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Now displaying: November, 2018

Future of Agriculture 129: Utilizing Technology to Reinvent Local Produce Supply Chains with Irving Fain of Bowery Farming 0

Nov 28, 2018

Irving Fain is the CEO & Co-Founder of Bowery Farming, a company that seeks to innovate indoor and urban farming through sustainable methods without the need for pesticides. He is a seasoned entrepreneur who is passionate about expanding access to quality produce. Before he became the CEO of Bowery Farming, Irving began his career assisting early-stage companies and startups in raising capital as an investment banker.

Irving joins me today to discuss how he and his company plan to improve indoor farming. He explains the many benefits to indoor farming and what separates them from other companies. He discusses some of the projects they’re running and will run in the near future and shares why they decided to focus on indoor farming. He also explains the technologies they use to reinvent and innovate the local produce supply chain.

“The best way to generate positive impact is tying that to an economically viable business model." -Irving Fain

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

What Bowery Farming is and why they focused on indoor farming.
The technologies that allowed the innovations they developed.
What Bowery Farming looks like today.
Why they prioritize being in the commercial farming business.
Managing pests and diseases without the use of pesticides.
The most exciting aspect of their business.

Key Takeaways:

In building businesses, focus matters a lot. Being focused is a critical component in being successful.
With the current systems we have, not only can we know what's happening with the crop, but also what we expect to see from it.

Connect with Irving Fain:

2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30

Help us celebrate the top 30 future leaders of agriculture! Nominate your favorite up-and-coming, future executives, innovators, and influencers in the following agriculture categories:

Agribusiness
Production Agriculture
Research & Technology
Entrepreneurship
Education & Advocacy

Nominations for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list are now open and are scheduled to close Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 11:59 PM. Self-nominations are accepted.

Winners will be announced March 2019.

To learn more about the eligibility requirements, announcement date and location, and to nominate for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list, visit: 30Under30.ag

We Are a Part of a Bigger Family!

The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today.

Share the Ag-Love!

Thanks for joining us on the Future of Agriculture Podcast – your spot for valuable information, content, and interviews with industry leaders throughout the agricultural space! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest feedback. Don’t forget to share it with your friends on your favorite social media spots!

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting:

Future of Agriculture Website

AgGrad Website

AgGrad on Twitter
AgGrad on Facebook
AgGrad on LinkedIn
AgGrad on Instagram

Download this Episode

Future of Agriculture 128: Building Soil Health for Future Generations with Israel Morales Sr of JV Farms Organic 0

Nov 21, 2018

Israel Morales Sr. is JV Farms Organic’s lead grower, carrying with him over forty years of farming experience. JV Farms Organic is committed to growing organic crops in an innovative and eco-friendly manner. Israel has extensive experience in not just knowing what produce matches the type of soil you have, but also the various factors involved in soil health. From types of plants and soil varieties to the very insects thriving within the soil itself, Israel’s wisdom regarding organic farming only serves to impress his younger peers.

Israel joins me today to impart his wisdom regarding soil health. He shares the story of he and his family came to California and how he met his partner and started JV Farms Organic. He describes what the farm was like before they developed techniques to improve the soil and what it looks like today. Israel also explains how their farm solved the pest issue without the use of pesticides.

“Your footprints are the best fertilizer. Walk the field." - Israel Morales

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

How Israel came to settle in California.
The kind of produce he grows on his farm.
How they made the soil capable of growing a variety of plants.
The challenges he faced in improving soil health and removing weeds.
The best lesson he's learned in his 40 years of being a farmer.
When he plans on retiring and what he'll do afterward.

Key Takeaways:

In maintaining soil health, it's all in the balance of minerals.

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Israel Morales:

JV Farms Organic

2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30

Help us celebrate the top 30 future leaders of agriculture! Nominate your favorite up-and-coming, future executives, innovators, and influencers in the following agriculture categories:

Agribusiness
Production Agriculture
Research & Technology
Entrepreneurship
Education & Advocacy

Nominations for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list are now open and are scheduled to close Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 11:59 PM. Self-nominations are accepted.

Winners will be announced March 2019.

To learn more about the eligibility requirements, announcement date and location, and to nominate for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list, visit: 30Under30.ag

We Are a Part of a Bigger Family!

The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today.

Share the Ag-Love!

