Why Good Agtech Doesn't Always Get Adopted, with Chad Godsey

How do you know when a new agtech product is actually ready for the farm? 

Growing up on a family farm in Colorado over the declining Ogallala Aquifer, Chad Godsey has spent his career searching for ways to improve water and nutrient efficiency.  These days he’s the Chief Agronomist for Green Evolution Technologies, which has a hydrogel technology that’s engineered to store water and nutrients in the soil.

This episode explores why adoption looks different on every farm, how growers are increasingly using their own data to assess new products, and why farmer confidence, not just evidence, is often the biggest barrier to change.

Hosted by Tenacious’ Dr. Maddie Mitchell, they discuss why Green Evolution Technologies has deliberately taken a slower path to market, the role of farmer investors, and how building a product around real farming systems (versus chasing rapid growth) can create stronger businesses in the long term.

Maddie and Chad discuss:

  • Why farmers trust their own on-farm trials more than research papers
  • The realities of the technology adoption curve in agtech
  • Why startup timelines don't always match farming timelines
  • The commercialization strategy behind Green Evolution Technologies
  • Why efficiency is becoming more valuable than simply increasing yield
  • The role of hydrogels in improving water and nutrient use efficiency

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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.

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Key takeaways

  • [00:07:00] Farmers trust their own data most
  • [00:13:50] Great agtech takes time to commercialize
  • [00:23:30] Efficiency is the new measure of success

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