Shows
Agtech - So What?Have we hit the tipping point for autonomy in ag? With Shane Thomas and Matthew PryorOver the past few years, the conversation about autonomy in agtech has moved from “but, does it work?” to “how can I get started?” This is a significant shift, indicative of autonomous machinery becoming a fully commercial category in agriculture.In this episode, Matthew Pryor, Founding Partner at Tenacious Ventures, discusses his recent observations at the Gatton Agtech Showcase, in QLD, Australia, highlighting the move towards production-ready autonomous machinery. He discusses how structure is now emerging in the Australian agtech autonomy market, including in sales and distribution, with a mix of companies from established equipment dealers to venture...
2025-11-2632 minAgtech - So What?The Business Case for Electrifying Agriculture, with Cherry Grower Mike CaseyIn the race to decarbonize agriculture, the spotlight often falls on carbon sequestration, genetics, and alternative proteins. But have we overlooked something that’s right in front of us? Electricity.Mike Casey is a self-described “tech bro turned farmer” from Cromwell, New Zealand. Mike runs what’s believed to be the world’s first fully electric farm, made up of 21 electric machines, from irrigation systems and frost-fighting fans, to electric tractors and forklifts. His business is aptly named Electric Cherries, where power is generated from renewable sources on-farm. Mike says this has enabled him to save tens of thousan...
2025-11-1244 minAgtech - So What?The realities of winding up an agtech app, with Nikki DaveyWhat happens when an agtech startup with market pull, a clear mission, and global momentum still doesn’t make it?Nikki Davey is the founder of Grown Not Flown, which helped thousands of local flower growers reach customers who wanted sustainable blooms. Nikki’s app directly addressed the problem of ‘flower miles’. In Australia and the US, a store bought bouquet is likely to be made up of flowers that have been flown long distances, from places such as South America, Asia, or Africa.Nikki won the National AgriFutures Rural Women's Award in 2023 for Grown Not Flow...
2025-10-3045 minAgtech - So What?Agtech trends: bundling, unbundling, LLMs and more with Shane Thomas and Matthew Pryor‘Bundling’ is a well-known business strategy, especially in tech, where it’s not only used to increase sales and move slow-selling products, but also to tie customers into an ecosystem (such as Apple or Microsoft).So what about all the unbundling that’s been happening in agtech recently? While historically we’ve seen seed companies offer bundled options, such as seeds, crop management, and data products, there is now a trend towards ‘unbundling’ in agriculture. This is exemplified by Corteva’s recent decision to unbundle its seed and crop protection divisions into two publicly traded companies. Similarly, Farmers Business...
2025-10-1532 minAgtech - So What?Putting cotton farmers at the forefront of the cotton industry, with Marzia LanfranchiThe biggest issue facing the cotton industry isn't fast fashion or water consumption. It's that the people growing cotton have been rendered invisible. The industry fixates on fiber quality and commodity pricing while the farmers themselves– and their role in determining sustainability outcomes– get lost.Marzia Lanfranchi, founder of the global community Cotton Diaries, is a strategic consultant working to improve supply chain sustainability in the cotton industry. She argues that cotton is viewed first and foremost as ‘a cheap fiber,’ instead of a commodity that is grown in the field. She has seen that when cott...
2025-10-0131 minAgtech - So What?Will China’s cheaper tractors disrupt ag equipment? With Lachlan MonsbourghAs the world’s largest agricultural economy, when China makes a move, the world pays attention. China has just unveiled an ambitious plan to accelerate its development of ag machinery by shortening its research and development cycles. So will China dominate the future of agricultural machinery, and what does this mean for dealers, farmers, and agtech companies?Lachlan Monsbourgh, Global Rural Agricultural and Environmental Lead at Rabobank, joins us to discuss China’s pivotal role in global agriculture. This includes China’s rapidly developing ag machinery industry, which can manufacture tractors and equipment for about half the cost o...
2025-09-1737 minAgtech - So What?From agtech adoption problems to high performance farming teams, with Kevin Boyle, EFIWhen the agtech is not working in the field, we can be quick to search for answers in the product itself. But sometimes, the solution is not there. That’s because it’s not a technical problem, but rather a social systems challenge.Kevin Boyle is the Director of Organizational and Workforce Development at the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI). He argues that a key component of the farming and food system is often overlooked; and that’s the people who work on the ground. Farm workers can be seen as low-skilled, with little more to offer than the se...
2025-09-0341 min
Agtech - So What?Can robotics solve farm labor challenges? with Sophie Thorel and Connie BowenAsk any farmer what their biggest challenge is right now and most will say ‘labor’. But what if, instead of trying to get more farm workers, we focused on changing the types of jobs available on farms? That’s where robotics comes in.Unfortunately, successfully commercializing robots in agriculture has been extraordinarily difficult, especially relative to sectors like healthcare, defence and warehousing.We break down the problem into three key challenges, based on research by Sophie Thorel, robotics expert and researcher at CREO Syndicate. Sophie argues robotics in agriculture needs to overcome the technical challenge of var...
2025-08-2043 minAgtech - So What?Are agtech startups just digital agribusinesses? Mark Kahn, OmnivoreThe term ‘agtech’ now encompasses so many different types of businesses and innovations, that from an investment perspective, it can look overly complex. However perhaps the opposite is true?Mark Kahn, Managing Partner of Ominvore, shares his ‘agtech-agribusinesss convergence theory’; where agtech startups eventually grow to look like a more conventional agribusiness company. He argues that if an agtech startup can’t see a pathway to either becoming an agribusiness or at least complementing one, then it’s likely to fail. The recent agtech startup failures in animal protein and vertical farming are an example of this.So what...
2025-08-0629 minAgtech - So What?Disrupting the AgTech Ecosystem with Ron AdnerLongtime listeners have heard Sarah and Matthew talk about ideas like “ecosystem disruption” and “adoption chain risk” and “value architecture,” all of which stem from the works of Ron Adner. Ron is a researcher, strategist, and professor at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth University, and the author of two books, The Wide Lens and Winning the Right Game, both of which have been influential at Tenacious. So this week, we’re going straight to the source as Matthew sits down with Ron for a wide ranging discussion of how fundamental business strategy has changed in recent decades...
2025-06-1142 minAgtech - So What?Making Sense of Recent AgTech Acquisitions with Shane ThomasDespite a persistent sense of uncertainty in the AgTech market lately, we’re still seeing startups get acquired– even if information about those acquisitions is opaque. Case in point: Syngenta recently purchased Intrinsyx Bio, a biologicals company, for an undisclosed sum. Why do companies conceal this information? And in this moment when everyone has their eyes peeled for some indication of where the market is headed, what can we learn from exits? Sarah sits down this week with Tenacious Ventures’ Matthew Pryor and Shane Thomas, author of Upstream Ag Insights, to do a deep dive into the...
2025-05-2835 minAgtech - So What?Solving for Adoption and Channel in AgTech… So what? with Shane ThomasThere are a few topics in agtech (and in the tech startup world more broadly) that are truly perennial– problems that must be solved again and again in new and innovative ways as markets, customers, and businesses evolve. Adoption is one of those challenges, and go-to-market strategies are another. We’ve been thinking about the challenge of adoption a lot recently, and also what changes in the marketplace will mean for the retail channel and product distribution for agtech in particular. Today, Sarah sits down with Tenacious Ventures’ Matthew Pryor and Shane Thomas, author of Upstream Ag Insight...
