Episode 1 of 6 – Why do we need AgTech?

The global food system faces serious problems – environmental, social and commercial.  This six-part podcast series seeks to unravel these complex interrelationships asking how we can better align the interests of the environment, farmers, entrepreneurs and investors, allowing new Agtech solutions to address these critical challenges.

In this episode, we explore why new technology is needed in agriculture … and when it is not.  

We ask where and how new technologies will help with some of agriculture’s biggest challenges including: longstanding labour shortages and widespread issues of poor working conditions; why and how the food system makes up 1/3rd of greenhouse gas emissions; biodiversity loss and land use change; and how poor farmer profitability exacerbates the sector’s capacity to respond to these challenges.  

Featured in this Episode 
•	Juliet Ansell, Zespri International
•	Sarah Mock, Author 
•	Brent Loken, WWF
•	Francesco Tubello, FAO
•	Ethan Cleary, Irish Farmers Association

Further Reading 
The following resources are those I found helpful or were recommended by my interviewees 
Books  - available from https://www.betterworldbooks.com
•	The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
•	Hog Wild by Lynn Waltz 
•	Farm and Other F Words by Sarah Mock
•	Freedom Farmers by LaDonna Redmond & Monica M White
•	Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows
•	How to Avoid a Climate Disaster by Bill Gates

Online Reports 
•	Bringing it Down to Earth – Nature Risk and Agriculture https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?2660466/nature-finance-risk-and-agriculture
•	Milked by the Immigrant Dary Farmworkers in New York State 
http://www.iwj.org/resources/milked-immigrant-dairy-farmworkers-in-new-york-state

Epsiode 1 Innovating AgTech - Why Do We Need AgTech?

Episode 2 of 6 - Why do we need Entrepreneurs?

The global food system faces serious problems – environmental, social and commercial.  This six-part podcast series seeks to unravel these complex interrelationships asking how we can better align the interests of the environment, farmers, entrepreneurs and investors, allowing new Agtech solutions to address these critical challenges.

Episode 2 explores the role entrepreneurs play in achieving technological progress.

We ask what entrepreneurs can contribute that existing companies and governments might not, and investigate the networks and resources - the entrepreneurial ecosystem - that helps facilitate entrepreneurs’ success.   The Silicon Valley template of entrepreneurship and its influence is explored, including cautionary tales about how hype surrounding entrepreneurship and technological developments can lead to undesirable consequences.  Finally, we discuss the role of business accelerators and share some pioneering examples of food and agriculture focused support for start-ups. 

Featured in this Episode 
•	Rasmus Hartmann, Copenhagen Business School
•	Juliet Ansell, Zespri International
•	Adrian Percy, North Carolina State University
•	Sarah Nolet, AgThentic & Tenacious Ventures
•	Peter Herz, Food System 6 and 1st Course Capital
•	Pete Nelson, AgLaunch


Further Reading 
The following resources are those I found helpful or were recommended by my interviewees 
Books (available at https://www.betterworldbooks.com):
•	10% Entrepreneur by Patrick McInnes
•	The Third Plate by Dan Barber

Online Resources: 
•	Towards an Untrepreneurial Economy? The Entrepreneurship Industry and the Rise of the Veblenian Entrepreneur by Hartmann, Spice and Krabbe. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3479042
•	Entrepreneurial Strategy by Joshua Ganz and Scott Stern https://www.entrepreneurial-strategy.net/about
•	AgFunder AgriFood Tech Investment report 2021: https://agfunder.com/research/2021-AgFunder-agrifoodtech-investment-report/
•	How Silicon Valley Set Agtech back by a decade
https://blog.agthentic.com/how-silicon-valley-set-agtech-back-a-decade-b9d46e0acf0d
•	Technological change and economics: https://carlotaperez.org

Epsiode 2 Innovating AgTech - Why Do We Need Entrepreneurs In AgTech?

The role of technology, entrepreneurs & investment in Agriculture’s biggest problems.  

This podcast documentary by AgTech expert Hannah Senior asks what role technology plays in agriculture, how entrepreneurship influences innovation, and what it feels like to be part of the current AgTech explosion both as a farmer and as an entrepreneur.  

Exploring how the investment models we use affects the outcomes we see, Hannah  shows why systems thinking is uniquely important in the AgTech ecosystem ... and asks challenging questions about the many things we take for granted.

Easily digestible, wide ranging in scope, and highly thought provoking, Innovating AgTech examines the stories we tell ourselves about making a positive impact, and challenges us to imagine how we can do things even better.

Generously sponsored by the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust.

Epsiode 2 Innovating AgTech - Why Do We Need Entrepreneurs In AgTech?

Innovating AgTech

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