With investment in the space at an all-time high, ag tech events are popping up in cities from San Francisco to New York.
Problem for the agriculture industry being few aggies care to travel to major metropolitan areas, especially when the season heats up, which leaves many of the topics and technologies discussed grounded in the city.
The goal of the Salinas AgTech Summit, part of the Forbes Reinventing America series, was to overcome those roadblocks and bring Silicon Valley to the Salinas Valley - also known as the “Salad Bowl of the World,” where a majority of the nation’s lettuce is grown.
Bringing together boots and suits under one tent in downtown Salinas, Calif., on July 8-9 helped make for some engaging discussions between business leaders, farmers, investors and politicians about the state of ag-tech, investing in the space, use of big data, the adoption of innovative technologies in the field.
“Having these types of events in agricultural areas is extraordinarily important,” said Tom Nassif, President and CEO of the Western Growers Association, which has represented farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona, California and Colorado since 1926.
“When investors come here, they see the sophistication, and the technology that has already been adopted by the ag industry, and the some of the vast operations that we have here. It gives them a different and more positive perspective about what farming is all about in the 21st Century.”
A Salinas lettuce field located near the The AgTech Summit. Photo by Brian Milne
During the event, ag tech leaders converged under a tent on Main Street Salinas, just outside the nearly completed Taylor Farms Headquarters, which will host the Western Growers Association Center for Innovation and Technology. The center, backed by Western Growers and Silicon Valley Global Partners (SVG Partners), is being built with the goal of helping accelerate and drive investments in ag technologies.
“The fact that we’re opening an innovation center here, an incubator, shows the dedication to bringing these technologies to the field,” Nassif added, “Being near the farmer will let those people, wherever they live, come here and have a place to sit, talk, and work with the farmers who are the ones who are going to invest in this technology.”
During his presentation on “The State of AgTech Investing,” AgFunder CEO Rob LeClerc shared mid-year projections that forecast investment in the Ag Tech space would grow from $2.4 billion in 2014 to $4.2 billion in 2015.
According to LeClerc, 29% of this year’s investments have been in the Food eCommerce space (not much of a surprise given Silicon Valley’s software development background).
That said, robotics (10%), decision support technology (9%), bioenergy (8%) and soil and crop technology (5%) still make up a significant piece of the pie in terms of ag tech investments.
Monterey County growers help produce a majority of the nation's lettuce. Photo by Brian Milne
And we’ll need those technologies to continue taking hold in Salinas and beyond, if the ag industry is going to continue growing more with less in the face of today’s water issues and a global need to feed more than 9.6 billion people by 2050.
“I’d love to continue working with all of these talented young people, who bring a whole new perspective to the issues we’re trying to solve today,” said California Department of Food and Ag Secretary Karen Ross, wrapping up the event. “It’s all about the future. It’s all about the future.”
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.