2025-03-0536 minAgtech - So What?2025 in AgTech… So what? with Shane ThomasAs the new year gets underway, we’ve been thinking about the likely ups and downs ahead for the agtech world. We’ve been searching for insights in the recent announcement that FMC’s corporate venture capital division is shutting its doors, and thinking about what a trend in CVC pullbacks might mean for the lay of the land in agtech. We’ve also been taking time to think about the agtech companies that currently stand out in today’s tough market conditions, and what it is that sets them apart from the pack. Today, Sarah sits down with T...
2025-01-2233 minAgtech - So What?How Business Model Innovation Changed AgTech in 2024There’s nothing like the end of another year to have us reflecting on the recent successes in the world of agtech, and the many challenges still left to overcome. One thing that has continued to stand out to us in 2024 is the vital need for more business model innovation. There’s so much amazing technology that already exists, but for one reason or another, it is not getting adopted or utilized; it’s not delivering on the promised impact or commercial potential. Over the last twelve months we’ve talked to countless entrepreneurs and innovators who are findi...
2024-12-1134 min
Future of AgricultureClimate, People and Agriculture With Sarah Nolet and Connie BowenTenacious Ventures: https://tenacious.ventures/Farmhand Ventures: https://www.farmhandventures.com/“Navigating a future of cross sectional forces” (AgriFutures Australia Report): https://agrifutures.com.au/product/navigating-a-future-of-cross-sectoral-forces/Ag’s Scifi (and Non-Fiction) Future: Horizon Scanning… so what? with Shane Thomas: https://tenacious.ventures/insights/ags-scifi-and-non-fiction-future-horizon-scanning-so-what-with-shane-thomasCitrus Moves North with Farmer and Orangepreneur Lindy Savelle: https://tenacious.ventures/insights/citrus-moves-north-with-farmer-and-orangepreneur-lindy-savelleFoA 348: Investing in the Future of Fertilizer with Sarah Nolet of Tenacious Ventures: https://futureofagriculture.com/episode/foa-348-investing-in-the-future-of-fertilizer-with-sarah-nolet-of-tenacious-ventures-agtech-so-what-crossoverFoA 112: Accelerating AgTech with Sarah Nolet of AgThentic: https://futureof...
2024-11-2736 minAgtech - So What?Fractal Ag Pitch Breakdown with Ben Gordon and Shane ThomasFarmland has long been a popular asset among investors for its steady appreciation and resistance to economic downturns. At the same time, farmland is also a challenging asset at times, especially for farmers looking to expand, given farmland comes up for sale so infrequently and is so valuable. In the space between these two needs is where Fractal Agriculture has set up shop, connecting the dots between farmers seeking capital and investors looking to benefit from farmland investments. And for good measure, sprinkle in some regenerative ag practices for risk mitigation on both sides of the ledger. T...
2024-10-1641 minAgtech - So What?Investing in Regenerative Agriculture Supply Chains with Calla Rose OstranderWhen it comes to leveraging capital to fund climate action in agriculture, few ideas get as much play as regenerative agriculture. The idea of production that can not only be sustained but that can actively help renew resources has captured imaginations within the sector and without, giving life to events like the Regenerative Food Systems Investment Forum, where the faithful share strategies to incentivize investors to sink their resources into these solutions. Sarah is headed to the RFSI Forum this year (October 9th and 10th in Denver, Colorado), and to get a jump on the valuable discussions, we’ve in...
2024-10-0232 minAgtech - So What?Ag’s Scifi (and Non-Fiction) Future: Horizon Scanning… so what? with Shane ThomasWe’ve been thinking (and talking, and writing) a lot lately about the forces that are shaping the future of agriculture. There are the more obvious ones– artificial intelligence and mandatory climate disclosures– to the less obvious, like the ubiquity of remotely sensed data and geoengineering. All of these forces, and others like them, are not only acting on ag and the institutions the industry depends on, they’re also acting on one another, evolving and compounding all the time. We investigated these forces, and four critical scenarios that they might create, in our latest report, Navigating a Future o...
2024-08-2136 minAgtech - So What?AgTech News …So What? July 2024 with Shane ThomasThis week, we’re breaking down the freshest announcements from the agribusiness, agtech, and broader policy and tech worlds to share insights and ask “so what?” Sarah and Matthew are joined this week by Shane Thomas, author of Upstream Ag Insights.For more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should read the information memorandum and seek financial advice...
2024-07-1038 min
Leading WomenSarah Nolet, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Tenacious Ventures on leading through influence and inclusion rather than authority and hierarchical structuresSarah Nolet, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Tenacious Ventures on leading through influence and inclusion rather than authority and hierarchical structures. Sarah is a change maker, backing women founders who are creating more environmentally and ecologically sustainable ways of producing food and what we eat.
Key Insights
(02:05) How Sarah found leadership as an athlete and how it transferred to business
(07:31) Finding alignment between action for impact and commercial outcomes
(22:43) Sarah’s addition to your Leadership Toolbox
Important Resources and Links
If you’d like to lea...
2024-06-1125 minAgtech - So What?AgTech News …So What? May 2024 with Shane ThomasThis week, we’re breaking down the freshest announcements from the agribusiness, agtech, and broader policy and tech worlds to share insights and ask “so what?” Sarah is joined this week by Shane Thomas, author of Upstream Ag Insights.For more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should read the information memorandum and seek financial advice f...
2024-05-1529 minAgtech - So What?Landfill to Farm-fill: Rethinking Waste with Sam CoultonThe modern fashion industry creates a ton of waste. From the field to the cutting line, to the supply chain and consumers' closets, today’s ultra-cheap “fast fashion” obsession means everyday a lot of fiber gets carted off to landfills around the world. Some amount of that fiber however– especially cotton– is not only biodegradable, it can actually be a valuable addition to soils, especially in dry climates where fibers help hold water. This fact has spurred researchers and farmers in Australia, alongside the Cotton Research Development Corporation (CRDC), to begin experimenting with turning waste fiber into a soil amen...
2024-04-1727 minAgtech - So What?Biosecurity Meets AgTech: Preparing for a hotter sicker world with Sarah BrittonAs the world continues to get more crowded and less climatically predictable, the risk of biosecurity issues– from pest and disease invasions to food security and environmental health concerns– is only growing. Science and technology have major roles to play in helping us prepare for possible risks, and deal with them when they arise. Today, we’re tackling these issues in one geography, Australia, in order to better understand the economic, environmental, and technological threats and opportunities that are in play related to biosecurity, and how they might be set to evolve in the future. Our guest is Sara...
2024-04-0334 minAgtech - So What?AgTech News …So What? March 2024 with Shane ThomasThis week, we’re breaking down the freshest announcements from the agribusiness, agtech, and global ag policy worlds to share insights and ask “so what?” Sarah is joined this week by Tenacious Ventures Managing Partner J. Matthew Pryor and Shane Thomas, author of Upstream Ag Insights.For more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should read the...
2024-03-2029 minAgtech - So What?AgTech News …So What? January 2024 with Shane ThomasThis week, in a new experimental format, we’re breaking down the freshest announcements from leaders in the agribusiness, agtech, and ag production worlds to share insights and ask “so what?” Sarah is joined this week by Tenacious Ventures Managing Partner J. Matthew Pryor and Shane Thomas, author of Upstream Ag Insights. What John Deere’s announced partnership with Starlink means for farmers, ag retailers, and the future of connected agtechWhat Jigsaw Farm’s evolving status as a vanguard of climate-smart agriculture tells us about future trouble in carbon and methane emission-reducing plansHow ag software roll-ups might be evolving as...
