Dr. Sara Place is the Senior Director of Sustainable Beef Production Research at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, an organization that seeks to innovate and educate its members regarding their industry. She specializes in livestock sustainability systems and livestock production research. Sara obtained her Ph.D. in Animal Biology from UC Davis and worked as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Science at Oklahoma State University.

Sara joins me today to discuss the idea of connecting sustainability and the beef industry. She describes the current state of the beef industry and highlights its effects on global warming. She explains why removing cattle is not the solution to global warming and shares insight into how upcycling can be applied in the beef industry. Sara also shares some of the promising sustainability projects they plan to launch this year and in the future.

“We're going to have 2 billion more people coming to dinner in the next thirty years, and we only have one planet Earth.” - Dr. Sara Place

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• How beef can become a sustainable resource.
• Why it matters what more than 80% of cattle eat and its effects on the environment.
• What Upcycling is and how they plan to use it to make beef sustainable.
• Examples of Upcycling outside the beef industry.
• How ruminants differ from other farm animals.
• The truth about global warming in the context of agriculture.
• What made her passionate about agriculture and the environment.
• The sustainability programs they plan to launch in the near future.

Connect with Sara Place

• Beef Is What’s For Dinner
• National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
• LinkedIn

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

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Aaron Ratner is the Managing Director at Ultra Capital, a company that finances small and mid-size startups in the sustainable technology industry. He has over 20 years of experience in advisory, international investment, and project development with a focus on agriculture and technology. Aaron obtained his MsM from Stanford University and his BA from the University of Pennsylvania.

Aaron joins me today to discuss what Ultra Capital is about and what they aim to accomplish with their current business model. He shares his passion for sustainable technologies and preserving Mother Nature. He describes how their business works and their criteria for investing. Aaron also explains why banks aren’t as committed to funding the kind of companies they work with.

“It is incredibly fulfilling, trying to make the world a better place. From that, there is really no turning back.” - Aaron Ratner

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• Aaron's definition of project level equity.
• What he believes is the one key success factor for Ultra Capital.
• How their business model runs and a few real world examples.
• Why banks hesitate to loan money for the kind of clients they handle.
• The reason he became passionate about this type of business.
• Their primary criteria and requirements in a startup before they invest.
• What the future holds for Ultra Capital and their upcoming projects.

Connect with Aaron Ratner

• Ultra Capital
• LinkedIn

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 

Euler Bropleh is the Founder & Managing Director of Vested World, an investment platform that seeks to bridge the gap between private investors and startups in emerging markets. Euler focuses on emerging markets because he knows what it’s live in a country that barely made any progress in the last 50 years and how access to substantial capital can make a huge difference in the economy of a developing nation. He has served as an angel investor to multiple businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa, some of which are in the ag industry.

Euler joins me today to share his commitment to helping developing countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda. He discusses how Vested World works and describes some of the companies they helped grow and prosper. He explains some of the risks involved in their business as well as some of its more notable benefits. Euler also discusses what the FIERCE acronym stands for and how he bases his business model around it.

“If you do well by the people you're working with, your company's going to perform better, and everyone benefits from it.” - Euler Bropleh

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• What Vested World is and its business focus.
• The history of Vested World and some of their notable investments.
• Risk and benefits in investing in developing countries.
• Ag-related companies they've invested in.
• What made Euler want to invest in Sub-Saharan Africa?
• What it's like to grow up in an African country.
• Balancing the needs of the communities he is impacting.
• What FIERCE stands for and how he considers it with their investment models.

Connect with Euler Bropleh

• Vested World
• LinkedIn

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 

Scott Bennett is the Director of Congressional Relations at the American Farm Bureau Federation, an independent, voluntary, non-government group that is headed by people who represent the best interests of farmers and their families in the US. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics and Political Science at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Before joining the American Farm Bureau Federation, he was the legislative director for Rep. Bob Goodlatte, a House Agriculture Committee Senior member.

Scott joins me today to discuss the developments on lab-grown protein products and their potential benefits to the economy. He explains some of the political aspects of agriculture, particularly on its relationship with government entities. He also describes the differences between plant-based and lab-based proteins and shares his views for the future of lab-grown proteins as well as advice to those who want to support this idea.

“Five years ago, lab-grown protein was science fiction, but here we are faced with it today. It is the reality.” - Scott Bennett

This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:

• The significance of having a primary jurisdiction with USDA.
• Policy differences between gene-edited livestock and cell-based meats.
• His thoughts on the recent press release from the FDA.
• Plant-based and lab-grown proteins and their key labeling differences.
• How he sees this technology developing in five years.
• Getting involved in the local government to pass the necessary laws for agtech.
• How the public perceives lab-grown protein.
• The biggest issues facing the current agricultural innovation landscape.

Connect with Scott Bennett

• American Farm Bureau Federation
• LinkedIn

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