There 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 Insights, to do a deep dive on these issues. Together they discuss:

• What works (and what doesn’t) in terms of agtech adoption, and what startups and farmer organizations have learned from earlier adoption failures
• Updates to our thinking around distribution of emerging technologies like Deere’s See and Spray, and what the rollout of these products could mean for other agribusiness sectors and the retail channel more broadly. 
• How resilient are incumbent players in world where technology is threatening to shave margin and disrupt business models, and how effectively are they scouting for tech to head off these threats

Useful Links:

• Croptimistic Technologies Inc. (SWAT Maps)
• Check out our blog on Confusing a user with a beneficiary in the messy middle
• Find Stratus Ag Research Reports on biostimulants and more
• Semios/Ag World Unite Under the Brand Almanac
• Read Sarah’s throwback AgFunder article, “The Most Successful Agtech Startup You’ve Never Heard Of”
• FarmBot (AU) and RanchBot (US)
• Nutrien Announces Ken Seitz and Jeff Tarsi as Speakers at the BofA Investor Conference
• The Wide Lens by Ron Adner

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

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