2024-01-2438 min
Radically Yours by RadhikaShe started Australia's First Agri-Food Tech VC Fund || Ft. Sarah Nolet“𝐈 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞. 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.”Meet Sarah Nolet, Co-founder and General Partner of Tenacious Ventures, Australia’s first agri-food tech VC fund.In conversation with our founder Radhika Bajoria, Sarah shared about how she created an impact-based fund to fuel innovation and technological advancements that create an impact towards sustainability and climate change mitigation.She has invested in innovative agri-food tech startups like,1. azaneo - it has developed an appliance that uses pulsed electrification to manage weeds without any chemical inputs2. GOTERRA - an organic waste management solution that uses insects to process food waste3. Vow Food Co., ltd. - they are reinventing food by creating delicious meat from cultivated cells4. RapidAIM Pty Ltd - provides accurate region-to-farm pest detection and forecast in real-timeSarah also shared her journey of finding a co-founder, and how choosing the right co-founder helps to grow a business exponentially.“𝐖𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞.” Sarah explained to us how they are managing to get returns from the impact-led businesses they invest in while also keeping in mind the foundational principles of sustainability.Sarah and her
2024-01-1950 minAgtech - So What?AgTech 2023… So What? A Wrap-upSomehow it’s December again, and another year has come and nearly gone. We've spent a lot of time reflecting on the highs and lows of a particularly unpredictable year for Tenacious Ventures, our portfolio companies, and agtech more broadly.In that spirit, we’re taking time to talk about what we've learned from a year of fundraising, advising, learning and podcasting. We’re joined today by our editor and producer, Sarah Mock, who facilitates a discussion between Tenacious General Partners Sarah Nolet and Matthew Pryor.For more information and resources, visit our website. The i...
2023-12-0627 minAgtech - So What?Reflecting on Nowadays, a Tenacious Portfolio Company Wind DownHearing the stats about startup failure rates (70 - 90%), and how one - only one- investment drives returns for most VC funds, is one thing. Actually experiencing it, is another. In line with our learning out loud ethos, today we're talking about Nowadays, a Tenacious portfolio company that recently wound down operations. Nowadays was a manufacturing platform for whole cuts of clean label plant based meat, whose flagship product is a plant-based chicken nugget made with just a handful of simple, clean ingredients. We’re speaking with Founder and CEO Max Elder about what happened, where he is now...
2023-11-2234 minAgtech - So What?On-Farm Food Loss and Beyond with Sarah Hulick and Olympia YargerFor the final installment in our three-part food waste series, we’re climbing all the way up to the top of the supply chain to gain a deeper understanding of on-farm food loss and waste. The challenges that farmers face getting food to the farm gate have ramifications that are felt all throughout the food system, so by understanding this vital link in the chain, we’ll gain insight into how we might begin to shift the way we understand waste overall. Today, you’ll hear from Sarah Hulick, food waste expert and a Horticulture Faculty Member at Cabr...
2023-05-2439 min
Investing in Impact | Impact InvestingSarah Nolet /// Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Tenacious Ventures - Backing Early-Stage Agtech Companies to Tackle Climate ChangeThis content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.----------------------------------------In Episode 56 of the Investing in Impact podcast, we speak with Sarah Nolet, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Tenacious Ventures, on backing early-stage Agtech companies to tackle climate change.Sarah is the co-founder of Tenacious Ventures, a specialized agrifood tech venture firm that operates with a high-support, high conviction approach. Throughout her career, Sarah has played a pivotal role in cultivating the early-stage agtech...
2023-05-1635 min
Boots Off Log On!™Episode 27: Unveiling the complex world of Agtech with Sarah NoletIn this podcast episode, Sarah Nolet sheds light on the topic of Agtech and its impact on the agricultural industry. She begins by discussing how Agtech has become a hot topic at farming events and in the farming media. However, she emphasizes that Agtech is not just limited to apps, IoT, and equipment for tractors, as it is a deep and complex field that is having an impact across the entire agricultural supply chain.
As the Co-Founder and General Partner of Tenacious Ventures, a Venture Capital and Private Equity firm focused on Agritech, and the CEO of...
2023-04-2651 min
Agtech - So What?Future of Fertilizer... So What? with Tim Hammerich from Future of AgrcultureGlobal geopolitical disruptions first put fertilizer center stage as farmers around the world struggled with price and supply swings. But that was just the beginning of the conversation– as fertilizer tech begins to step into the spotlight, offering alternatives not only to traditional products, but to our whole way of thinking about the crop nutrients sector. Today, Tim Hammerich of the Future of Agriculture Podcast joins Sarah to dig into the “so what?” of the nitrogen tech we’ve discussed here on the podcast and the fertilizer innovations Tim has recently covered. Along the way, we discuss key quotes f...
2023-02-0144 min
Future of AgricultureFoA 348: Investing in the Future of Fertilizer with Sarah Nolet of Tenacious Ventures [Agtech - So What? Crossover]Try Acres for free: https://www.acres.co/Agtech - So What? Podcast: https://www.agtechsowhat.com/Tenacious Ventures: https://tenacious.ventures/Today’s episode features a conversation on the future of fertilizer with Sarah Nolet. Both of us have been exploring the future of fertilizer on our respective podcasts, and we thought it would be fun to do a joint episode to talk about what we’ve learned. So you’re going to get not only Sarah and I’s thoughts, but also some highlights from episodes that provide insights into the future o...
2023-02-0143 min
Agtech - So What?AgTech Headlines… So What? - Mineral Launch, Planet Labs Insurance, Deere Right-to-RepairBreaking news in the agtech world abounds here at the beginning of 2023, and as we've tracked the latest announcements, we've been thinking a lot about a few tech updates, especially from major brands, and what they might mean for the agtech landscape in the near future.Today, teammates Komal Patel and Matthew Pryor join Sarah to discuss a few pieces of news from the past few weeks that stood out. We dig into the details, read between the lines, and argue why we think they're worth paying attention to.For more information and resources, visit our...
2023-01-2523 min
Connect to CapitalSarah Nolet and Matthew Pryor - Food systems and Agtech innovation with Tencious VenturesIt is an extra special episode this week with 2 great investors sharing their passion for agtech and the specialist fund they co-founded Tenacious Ventures. The first half of today’s duo is Sarah Nolet, an internationally recognized food systems innovation expert who has been instrumental in building the early stage agtech ecosystem in Australia - from advising dozens of startups, designing accelerator programs and consulting to established agribusinesses, all the way to helping industry, universities and government develop and implement forward-looking initiatives in food system innovation. Sarah is also the host of the AgTech...So What...
2022-08-0647 min
Agtech - So What?Bonus Ep: Audience Responses to "The Three Fears of Farm Data"Back in May, we published an experimental bonus episode called “The Three Fears of Farm Data”. The conversation centered around the legitimacy of fears held by farmers about sharing their farm data, and kicked off with a particularly hot take:“We in agtech have completely f*****d farmers by making them afraid of sharing their data.”The episode got a huge reaction from around the industry - both positive and critical. It’s clear that the conversation around farm data is one that everyone in agtech, from farmers and startups to analysts and operators in agribusinesses, seem interested...
2022-08-0334 min
Agtech - So What?Ag Insurance...So What?This week we're bringing you the final episode in our three-part series on the future of ag insurance.Our journey started with learning the ins and outs of how the sector currently operates (check out the ag insurance 101 episode here) and then talking to key players about new products and technologies entering the industry (check out Damon Johnson on parametric insurance here).Today, Sarah is joined by Matthew Pryor to talk through their learnings in a live attempt to develop an investment thesis for ag insurance. They cover:Technologies and business models shifting the CAC/LTV equation in ag...
