Interview with Michael Ott

4/23/2024: 9th Episode of my Ag Uncensored Podcast

Apr 23, 2024

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Opening Thoughts:

I had to do this one sort of last minute as I was sick most of the week last week, but Micheal was fortunate to help me out and had some time to help fill in a spot as I had to cancel someone else I had scheduled. All good though as Michael has had some great experiences within the AgTech world and is also doing so cool things that I think could do a lot of good towards tech advancement in Ag.

This one is a little different too as it for one I made it under an hour in time so you’re welcome. We could’ve gone longer though, but also trying to be a little more mindful of the time.

We get more in depth to what Michael has and is involved with from the drone and carbon space, but there is plenty generalities we highlight as well. Either way, it should be a good listen into those worlds and where things are headed. Hopefully you enjoy!

Here is a Summary:

In this episode of Ag Uncensored, I interview Michael Ott, CEO of Cquesta and former CEO and founder of Rantizo. We discuss the use of drones in agriculture, specifically in the area of spraying crops. Michael shares his experience in the ag tech industry and how he got into drones and spraying. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities in the drone spraying market. Later in the conversation, we delve into Cquesta, a company that uses gene editing technology to modify root architecture in crops, allowing them to tolerate stress and store carbon underground. We discuss the potential of this technology in carbon sequestration and its integration into the existing agricultural system. In this conversation, Michael Ott and I discuss various topics related to agriculture technology and innovation. We touch on the importance of having principles in decision-making, the need for smart and targeted solutions in ag tech, and the challenges and opportunities in the industry. We also discuss the role of data in agriculture, the value of partnerships and collaborations, and the future of ag tech. Overall, the conversation highlights the need for innovative solutions that address specific challenges in agriculture and the potential for technology to drive positive change.

Takeaways

Drones are becoming more common in agriculture, particularly in the area of spraying crops.
The reliability of drones and the ability to spray in specific areas have contributed to their increased adoption.
Cquesta uses gene editing technology to modify root architecture in crops, allowing them to tolerate stress and store carbon underground.
Cquesta aims to integrate their technology into the existing agricultural system, working with seed companies and farmers to provide a no-cost solution for carbon sequestration.
The measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) system can be used to quantify the carbon sequestration benefits of various technologies, including gene editing and microbial applications. Having principles in decision-making is important, especially in the ever-changing landscape of agriculture.
Smart and targeted solutions are needed in ag tech to address specific challenges and optimize outcomes.
Data plays a crucial role in agriculture, and leveraging it effectively can lead to better decision-making and improved outcomes.
Partnerships and collaborations are valuable in the ag tech industry, as they can bring together different expertise and resources to drive innovation.
The future of ag tech holds great potential for solving complex problems and creating positive change in the industry.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

07:45 The Potential of Drone Application

24:04 The Future of Sequestra and Carbon Sequestration

31:37 Introduction and Laughter

39:22 The Value of Partnerships and Collaborations

58:44 End

Watch and Listen:

Here are the links below to listen and view the podcast and/or scroll down to read the summary and watch it here!

www.AgUnsenored.com - All podcast links here to subscribe to.

Ag Uncensored YouTube channel - A link to this specific episode and my page

Podbean - https://aguncensored.podbean.com/e/michaelott/

Spotify -

Apple - Click the underlined link if the below widget doesn’t open (seems like it only doesn’t work in some email systems)

Closing Thoughts:

As typical, if you got to this point you maybe just skimmed over everything and will listen or watch as you want. Let’s hope you do!

One thing I will add though is I know sending these podcasts out through this newsletter is probably not what many originally signed up for as you subscribed for the random AgTech content and fun memes. I’m trying to get back to some writing from time to time, but it’s been easier to do that on Linkedln personally. I just need to jump back in in a simpler shorter way maybe. Be patient…

Other than that, thanks for keeping on and a lot more fun things to come!