Oh how the mighty in AgTech have...sort of taken a nap
3/28/2024: My 46th Newsletter Edition now called Ag Uncensored (formerly Easy Observations)
Opening Thoughts:
A day later than planned, but then again you aren’t paying for my quips quite yet so it is what it is. Anyway, well after a little travel to the Mecca of AgTech as some might call it for the World AgriTech conference in San Fran last week I have to say it was and great, odd, interesting, and fun time all at once.
Some probably were there to just be there, some to learn, some to connect, and some to find money. All of the above… I went I guess to do all of the above in some form or fashion. I also want to find a way to express what I saw, learned, and even felt.
The wise Shane Thomas put a single word in the jar for what he experienced. That was Survival. I surely get that sentiment and while I agree to a point I feel it’s a broader and a more boring problem in AgTech.
My take…Ag is sort of taking a nap right now in AgTech…
Let me Explain:
Don’t get me wrong now, not everyone is starting to sleep or are asleep. I mean robots don’t sleep I guess and they seem pretty active in terms of the groups making them so there is that.
What I’m trying to say is much of the excitement has started to bore people into that type of feeling you get after you eat a good meatloaf or as me and my wife call it…sleeploaf. Maybe for you its turkey or a good steak.
Either way…think of the meatloaf as money. While it was delicious and gave a you little bit of ooommff it’s now put you in a sleep comma. That is where I feel we are in AgTech, a money enticed investment comma.
It makes sense when you think about it. You could use another analogy. The Ag industry has become drunk with money and sure for good reason to a point as we just were having some fun. Those eyes are getting tired, the body has become weak, and now we are stumbling towards bed. There is a problem though.
It sometimes is hard to get home and safe. Some of us decided to drive. Some of those are still going though in an unsafe way. Some got caught and are in legal trouble, some worse as they are no longer here. Others are just passing out or finding someones couch to lay down on and crash for a bit. Many are just stumbling home, though wondering the streets till they find their way.
All in all we are tired, are passing out, and ready to nap for a bit. Pretty straight forwards right?
In Closing:
I’m keeping this short right now as my 2 year old is crying for me. I hope he does just what AgTech is doing right now in my thoughts…trying to fall a sleep and rest a bit. Ugh
The funny and also unfortunate thing with my 2 year old as I write this is he’s trying to turn on the light and throwing things at the door to try to get my attention. Much like AgTech startups and others are trying to do with investors right now.
So what do you do? What do you do with a tired and crying startup? Well, I think the industry is doing just what I’m doing now and letting it wear down a little a wait to see what happens. That is until there is a very warranted need to come in a try and help the situation.
Don’t worry, I’m going to help him. I’m not a bad dad, just a real one trying to balance life….and as I wrote that he’s now in my lap while he hopefully falls back asleep in my arms.
Maybe that’s where we are going. A tantrum leading up to sleep in dad’s arms. Of course then they wake up crazy as ever and that’s ok. AgTech needs a nap, it needs to rest. Regardless of why (food, booze, toddlerdom, etc…) it’s a normal and good thing.
Morning update: Yup, kids up at the ass crack of dawn running around like wild animals! AgTech will do the same soon enough after this hangover.
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Aww:) As a parent of a six year old, I deeply empathize with what you are saying both in parent and in agritech context. . Yes, we are in a weird time right now globally. But I am slowly signs of recovery, alteast in this part of the world where newer funds are showing up, newer players are showing up.