2022-06-2936 min
Agtech - So What?Bonus Ep: The Three Fears of Farm DataOur latest bonus podcast episode is an experiment.Rather than organize the contributions that usually make up an episode, we decided to hit record on one of the conversations that are always happening internally at Tenacious Ventures.It’s a snapshot into how we think, form and test our assumptions, and decide on what might be next.It also captured the team taking on a pretty hot topic on the mind of everyone in agtech battling with adoption and scaling digitally-native solutions:Have we in agtech completely f*****d farmers by making them afraid of sh...
2022-05-1129 min
evokeᴬᴳ⋅COLLAB Food Futurists: 'Becoming makers, not takers of agritech' with Sarah NoletToday we launch our evokeAG. x Food Futurists collaboration series with Professor Andy Lowe, a highly acclaimed and innovative research leader at the University of Adelaide exploring solutions today that will help drive sustainable food systems tomorrow. Andy's first conversation with Sarah Nolet, Co-Founder and Managing partner of Tenacious Ventures explores the rise of digital agriculture, breaking down industrial era mindsets, and why 'becoming makers, not just takers of agritech' is so important for Australia's blossoming agritech industry and early adopter farmers. Working at the frontier of agrifood tech innovation, Andy draws upon a wealth of...
2022-04-2832 min
Agtech - So What?Bonus Ep: The State of Fundraising in AgtechLife is moving pretty fast for founders and investors working in agtech.Recent years have seen record flows of capital into agrifood, driven in part by agriculture potential to provide climate solutions. And the massive disruptions of COVID-19 meant developed markets received a historic taste of what changes will be needed in a world impacted by climate change and further uncertainty.So, how have the last few years impacted agtech founders looking to raise capital, and investors on the lookout for opportunities with impact?For this bonus episode, Tenacious Ventures’ Partners Sarah Nolet and Matthew Pryor as...
2022-03-3049 min
Humans of AgricultureAustralia's Agtech Boom with Sarah NoletGet your tickets to our Brisbane event now: https://humansofagriculture.com/hoa-events/p/hoa-live-brisbane-26th-november-2025or here:From the Silicon Valley to South America, Sarah Nolet has never seen anything more exciting than the boom of the Australian agtech industry in the past half decade.
She’s only been in the country for six years, but in that time Sarah Nolet has managed to transform Australia’s footing in the international ag-tech industry.
Sarah has been recognised as a 2020 Syngenta Growth Award Winner in the Innovator Category. It's not surprising give...
2021-11-2647 min
Agtech - So What?Bonus: Investing in tech to enable regen agVenture investment into technology companies that have the potential to scale regenerative agriculture is accelerating. However, it is a relatively new domain for venture capital, and it comes with its own unique set of challenges.So what role can VCs play in the regen ag landscape? And what technologies and trends are VCs looking at to guide their investments?This bonus episode features a discussion from a live panel conversation at the Regenerative Food Systems Investment Forum (RFSIF), in California, with:Renee Vassilos - Director of Agriculture Innovation at The Nature Conservancy.Mark Lewis - Managing...
2021-10-2831 min
Head ShepherdHow is "AgTech" going to change your business? with Sarah Nolet.Welcome back to Season 5 of the Head Shepherd podcast. We have a fantastic season lined up for you, and we're starting with a bang!Sarah Nolet is an internationally recognised food systems innovation expert, the CEO and Founder of AgThentic, a global food and agriculture strategy firm, and co-founder of Tenacious Ventures, Australia’s first dedicated agrifood tech VC firm AND podcast host of "Ag Tech So What?".But, before all that, Sarah grew up in California, quite literally in the centre of the tech world. After studying computer science at University, Sarah then ended up...
2021-09-2723 min
Agtech - So What?100th Episode Special: our most popular guests on soil carbon, regen ag, and the future of agtechFor our 100th episode (hooray!), we’ve brought back some of our most popular guests to check in on what’s changed in their businesses and in agtech since we spoke, and the new technologies and opportunities we can all be looking out for.These guests were popular for a reason:Mark Wootton - dubbed the ‘carbon neutral farmer,’ Mark is a pioneer in measuring natural capital… yet, he’s also highly skeptical of the regenerative agriculture movement.Stu Austin - manager of Wilmot Cattle Co, which recently secured a landmark deal to sell $500,000 worth of soil carbon...
2021-09-2259 min
Agtech - So What?Bonus Episode: Did Silicon Valley Kill Agtech?The Silicon Valley model for innovation has worked famously for many software based companies, such as Facebook and PayPal. However, when it comes to agtech, the Silicon Valley template for startup success hasn’t translated very well. This template, of either “user is the customer” or “user is the product” is rather limited in agriculture, where the farming population is small (restricting scale) and the stakes are high.This episode features Rob Trice, the founding partner of Better Food Ventures and The Mixing Bowl, along with Sarah Nolet and Matthew Pryor, who both lead the Agthentic Group and Tenacious...
2021-08-1844 min
Agtech - So What?BONUS EP: Capitalism for Good, feat. David Lee from AppHarvest and Impossible FoodsCan capitalism be a force for good? David Lee left the traditional corporate world to work for some of the most bullish startup companies in agrifood tech, including Impossible Foods and AppHarvest, where he was appointed the company’s President earlier this year. David did this out of a belief that the levers of capitalism and consumerism are the fastest ways to transform the food system. He says the key to address the world’s urgent food sustainability problems is by creating consumer movements.In this bonus episode, David speaks to Sarah as part of fireside chat at the rece...
2021-07-0728 min
A Positive ClimateThe future of farming with Sarah Nolet, Tenacious VenturesSarah Nolet is the CEO and a founding partner of Tenacious Ventures, Australia's first and only dedicated agrifood venture capital firm. Sarah chats to us about all the innovative and exciting agricultural technologies or as they say in the industry “agtech”. We cover the current sources of emissions within our food supply chain and some fantastic solutions including farming robotics, improved pest management and alternative proteins (hello, plant based nuggets). Follow us on twitter and instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2021-06-2738 min
Agtech - So What?What's caused the farmer protests in India and what does it mean for innovation in Ag?Agriculture in India has been thrust onto the international stage as the world watched and celebrities tweeted about the tens of thousands of farmers camped out in Delhi to protest against governmental reforms which loosen rules around the sale, pricing, and storage of produce. Farmers say these changes prioritize corporate interests and threaten livelihoods, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi argues they will lead to greater efficiency and ultimately income for smallholder farmers.In this episode, Sarah is joined by colleague Komal Patel to unpack why farmers are protesting, what’s working (and what’s not) in India’s agricu...
2021-06-1632 min
Agtech - So What?Bonus Episode: The five forces shaping the future of food and ag, with Sarah NoletWe’d all like to be able to predict what the next big technological disruption or trend will be. But while we can't exactly do that, we can look at signals happening today, and use them to drive our thinking about the future. In this bonus episode, Sarah Nolet presents five future forces shaping innovation in food and agriculture, and shares insights about what these forces mean for producers, investors, and entrepreneurs today.You may know Sarah as the host of this podcast, but in this bonus episode you’ll hear a slightly edited version of a keynote talk...
2021-06-0934 min
Agtech - So What?Lean Farming - Jana Hocken brings Toyota's famous operating model to agricultureJana Hocken is a dairy farmer and “lean farming” consultant. After an international career in engineering and lean manufacturing at Toyota, Jana moved to a farm in New Zealand with her husband. At the time, she knew very little about agriculture. But, after witnessing inefficiencies on her own farm, such as people regularly making multiple trips to the same paddock, she quickly realized the principles of lean could be applied. Jana has now released her own book and training materials, to help other farmers work smarter.In this episode Jana speaks about:How lean has revolutionized farming at her 1000 cow...
