Try Acres for free: https://www.acres.co/
IFPA's Fresh Field Catalyst Accelerator: https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/fresh-field-catalyst/
"Taste is King" on the Fresh Takes on Tech podcast: https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/episode-56-taste-is-king/
"Locally Grown Through Vertical Farming on the Fresh Takes on Tech podcast: https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/episode-59-locally-grown-through-vertical-farming/
"Traceability is Crucial to the World Produce Industry" on the Fresh Takes on Tech podcast: https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/episode-55-traceability-is-crucial-to-the-world-produce-industry/
"New Innovations are Improving All Aspects of Our Produce Supply Chain" on the Fresh Takes on Tech podcast: https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/episode-68-live-from-the-global-show-2022-part-four/
"The Future of Automation is in the Fields" on the Fresh Takes on Tech podcast: https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/episode-57-the-future-of-automation--is-in-the-fields/
Today’s episode features Vonnie Estes, vice president of innovation at the International Fresh Produce Association or IFPA. You probably noticed in our opening segment more than just Vonnie’s voice. That’s because we will be playing clips of some of the entrepreneurs and mentors that participated in IFPA’s Fresh Field Catalyst this past year.
You see, Vonnie reached out about coming back onto the podcast to talk about how applications are open for their second cohort. After talking to Vonnie and hearing about how the first cohort went, I realized this would be a great chance to talk about tech and innovation in the produce industry in general. Our conversation today covers some of the challenges facing this industry, including water, labor, food safety, traceability, quality, compliance and more. And you’ll hear from entrepreneurs and industry leaders about differentiation, consumer preferences, indoor ag, traceability, and automation and robotics.
Before we dive in, I want to make it clear that the intention of the accelerator is to attract companies that already have a product in the market somewhere. That could be a market outside of agriculture, or perhaps in row crops, or maybe in produce but in another geography. So they’re looking for companies that already have some traction, but maybe haven’t directed much focus to produce yet but think that there might be value in that market. If that sounds like you or someone you know, applications close soon: March 20 of 2023. I’ll link to the application in the show notes.
You may remember hearing from Vonnie back in episode 270 of this podcast. To refresh your memory, she has held leadership positions at prominent companies including DuPont, Monsanto, and Syngenta along with start-ups including DNAP, Emergent Genetics, and Caribou Biosciences. She has a BS in Horticulture from New Mexico State and a Masters in Plant Pathology from UC Davis.
In addition to Vonnie, you’re going to hear clips from some of the entrepreneurs and mentors in the program’s first cohort. These clips came from Vonnie’s podcast called Fresh Takes on Tech. You definitely want to go check that out. I’ll link to it in the show notes as well.
FoA 290: Designing Crops That Tell Farmers What's Bothering Them with Shely Aronov of InnerPlant
FoA 289: [VC Roundtable] Trends Boosting Agtech and 2022 Predictions
FoA 288: Tractors as a Service for Smallholder Farmers with Jehiel Oliver of Hello Tractor
FoA 287: Why The Nature Conservancy is Investing in Agtech with Renée Vassilos
FoA 286: Nutrient Density and the Future of Quality-Driven Food Systems with Dan Kittredge
FoA 285: [Tech-Enabled Advisor Series] Helping Growers Save Money with Independent Crop Consultant John Silvera
FoA 284: Autonomous Sprayers with Gary Thompson of GUSS
FoA 283: A Model for Climate-Smart Dairy with Calgren Dairy Fuels
FoA 282: Open Source Weed Control with Guy Coleman and William Salter of OWL
FoA 281: Open Source Ag Technology with Brian Tischler of AgOpenGPS
FoA 280: Organic Farming Myths and Realities with Erin Silva, Ph.D.
FoA 279: Drones for Precision Spraying with Daniel McCann of Precision AI
FoA 278: Technology for Better Milk and Healthier Cows with Bethany Deshpande of SomaDetect
FoA 277: Delivering More Nutritious Food Ingredients with Matt Crisp of Benson Hill
FoA 276: Sustainability, Corporate Responsbility, and ESG with Louisa Parker-Smith of AGCO Corporation
FoA 275: Digital Infrastructure for Ag Supply Chains with Jake Joraanstad and Jesse Vollmar of Bushel
FoA 274: [Tech-Enabled Advisor Series] Precision Ag with Jonathan Zettler of Fieldwalker Agronomy
FoA 273: Designing the Seeds of the Future with Ponsi Trivisvavet of Inari
FoA 272: The Future of Food with Jack Bobo
FoA 271: Ag Robotics Roundtable
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