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting:

Future of Agriculture Website

AgGrad Website

AgGrad on Twitter
AgGrad on Facebook
AgGrad on LinkedIn
AgGrad on Instagram

Download this Episode

Future of Agriculture 127: Expanding the Global AgTech Ecosystem with Connie Bowen of The Yield Lab 0

Nov 14, 2018

Connie Bowen is the Principal and Program Manager of The Yield Lab as well as the Principal of Cultivation Capital. The Yield Lab is an accelerator program for entrepreneurs in the agriculture industry. The program’s mission is to enable agribusinesses to revolutionize agrifood systems and promote sustainability through educational resources and support.

Connie joins me today to share The Yield Lab’s mission and how they help entrepreneurs build sustainable agribusinesses through their accelerator program. She discusses how technology is impacting the agriculture industry, how the company utilizes agtech to promote global expansion, and how the company is revolutionizing the accelerator model. She also shares what startup agribusinesses can expect by applying and participating in The Yield Lab’s programs as well as her perspective on the state of technology in the agriculture industry.

“Our global network is an asset for companies - so we can help them to expand at a rate that is appropriate for them.” - Connie Bowen

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

What inspired her to build a career in the agriculture industry.
How she began working with The Yield Lab.
How the company is revolutionizing the way accelerators are meeting the needs of agtech and agribusinesses.
How The Yield Lab defines agtech.
What agribusinesses can expect when applying and working with the accelerator program.
Why the company decided to expand into multiple countries.
Which countries are their accelerator programs currently available?
How The Yield Lab customizes their programs to meet the needs of their portfolio companies.
The various programs available through the program.
Her perspective on the state of agtech.

Key Takeaways:

It is very difficult to expand into a new foreign country, but it is necessary for companies to scale.
There is a need for more people to look at ag as a very serious opportunity for innovation.
Ag technology, right now, is such a collaborative space.

Connect with Connie Bowen:

The Yield Lab

2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30

Help us celebrate the top 30 future leaders of agriculture! Nominate your favorite up-and-coming, future executives, innovators, and influencers in the following agriculture categories:

Agribusiness
Production Agriculture
Research & Technology
Entrepreneurship
Education & Advocacy

Nominations for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list are now open and are scheduled to close Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 11:59 PM. Self-nominations are accepted.

Winners will be announced March 2019.

To learn more about the eligibility requirements, announcement date and location, and to nominate for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list, visit: 30Under30.ag

We Are a Part of a Bigger Family!

The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today.

Share the Ag-Love!

Learn more about AgGrad by visiting:

Future of Agriculture Website

AgGrad Website

AgGrad on Twitter
AgGrad on Facebook
AgGrad on LinkedIn
AgGrad on Instagram

Download this Episode

Future of Agriculture 126: Soil Health and Public Health with Nave Strauss of NYC Parks 0

Nov 7, 2018

Nave Strauss is an arborist and the Director of Street Tree Planting for NYC Parks. His primary function is to make sure New York City and its surrounding areas are equipped with the right combination of trees and plants that can help sustain both public and environmental health. He obtained a degree in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Forestry from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY in 2008 and has worked with NYC Parks since 2009. He and his team aim to become the best tree planting program in the world.

Nave joins me today to share his passion for trees and environmental sustainability. He explains what an arborist is, what they do, and how they participate in various programs involving nature and trees. He also discusses the considerations made when assessing locations and trees to be planted and explains how they aim to improve soil health by way of enhancing soil microbiome as well as how they make use of biochar.

“Trees are are investments that will outlive all of us." -Nave Strauss

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

What an arborist is and the responsibilities that come with this title.
Why it's not odd to be an arborist in New York City.
The amount of resources New York City should put into its parks.
How trees factor into the public and environmental health in cities.
Assessing the number of trees as well as the kind of trees needed per area.
What soil science says about soil health and how they address it.
Short and long-term solutions to improving soil microbiome.
Processes involved in basic tree health.
What made Nave choose to work in New York City.

Key Takeaways:

Governments shouldn’t hesitate to put more resources on tree planting because the benefits trees provide are in the interest of public health.
An arborist’s main job is to speak for the trees.

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Nave Strauss:

NYC Parks

2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30

Help us celebrate the top 30 future leaders of agriculture! Nominate your favorite up-and-coming, future executives, innovators, and influencers in the following agriculture categories:

Agribusiness
Production Agriculture
Research & Technology
Entrepreneurship
Education & Advocacy

Nominations for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list are now open and are scheduled to close Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 11:59 PM. Self-nominations are accepted.

Winners will be announced March 2019.

To learn more about the eligibility requirements, announcement date and location, and to nominate for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list, visit: 30Under30.ag

We Are a Part of a Bigger Family!

The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today.