2021-05-1939 min
The Hospopreneurs PodcastFood Systems Innovation with Sarah NoletSarah Nolet is an internationally recognised food systems innovation expert, the CEO and Founder of AgThentic - a global food and agriculture strategy firm - and co-founder of Tenacious Ventures - Australia's first dedicated agri-food tech VC firm. Sarah has been instrumental in building the early stage AgTech ecosystem in Australia by advising entities of all shapes and sizes - governments, universities, startups and more - to develop and implement forward-looking initiatives in food system innovation.
2021-04-1334 min
Cloud TalkThe Tech Behind the Industry: Digging Into the World of AgtechThe way we farm is damaging the planet, and now there’s a movement to re-engineer the industry. To dig into the world of agtech and regenerative agriculture, we invited Lew Moorman, Co-Founder of Scaleworks and Soilworks Natural Capital, and Sarah Nolet, Founder of AgThentic, on to Cloud Talk.
Resources
Allan Savory: How to fight desertification and reverse climate change
AgThentic
AgTech So What Podcast
Soilworks – Natural Capital
Pure PasturesSpecial Guests: Lew Moorman and Sarah Nolet.
2021-01-2749 min
Agtech - So What?Farming eggs the startup way - Sarah Sivyer on continuous improvement and customer intimacySarah 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, and this was the challenge she wanted: to grow her own business from scratch and apply her corporate knowledge.By tapping into consumer demand for convenience, freshness, and sustainability credentials, Sarah now runs 2500 chickens for her subscription-based egg business, Just Been Laid. Sarah also completed a Nuffield Scholarship on continuous improvement and branding, bringing lessons on global best practices back to the farm.In this episode Sarah Sivyer discusses:Building a...
2020-11-1842 min
Agtech - So What?"Not a cheerleader, not the enemy", journalist Sarah Mock on making windows in the walls around agricultureSarah Mock isn’t afraid of having tough conversations and shining light on thorny issues in the agriculture industry. A journalist with experience in international development and agtech, Sarah recently began a Twitter firestorm with an article asserting that all farming is inherently exploitative.While sometimes accused of being anti-farming, Sarah says this couldn’t be further from the truth. She describes herself as being “not a cheerleader; not the enemy”. Sarah grew up on a farm in Wyoming and has worked in agriculture her entire career - from high profile agtech startups such as Farmers Business Network, to repor...
2020-10-0748 min
Agtech - So What?Regen Ag Series #5: Our VerdictRegen Ag Series #5: Our Verdict, with Sarah Nolet and Matthew Pryor from AgThentic and Tenacious VenturesIn this final wrap up episode of our regenerative agriculture series, the team from AgThentic is giving you OUR verdict. Sarah is joined by Matthew Pryor, Partner at AgThentic and co-founder of Tenacious Ventures, to discuss:what it will take to move beyond the polarizing debate over whether regen ag is good or bad;how agtech can unlock cost effective ways to measure, monitor, and verify what’s actually working;impacts of consumer’s push for carbon neutral produce and redu...
2020-09-2343 min
Agtech - So What?Regen Ag Series #4: Greenwashing or Good Business? Live debate.The gloves are off as our expert panelists debate whether regenerative agriculture can improve farming businesses… or if it’s all hype.Host Sarah Nolet is joined by:Richard Leask, a wine grower and 2019 Nuffield Scholar who traveled the world studying regen ag, and now uses the best of what he discovered back home in his vineyard in South Australia.Toby Grogan, a natural capital specialist from Impact Ag, who advises farmers and investors on how regen ag can increase soil health and farm profitability.Will Bignell, a regen ag skeptic and Tasmanian mixed farmer, who is committed to a...
2020-09-0932 min
Agtech - So What?Supplying sustainable beef to McDonalds with Nicole-Johnson-Hoffman of OSI GroupIs it possible for large food corporations like McDonald’s to “scale for good?” Nicole Johnson-Hoffman is in charge of supplying beef to McDonalds through the OSI Group, and doing so sustainably.She believes it’s only the big companies that have the power to change entire supply chains and therefore that the future of sustainable food is up to them.Nicole grew up on a small dairy farm in Minnesota and is now a world leader in sustainable beef production.But the industry today is a long way from where it was in the not too dist...
2020-08-2635 min
Agtech - So What?Regen Ag Series #3: Why major food companies are supporting regen ag with Jay Watson of General MillsWhen a company commits to regenerative agriculture practices - it can be accused of ‘greenwashing’ - making people believe it’s doing more to help the environment than it really is.General Mills, the U.S. company behind iconic brands such as Yoplait, Betty Crocker and Cheerios, made a commitment to bring regenerative agriculture practices to one million acres of farmland by 2030.Jay Watson is responsible for this task - connecting farmers in various commodity supply chains with support, tools, and pilot programs to enable regen ag practices.In this podcast, Jay discusses:The criticisms around regenerative agriculture and wh...
2020-08-1235 min
Agtech - So What?Regen Ag Series #2: Sam Trethewey on applying startup business model insights to produce carbon positive beefSam Trethewey believes ‘regenerative agriculture’ is not a dirty word - but simply the future of farming. Astonishingly, he produces wagyu beef in Tasmania without actually owning any cows. He does this by combining insights about business models from startups such as Uber and Airbnb with the farming practices of regenerative agriculture.Sam grew up on the family farm in Tasmania before working in corporate agribusiness and marketing. In 2016, he co-founded SproutX, the first agtech accelerator in Australia.But in the last few years, he has returned to his first passion - the land itself. Sam runs the...
2020-07-2935 min
Open the Pod Bay DoorsE90 - Sarah Nolet, Agthentic & Tenacious VenturesSarah Nolet is one of Australia's leading agriculture technology (agtech) experts. She's the founder and CEO of AgThentic, an agtech strategy and advisory firm, and the co-founder of Tenacious Ventures, Australia’s first dedicated agrifood tech VC firm. Sarah also hosts the podcast "Agtech - So What" which tells the story of innovators at the intersection of agriculture and technology.In this episode, Sarah talks about her professional journey moving to Australia and growing the agtech ecosystem here, cofounding a new venture fund, and starting a podcast. She also shares the criteria her fund uses when evaluating food and ag...
2020-07-2954 min
Agtech - So What?Regen Ag Series #1: Mark Wootton on carbon-neutral farming at Jigsaw FarmsMark Wootton is well-known in the Australian agriculture industry as a pioneer in carbon-neutral farming. In 2011, Jigsaw Farms, his family property in south-west Victoria, achieved carbon neutrality - undergoing a process he openly admits was at the time, both “arduous and not necessarily commercially rewarding”.Yet, Mark and his wife Eve Kantor operate a very successful mixed grazing farm where they run 20,000 sheep for fine wool and prime lamb as well as 500 cows. The farm also incorporates a 600 hectare hardwood timber plantation and indigenous plantings for biodiversity.Mark was instrumental in the creation of the Climate Institute - a...
2020-07-1537 min
Agtech - So What?Ep 70: Karmen Mehmen on growing a family farm through 40 years of changeKarmen Mehmen is a corn and soybean farmer in Iowa alongside her husband Stan and their son Kyle and daughter-in-law Kerri. Their farm, MBS Family Farms, has grown from 160 acres and 40 cows back in the ‘60s to an operation that today supports 20 families.In this episode, Karmen talks about:How technology has enabled them to manage through substantial growthLearnings from transitioning the farm to the next generationHow structured coaching and support has helped them become better farmers & business ownersFor more insights from the episode and links to resources Karmen mentions, check out our write up here.
