For commercial farming operations, determining whether or not new tools, technology, and practices work can be a big undertaking. From install and setup costs to helping the team involved climb the learning curve for effective use, even when technologies lead to big benefits, it can be tough to get the ball rolling.

One farm that we’ve learned about recently decided to turn these challenges into a product. The insight is simple– that on the other side of all these tech adoption challenges, there are technologists and companies eager to learn how to overcome them, and to gain third-party information about how their product works in commercial settings. So Boolah, an Australian malt barley grower that manages 70,000 hectares across their network of connected farms, has built a testing and trial business that helps them neutralize the costs of trying out and implementing new tech and tools, while also providing high value data and research to their partners. 

To tell us more about what’s going on at the farm, we’re joined this week by Brooke Sauer, Head of R&D at Boolah. We discuss: 

• How Boolah approached the problem of needing to advance sustainability objectives to keep customers, even though customers weren’t willing to pay more
• Strategies the team have identified to monetize trial and testing activities around new products and practices that improve sustainability
• Which technologies are most appealing to big operations like Boolah, and which ones are being left on the shelf

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Useful Links:

• Relisten to Brooke's previous AgTech... So What? episode: Brooke Sauer on Closing the Gap Between Growers, Agronomists, and Technology
• PURE field day pulls crowd to Pally
• Boolah and Loam boost barley sustainability and market opportunity
• Boolah Farms Facebook
  

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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.