 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Carl Lippert is a American dairy farmer and AgTech developer. He's one of the only people I know who has qualifications in dairy science and comput...

Episode 26: Chris McLoughlin - Mycelia Organics

04 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Chris McLoughlin, organic mushroom farmer, Mycelia Organics Chris McLoughlin's forae into farming is a great example of a new generation of investor...

Season Two Teaser

04 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

More Soon

27 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Just a quick note to say we will be back soon with more great episodes and amazing guests

Episode 25 : Dr Jaci Brown : On The Weather And Researchers Working With Agtech Startups.

18 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Jaci Brown is a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO, and an expert in weather and climate science.

Episode 24- Brooke Sauer On Closing The Gap Between Growers, Agronomists And Technology

06 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Brooke Sauer is on a mission to close the gap between growers, agronomists, and technologies. Brooke is a digital agriculture manager at McGregor Goul...

Episode 23 - Allison Kopf On Redefining What It Means To Farm

30 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 23 - Allison Kopf on redefining what it means to farm

Episode 22 - Kevin Heikes With Perspectives On Agtech From Over 20 Years In The Space

23 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Kevin Heikes was part of agtech before it was agtech. He's been involved in four different agtech startups, including his latest venture, In10t. In th...