2020-07-0128 min
Agtech - So What?Ep 69: Renée Anderson "Cotton Farm Girl" on social media and social licenseRenée Anderson is a farmer in Emerald, Queensland, Nuffield Scholar, agronomist, and overall champion for the cotton industry. In this episode, she shares her insights from Australia and around the world on social license, science communications, and the role that tech can play in helping farmers both improve production and change the narrative about agriculture.Visit our website for our top five insights, Renee’s favorite science communicators, and the resources on racism in agriculture mentioned at the end of this episode.
2020-06-1733 min
Agtech - So What?Ep 68: David Carter on becoming the world's only carbon neutral fishing companyDavid Carter is the CEO of Austral Fisheries, one of Australia’s largest integrated commercial fishing companies. Austral Fisheries is notable for being the only commercial fishing company in the world to be certified Carbon Neutral, offsetting their emissions to zero since 2016.In this episode we talk about:David's path from deckhand to CEOAustral's journey from commodity to branded, premium productThe bold goals that Austral have set on issues like bycatch and carbon emissionsHow technology is helping Austral respond to consumer demands and address social license issuesThe 'unlikely alliances' powering Austral Fisheries’ market leading positionFor the...
2020-06-0336 min
Agtech - So What?Ep 67: tips from three leading farmers using tech everyday (live from evokeAG)This episode, live from the 2020 evokeAG conference in Melbourne, features three innovative Aussie producers: Brad “Jonesy” Jones; Sue “Chilla” Middleton; and Mark “Mort” Mortimer. We also cover: the different techs being used in their businesses todaytheir tech wishlists for the futurewhat’s driving adoption of agtech and what’s preventing itwhere to look for the best agtech solutionshow they’re getting involved as more than customers of agtechFor links to additional resources (and all the agtech mentioned), check out our website: www.agtechsowhat.com/agtechsowhatepisodes/tips-from-leading-producers This is yet another live episode- do you like it? Hate it? Let u...
2020-05-2030 min
Agtech - So What?Ep 66: Jim Chambers (Trimble) and Derek Norman (Bayer) on agtech acquisitionsToday’s episode is all about corporate investments and acquisitions in agtech. Two guests, Derek Norman (VP at Leaps by Bayer) and Jim Chambers (President and General Manager of the Worldwide Agriculture Business at Trimble) cover different ways startups can engage with corporates, from early stage direct strategic investments, to channel partnerships, to acquisitions.We also discuss:what Bayer and Trimble are looking for and tips for startup to get investment- and acquisition-readyhow the M&A environment is changing with consolidation and coronaviruswhy we haven’t we seen more successful agtech exitswhat spaces are hot (and not), including how...
2020-05-061h 10
Agtech - So What?Episode 65: The Alternative Protein Debate: live from Australia's first virtual, national agtech meetupComing to you live from Australia's first national, virtual AgTech Meetup, this episode explores what alternative proteins are, how big they'll become, and whether this is a pending disruption or untapped opportunity for agriculture.Panelists included:Catherine Tubb- chemistry PhD and Research Fellow at RethinkXPaul Wood- internationally recognized veterinary immunologist, inventor, and Chairman at AusBiotechGeorge Peppou- chef and CEO/Co-founder at cellular ag company VOW FoodsIn this episode, we cover:The different types of alternative proteins, from plant-based to cultured meat;What’s driving their cost, and when it will come down;When they'll hit the ma...
2020-04-2245 min
Agtech - So What?Ep 64 Pete Nelson on partnering with growers to build better agtechThis week Sarah is joined by a guest host, Cass Mao, Principal Advisor at AgThentic, to chat with Pete Nelson of AgLaunch about how growers and agtech companies can work together in a model that they call "farmer-centric innovation"Pete Nelson, originally a farmer and an English major at University, has been actively involved in building the support ecosystem for new agricultural enterprises for over 15 years. He has worked with a variety of public and private sector partners and helped to launch multiple startup companies. More recently he's been working on sector-specific initiatives to fund, incubate, and accelerate...
2020-04-0840 min
Agtech - So What?Ep63 Evan Fraser on 3 barriers to agtech adoption and impacts of COVID-19 on agricultureEvan Fraser is a food systems innovation expert, the Director of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph in Canada, and the Founder of Feeding9Billion.Though he didn't grow up on a farm, he brings a multi-disciplinary and systems approach to his work, with degrees and work experience in various fields from anthropology to atmospheric chemistry to agriculture. His passion for agriculture comes from his love of good food and summers spent spent working on his grandfather’s farm (more on that in the episode). In this episode, Evan and I cover two main to...
2020-03-2528 min
Agtech - So What?Ep 62 Allison Kopf on indoor ag business models and women in agtech (rebroadcast)We hear all the time that we need to "feed the world" and that "agtech can help" But what role will indoor farming play? How do these systems work, what can they grow, and how do they make money?Today’s guest, Allison Kopf, is an agtech entrepreneur and indoor ag expert. Her company, Artemis, builds software for indoor farms and specialty crops. In this episode, rebroadcast (with updates and edits) from a couple years ago, Allison shares an indoor ag 101. We also cover the challenges for women in agtech, and how we can increase gender diversity in...
2020-03-1833 min
Agtech - So What?BONUS Episode: Live panel from evokeAG 2020 featuring global agrifood tech expertsevokeAG, Asia Pacific's largest agrifood tech event, brought together 1300 innovators earlier in February this year in Melbourne, Australia. The jam-packed event featured international experts, innovative farmers, dozens of startups, and much more, showcasing what the region has to offer in agrifood tech innovation.This bonus episode gives a taste of evokeAG and a live recording of the first panel on the main stage: The Asia-Pacific region and how we are rising. Panelists included:Andrew Coppin - FarmbotDavid Downs - NZTEJohn Hartnett - SVG Ventures/THRIVELiza Noonan - CSIROSarah Nolet - Tenacious Ventures and host of AgTech...So What?
2020-03-1143 min
Agtech - So What?Ep61 Alisdair Tulloch on the first-mover advantages of going carbon neutralAgriculture is often vilified for its environmental impact. But what if agriculture could be carbon neutral? Is that even possible? And what would it cost?Alisdair Tulloch, a fourth generation grape grower, believes it’s not only possible but also profitable.In this episode, Alisdair shares his family's journey to carbon neutral. Why did they decide to take action? How are they measuring? What improvements have they made, and how did they prioritize?We also cover:The practices and management decisions Alisdair has made, and what’s working (or not);Why there’s a first-mover advantage of going...
2020-03-0434 min
Agtech - So What?Ep 60 Mark Ferguson on science, sheep, and the tech-enabled future of geneticsMark “Ferg” Ferguson is a sheep geneticist who’s paying attention to how both consumer demands and emerging technologies are impacting growers. Drawing on his experience with dozens of clients around Australia and New Zealand, Ferg shares:insights for agtech companies, like the importance of personas and how to build relationships in a digital world;what the future of extension and consulting in livestock looks like;the role of cutting edge technologies in the sheep industry; anda vision for the future where consumers expectations are met and growers are profitable.For more from Ferg and resources mentioned, see:https...
2020-02-1934 min
Agtech - So What?Ep 59: Mic Fels on startup buzzwords and where the real value is in agtechMic Fels is someone I’ve wanted to speak with ever since I read an article he wrote about how his agtech is really making him money.Mic not only crops about 11,000 hectares in Esperance, Western Australia, but has also built and commercialized a range of software products and machinery through his company, iPaddock.Mic and I chat about where the real value is in agtech, and what building products has taught him about startups and about farming.We also talk about:hard earned lessons and tips for working with tech;whether ideas or execution matter mo...
