startup

The Future of Insurance in Agriculture, with Damon Johnson, Global Ag Risk Solutions

The Future of Insurance in Agriculture, with Damon Johnson, Global Ag Risk Solutions

For a traditionally low innovation industry, things are starting to heat up in agricultural insurance.

While it remains something of a black box for many people in agriculture, the forces of climate change and technological innovation are creating the right mix of incentives that could change how the whole industry manages risk.

This second episode of our exploration of ag insurance considers a digitally-native product in the hands of farmers today. While still in their infancy, these digitally-native reimaginings of insurance as it exists will be the difference between farmers spending hours, days, and weeks dealing with brokers and getting payouts, compared to almost instant quotes, claims, and reimbursements.

Making Decisions in the Face of Uncertainty, with Hallie Shoffner

Making Decisions in the Face of Uncertainty, with Hallie Shoffner

It isn’t surprising that most farmers have to be expert planners and investors. But getting an inside view into how a farmer plans for the future of their business is a rare opportunity.

In this episode, you’ll hear firsthand how Hallie Shoffner, a sixth-generation row crop farmer in the Mississippi Delta, makes decisions for her farm and company, SFR Seed. While Hallie is an enthusiastic adopter of new farming innovations, this conversation shows that every decision must be well supported by reliable data and the right incentives.

Services and Software for On-Farm Autonomy, with Iftach Birger of FieldIn

Services and Software for On-Farm Autonomy, with Iftach Birger of FieldIn

There are many different views about the future of autonomous farming. One is that, out of the emerging autonomous equipment providers and established blue chip suppliers, there will be clear winners and losers in the battle for on-farm dominance. Another is that farming in the future will involve all kinds of autonomous solutions. This second possibility presents tons of opportunities to add value for farmers.

Our guest on this week’s episode is Iftach Birger, Co-Founder and COO at FieldIn, a farm data and autonomous equipment startup founded in Israel. Rather than wade into the fray playing out between new autonomous equipment players and established corporations, FieldIn is attempting to create a platform that allows a mixed fleet of equipment to interact seamlessly.

Later-Stage Agtech Startup Lessons #1 - Semios

Later-Stage Agtech Startup Lessons #1 - Semios

In this 3-part series, we’ll share the lessons from agtech startup founders who have grown their agtech companies from idea to at least 100 employees.

This episode features Michael Gilbert, CEO and founder of Semios, a crop management platform initially focused on tree fruit, nuts and vines, based in Canada. Michael has a PhD in chemistry and started his career in pharmaceuticals and biotech, before realizing his knowledge could be applied to agricultural inputs.

This initial idea has led him on a journey from biologicals, to creating a company with more than 300 employees and over $225 million in external capital raised to date.


Farmers and Startups: Tips for Collaboration

Farmers and Startups: Tips for Collaboration

The divide between farmers and startups can seem like a chasm. Tech culture and agriculture have evolved from completely different backgrounds, and even seem to have their own languages. So how can agtech bring together two very different groups?

In this episode, you’ll hear practical tips from farmers and agtech experts on how to build mutually beneficial relationships. For startups, this includes approaching farmers as partners, rather than ‘customers,’ and understanding ‘grower economics’. And for farmers, it’s about finding opportunities to access and help shape new products as the startup iterates.

Farming eggs the startup way - Sarah Sivyer

Farming eggs the startup way - Sarah Sivyer

Sarah Sivyer had multiple roles in the corporate world before she decided to start farming eggs. She grew up on a farm, but was completely new to chickens. But by tapping into consumer demand for convenience, freshness, and sustainability credentials, Sarah now runs 2500 chickens in NSW for her subscription-based egg business, Just Been Laid.