Opening Thoughts:
It’s still early in this new journey via this podcast and switch, but slowly and surely just like anything else. Here with my 2nd interview episode I talk with Rob Saik who has been around AgTech and Precision Ag for quite sometime. He’s started, run, and sold a few well known companies in the industry and has worked with at some point pretty much everyone around in Ag.
There isn’t many around anymore that have been in the game this long and that are still going at it strong in the AgTech world. While we get into a few stories here and there, mostly we just dive into the things going on right now and how and where that can go around Technology in Ag.
It was a fun talk and I think you’ll enjoy the whole things. Enjoy!
Here is a Summary:
In this episode, I interviews Robert Saik CEO and founder of AgvisorPro and former CEO of DOT (acquired by Raven Technologies, now CNH) and founder of AgriTrend (acquired by Trimble, now AGCO) about the adoption of agricultural technology and the challenges faced by farmers. We discuss the slow adoption rates of AgTech and the complexity of the technology. We also explore the potential of precision agriculture and the impact of acquisitions in the industry.
The conversation touches on the role of biologicals in agriculture and the future of input companies. We conclude by discussing the need for alignment between agriculture and consumers to ensure a sustainable and transparent food supply.
The conversation covers various topics related to agriculture, technology, and consumer behavior. It explores the control of narrative by agri-food companies, the perception of blueberries by consumers, and the impact of the sustainability index on consumer choices.
The discussion also delves into the role of livestock in regenerative agriculture and the misconceptions surrounding greenhouse gas emissions. The concept of augmented intelligence in agriculture is explored, as well as the importance of broadband connectivity in rural areas.
The conversation concludes with a reflection on the potential shift of agricultural production to other countries and the need for sustainable practices to leave a better earth for future generations.
Takeaways
The adoption of agricultural technology has been slow, with many farmers hesitant to embrace new tools and systems.
Interoperability challenges and the complexity of ag tech have hindered widespread adoption.
Simplifying ag tech and making it more user-friendly is crucial to increasing adoption rates.
The potential of precision agriculture is vast, but there are still barriers to overcome, such as cost and ease of use.
The rise of biologicals in agriculture presents new opportunities for sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.
There is a need for alignment between agriculture and consumers to ensure a transparent and sustainable food supply.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:16 Adoption of Ag Tech
06:23 Interoperability Challenges
10:27 Simplifying Ag Tech for Farmers
14:24 The Potential of Precision Agriculture
18:10 Acquisitions and the Future of Automation
22:20 The Hesitance to Adopt Ag Tech
25:21 The Importance of Cost Savings
28:17 The Role of Biologicals in Agriculture
32:52 The Future of Input Companies
35:06 The Rise of Biologicals
39:08 Consumer Perception and Alignment
41:56 Controlling the Narrative in Agri-Food Companies
43:14 Consumer Perception of Blueberries
44:16 The Sustainability Index and Consumer Behavior
45:26 Consumer Choices and Perception of Food
46:27 Regenerative Agriculture and Livestock
47:17 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Livestock
48:13 The Biogenic Cycle of Methane
49:54 Cultured Meat and Factory Farming
52:09 Augmented Intelligence in Agriculture
57:12 The Importance of Broadband Connectivity in Agriculture
58:22 The Impact of Technology on Agricultural Investment
01:05:05 The Potential Shift of Agricultural Production to Other Countries
01:07:19 The Shift in Metrics for AgTech Startups
01:10:07 Leaving More Earth for Future Generations
01:11:36 The Future of Agriculture and the Changing World
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/robsaik/
Apple Podcast -
Closing Thoughts:
Not much to add here though I do want to mention something that I’m sure many are thinking of. While much of this newsletter is going to showcase my podcast, I’m planning on still adding some general thoughts from time to time along with my fun memes. It’s what the people want.
Probably look for those midweek I’m thinking and mostly they’ll come as something comes up in my head. Seems par for the course.
Also, I’m playing around with a little daily video post that I take after I drop my kids off at school and daycare while walking my dogs. AgTech Dogwalk I’m calling it for now so look for those as well on my YouTube channel. Basically it’ll be random daily thoughts that come up with a short take on it all. Here is my first one from last week…
All in all, thanks for reading, listening, and watching.
Remember to subscribe, like, share, and check out more at www.AgUncensored.com or through Youtube, Linkedln, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with the handle @AgUncensored.