2020-02-0539 min
Agtech - So What?Ep 58: Fiona Aveyard on drought, dust storms, and value-addingAgtech is about more than the technologies. It's about new business models in agriculture,and of course the innovators driving changes along the value chain. Today’s guest, Fiona Aveyard, a 5th generation mixed farmer, is definitely an innovator and an entrepreneur.We talk about how she’s working on a new supply chain and newvalue add products that can bring more profits to the farm and create jobs in herlocal community. And she’s doing all of this while facing dust storms and the worst drought inhistory.This episode is again part of our series in partne...
2020-01-2241 min
Agtech - So What?Ep 57 Fee Turner and Lee Coleman on being farmers and agtech foundersFee Turner (Bitwise Agronomy) and Lee Coleman (FarmSimple) are both farmers as well as founders of agtech startups. They, along with six other farmer-led businesses, have been selected into the Farmers2Founders Bootcamp program, an intensive 3 month accelerator that is helping them take their business to the next level. In this episode, Fee and Lee tell us about their farms, startups, and the challenges they're facing being farmers and founders. Relevant links:https://www.bitwiseag.com/https://twitter.com/bitwiseaghttps://croppaco.com/https://twitter.com/CroppaCoThis episode is produced in partnership with Farmers2Founders. To...
2020-01-0722 min
Agtech - So What?Stuart Austin on the tools for regenerative agricultureStuart Austin is a regenerative farmer and self-proclaimed early adopter of technology. In this episode we cover everything from how Stuart got involved in regenerative ag, to the tools he's using (and helping build) to make 6 and 7 figure decisions at Wilmot Cattle Company.Stuart also shares his views on alternative proteins, transparency in agriculture, and the books and movies that he's found inspirational. Relevant links:Wilmot Cattle Company- https://www.wilmotcattleco.com.au/Write up of the 2019 Field Day- https://www.maiagrazing.com/250-plus-graziers-attend-field-day-on-drought-resilience/ RCS Grazing for Profit course- https://www.rcsaustralia.com.au/products/family-business...
2019-12-1832 min
Agtech - So What?Meet two of the farmer-led startups in the Farmers2Founders BootcampAshlea Miles and David Ricardo are Australian farmers and founders of agtech startups Training Paddock and Farm Service Manager. They, along with six other farmer-led businesses, have been selected into the Farmers2Founders Bootcamp program, an intensive 3 month accelerator that helping them take their business to the next level. In this episode, Ash and David share the story behind Training Paddock and Farm Service Manager, and reflect on the differences and similarities between running a farm and building a startup. Relevant links:https://www.trainingpaddock.com.au/https://farmservicemanager.com/https://twitter.com/FarmServiceApp (@FarmServiceApp)This...
2019-12-0418 min
Agtech - So What?Aidan Connolly on facial recognition for cowsAidan Connolly is the CEO of Cainthus, and agtech startup using cameras and machine learning to help farmers make better decisions. Before that, Aidan helped Alltech grow from $24 million to $2.3 billion. During that time he was, among many things, Director of the Pearse Lyons Accelerator where he saw hundreds of agtech startups in all different sectors.Aidan shares his insights on:What it's like to go from a global agribusiness to a startupHow cameras are transforming agricultureHow to get engineers off the keyboard and onto the farms they're trying to helpWhy it's so important for farmers to help...
2019-11-2034 min
Agtech - So What?(Live Panel) What does it take for researchers & startups to collaborate in agtech?Coming to you live from the AgTech Meetup in Sydney, this panel explores what it takes for startups and researchers to collaborate successfully in agrifood. Panelists for the evening were: Dr Peter Thorburn, Chief Research Scientist at CSIRO; Tegan Nock, Co-Founder at SoilCQuest; and Nick Hazell, Founder and CEO at V2 Food.V2 Food: https://www.v2food.com/SoilCQuest: https://www.soilcquest.org.au/CSIRO: https://www.csiro.au/The AgTech Meetup is proudly sponsored by SproutX, Australia’s first agtech accelerator.
2019-11-0641 min
Agtech - So What?Murray Scholz on the GMO and Sheep ControversiesMurray Scholz farms with his wife Emma in Southern NSW and the Eastern Riverina on the foothills of the snowy mountains. They grow wheat, canola, lupins, and barley, and run beef cattle and prime lambs.Murray’s family is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year, after his great-grandfather came to the area in 1919. They’ve always been an innovative family, adopting new practices and striving to run a profitableand sustainable business. In this episode, Murray shares several stories of how his thinking has changed through overseas travel and exposure to new perspectives, and the business decisions he’s made a...
2019-10-2328 min
Agtech - So What?Victor Friedberg on Systems Investing and Transition from Commodity to IdentityToday’s guest, Victor Friedberg is the co-founder of S2G ventures, a Chicago-based firm that has backed companies across the ag and food industries such as Beyond Meat, Maple Hill Creamery, Benson Hill Biosystems, and Mercaris. Victor is also the founder of Foodshot Global, a non-profit consortium of companies focused on creating a food system that's more healthy, sustainable, and equitable.In this episode, Victor and I chat about:· How Victor went from tech entrepreneur to food and ag investor· How a systems approach to investing can decrease risk· Opportunities for farmers to benefit from consumer trends· Victor...
2019-10-0929 min
Agtech - So What?Tim Hammerich on Careers in AgTechTim Hammerich, who grew up on a hobby farm in Northern California selling pigs, goats and ducks, is the Founder of AgGrad and the host of the Future of Agriculture podcast. In this episode, Tim and I chat about careers in agriculture, including what companies are looking for, tips for getting a job, and what’s different about jobs in agtech.For more on Tim, check out AgGrad (https://aggrad.com/) or find him on Twitter @TimHammerich and #FutureOfAgriculture Podcast
2019-09-2521 min
Agtech - So What?Ep 49: Rachel Hay on the role of women in agtech adoptionThis week, Dr. Rachel Hay, social scientist at James Cook University and boutique pig farmer, shares insights from her PhD on the role of women in agtech adoption. Published in 2014, Rachel’s findings still hold true and could be helpful for agtech companies looking to understand the industry and develop marketing strategies that can cut through the noise.
2019-09-1119 min
Agtech - So What?Ep 48: Peter Thompson (responding to climate risk)Today’s episode is the 4th in the theme Responding to Climate Risk, brought to you in partnership with the Australian Farm Institute. Check out episodes 42, 44 and 46 to hear more on this theme.Today’s guest is Peter Thompson, a farmer based in rural Queensland, Australia that has been farming regeneratively before the word existed. He and his wife Nicki run grassfed beef cattle, do broad-acre cropping, and have about 6000 acres of wilderness conservation country.His farming philosophy has developed over a lifetime on the land, and in this episode he shares his insights about:Finding compromises that...
2019-08-2122 min
Agtech - So What?Episode 47: Live Q&A with Dan Harburg of IndigoAgToday’s episode is a live recording from the Sydney AgTech meetup. Our guest is Dan Harburg, senior director at Indigo Ag. IndigoAg is one of agtech’s biggest startups. They’ve raised over $650M, have over 1k staff, and are working to expand in the US and internationally. Dan was visiting Australia to learn more about carbon farming, and the work happening here that might be helpful to Indigo and farmers around the world.Indigo Ag - https://www.indigoag.com/Episode produced by Grow Love Project.
