When it comes to the production of high-value food crops, California is, without question, a global leader. Plus, much of the state’s thousands of acres of farmland lies within close proximity of Silicon Valley, where high-tech tools and solutions are endemic. And yet, many California farmers are struggling to continue their work, and agtech startups are increasingly looking beyond the state for customers and sectors to serve. 

So what gives? 

To answer this question, we asked Walt Duflock, Senior VP of Innovation at Western Growers Association on the show to help us connect the dots on why California’s world-renowned ag and its state-of-the-art tech sectors are struggling to align. Policy plays a big role here, but shifting tides around agtech funding are also having an effect. 

Walt and Sarah also discuss: 

• The impact of a regulatory burden on farmers that has increased from $109/acre to $1,600/acre in less than two decades
• Crunched numbers around the current state of agtech investment, and why vertical farming startups didn’t make it
• Why harvest remains the last frontier of farm robotics, how the technological fundamentals are making it more possible, and what funding models might be used to bring harvest robots to market

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Useful Links:

• It’s time to RIP AgriFoodTech - it was always an unholy alliance (by Walt)
• California Farmer (Walt) Tells Cautionary Tale for Washington Growers (on labor, Good Fruit Grower)
• Why Tech Billionaires Keep Failing at Farming: Lessons in Ag Innovation (podcast)
• Walt Duflock Talks the Future of California Ag with The Modern Acre Podcast
• Farm4Fun Podcast with Walt Duflock 
• Learning from California’s labor challenges with Western Growers’ Walt Duflock (GoodFruitGrower - short video)

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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 seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.