2019-08-0733 min
Agtech - So What?Ep. 46 - Ben Krasnostein (responding to climate risk)In this episode we hear from Ben Krasnostein, co-founder and managing director of Kilara Capital, a company that helps facilitate investment opportunities that provide both commercial returns and environmental impacts.Ben believes that we as consumers, primary producers, and global economies need to shift away from a mindset of extraction to one of regeneration. And he believes that business and technology are tools to enable this transition.When it comes to agriculture, Ben sees great opportunities for farmers to benefit during this transition.This episode is the 3rd the theme, responding to climate risk, brought to...
2019-07-2325 min
Agtech - So What?Episode 39: An Update from AgTech - So WhatSarah here with a quick update on what's new and coming soon at AgTech - So What!
2019-04-0804 min
Agtech - So What?Episode 38: Angus Street, AuctionsPlus
Angus Street - CEO, Auctions Plus
This week AgTech So What? Comes to you live from the Sydney AgTech Meetup. Sarah Nolet hosts a conversation with Auctions Plus CEO Angus Street.
It's one of the Top 10 websites visited every day by rural Australians, AuctionsPlus has used simple technology to redefine livestock trading.
Founded in 1986, its fair to say AuctionsPlus has been well tested in the market and has seen some changes over that time in the AgTech and startup scene in Australia. Remaining a privately held company, Auctions Plus is now...
2019-03-2625 min
Agtech - So What?Episode 37: Anthony Rudd, I-AG
This week's conversation is with Leeton, NSW based managing director of I-AG Pty Ltd Anthony Rudd.
Anthony Rudd has a unique insight into the integration of machine automation and data adoption in agriculture and has worked in this space for John Deere Australia, a Chinese company and also in software writing and development.
In 2008 Anthony was employed as John Deere Australia's first ever integrated solutions manager. The concept was extremely new but it had been tested in the United States. Basically his work involved joining technology to the dealership...
2019-03-181h 04
Agtech - So What?Episode 36: The Digital Ag CollectiveThe Digital Ag Collective with Kelly Pearce and Tanya Kilminster from the West Australian wheatbelt.
This podcast conversation is about the development of an Australian farmer owned and controlled group that utilises and shares the most relevant data systems and programs available in the Ag Tech sector.
Kelly Pearce and Tanya Kilminster both live and farm in the West Australian wheatbelt. More notably they both hold Agricultural Science PhD's with the CSIRO.
In their chat with Sarah Nolet they explain the climatic and economic imperatives...
2019-03-1442 min
Agtech - So What?Episode 35: EvokeAG Special 2. Live Panel - Faster, Smarter FarmsEvokeAG LIVE Special!
In this Episode of AgTech So What we take you to a panel Sarah hosted at the recent Agrifutures EvokeAG Event.
Get ready for even faster, smarter farms.
Precision farming, using satellite imagery and drones to monitor crops along with farm-management software tools to maximize decisions are powering smarter farms. Uptake of these and other AgTech innovations are set to expand with the imminent introduction of faster, cheaper connectivity.
Panel members:
• Anastasia Volkova - Flurosat
• Flavia Tata Nardini - Fleet Space Technologies
• Jonah Williams - Airbus
• Will Wells - Hummingb...
2019-03-0948 min
Agtech - So What?Episode 34: EvokeAG Special. Live Panel - Alternative Farming
This week we come to you live from EvokeAG. EvokeAG is an exciting event showcasing the best of the best hosted by Agrifutures.
Sarah Nolet hosts this panel on Alternative farming - a new frontier.
With global population expected to reach 10 billion people in 2050 and urban sprawl encroaching farmland how do we maximize dwindling resources to feed everyone? Farming practices are undergoing a radical transformation to produce more from less and make the most of what is there.
Panel members:
• James Pateras - Modular Farms
• Dror...
2019-03-0345 min
Agtech - So What?Episode 33: Matt Roesner
Matt Roesner is the technical director for his family's machinery business Roesner Pty Ltd. based in Harvey, Western Australia has been in existence for more than 100 years..
The Marshall Multi Spread was the first Australian multi purpose fertiliser spreading machine spreading lime and gypsum at the same time. Since that time 10,000 machines have been built by Matt's family.
Matt says, "we've stayed relevant by spending a lot of time getting to know what our customer base wants and what their needs are. I think one of the challenges these d...
2019-02-2549 min
Agtech - So What?Episode 31: Viv And Margaret
Viv McCollum and Margaret Ayre
We're trying something new on the podcast today - a joint conversation with two admirable women in the Ag Tech space - Viv McCollum and Margaret Ayre.
Vivienne McCollum is the founder of agricultural consultancy AGKServices (AgKnowledge) and has been heavily involved precision agriculture for about 18 years (before smartphones and in some instances the internet!). She shares her insights into the role of young people in the adoption of precision agriculture in Australia, as well speaking about what advisors are struggling with. Viv also...
2019-01-2257 min
Agtech - So What?Episode 28: Mark Mortimer
As a child Mark Mortimer didn't like computers. It's a different story now - Mark has evolved to become an early adopter of technology in the field of sheep genetics and stud breeding in Australia. Computers have changed his livelihood.
Mark speaks with Sarah Nolet from his farm office at Albert near Tullamore in Central West New South Wales, Australia. It's a family farming partnership with his father and brother and it's Mark's job to look after the businesses genetics, so sheep genetics, embryo's and semen for clients. He see's it as his responsibility to...
2018-12-1749 min
Agtech - So What?Episode 26: Chris McLoughlin - Mycelia OrganicsChris McLoughlin, organic mushroom farmer, Mycelia Organics
Chris McLoughlin's forae into farming is a great example of a new generation of investor backed agricultural innovation.
Chris has always had a fascination with soil, dirt and technology and his organic mushroom operation, Mycelia Organics is a mixed of all these things. With a whole lot of self education on the internet, including some online courses he has taught himself how to operate an organic farm that answers what supermarkets and consumers want.
Chris tells Sarah Nolet...
2018-12-0453 min
The Modern Acre39: Helping Innovators Build the Future of Food with AgThentic's Founder, Sarah NoletJoin our Closed Facebook Group HERE Sarah Nolet knows the AgTech space and works with both startups, corporates, and farmers in the industry to help create and build the future of food and agriculture. We dive into her company, AgThentic, which provides leading consulting services to the industry. Sarah shares how the company was originated and how it has evolved and grown to now include a venture capital arm. Not only does she share about building her business, but Sarah also has so much good insight on the industry as a whole. Tune in! Connect...
2018-10-1627 min
Future of AgricultureFuture of Agriculture 112: Accelerating AgTech with Sarah Nolet of AgThenticSarah Nolet is the Founder and CEO of AgThentic, a company that helps ag businesses and their entrepreneurs and innovators build the food systems of the future. She is a renowned food systems innovation expert and is the reason behind Australia’s early stage agtech ecosystem. Sarah holds a degree in System Design and Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.S. in Computer Science and Human Factors Engineering. Sarah joins me today to share her insight regarding the future of ag businesses and how she seeks to help expand them faster. She...
2018-08-0137 min
Woman Owned: The Growth Podcast for Women Entrepreneurs[FFL 226] Secrets of Building a Successful Consulting Business in STEM with Sarah NoletSarah Nolet is a start-up adviser, speaker, and writer. She is a food systems innovation expert who's known globally because of the cause she pursues, the experts and companies she works with, and her role as the founder of AgThentic. She has a Master's degree in System Design and Management from MIT and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Human Factors Engineering from Tufts University. Keep Reading >> Sarah joins me today to share the two significant concerns she tries to resolve through her consulting company and how to successfully launch a consulting business in...
2017-11-2831 min