WayBeyond’s Post

And attend, we did! Last week, we were lucky enough to attend AcresUSA’s Eco-Ag conference and dive deep into the future of sustainable farming. A buzzing topic at the conference was the potential of microbial genomic sequencing to transform agriculture. By decoding the genetic makeup of soil microbes, we’re uncovering new ways to boost soil health, improve plant resilience, and reduce the need for chemical inputs. But with great data comes great responsibility, and the need for robust data management is more pressing than ever. At SoilBeat, we’ve seen firsthand how poor data management can stifle innovation. It’s not enough to generate data; it needs to be organized, analyzed, and made actionable. Tools that consolidate and visualize this information—like what we offer—are crucial for agronomists and farmers navigating the complexities of modern agriculture. The AcresUSA Eco-Ag conference reinforced the idea that sustainable farming relies on more than just good practices—it requires smart technology and informed decisions. Microbial genomic sequencing holds the promise of healthier soils, more resilient crops, and a more sustainable food system. But without robust systems for managing the resulting data, we risk leaving that potential untapped. Check out this week’s blog post from Jack Washburn, who attended the Eco-Ag conference. His valuable insights and reflections on the soil’s microscopic ecosystem is worth a read! Click the link below to learn more about how one can ensure a sustainable food system by pairing cutting-edge science with streamlined tools for data management.  https://lnkd.in/ejBvBQzu #AcresUSA #EcoAgConference #SustainableAgriculture #SoilBeat #DataManagement https://lnkd.in/e-n--pKH

❓"How do our seed innovations help farmers WIN in terms of yield ánd sustainability?"❓🧑🌾 #Throwback to the October #Euroseeds2024 conference where our CEO Benjamin Laga was interviewed by Marcel Bruins, Editorial Director of Seed World Europe. Check out the inspiring interview below! 👇 #ProteinIndependence #SustainableFarming #AgInnovation #EuropeanAgriculture #Legumes

🌎 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 🌎 🌾At the heart of the regenerative approach lies the essence of collaboration—spanning sectors and value chains—to forge a sustainable future. During the session ‘𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞’ experts Richard Zaltzman, John Cherry of Groundswell Agriculture Ltd, Philippe Birker, Andy Cato of Wildfarmed and Vanessa Maire will explore the rich potential of regenerative farming for creating new business models, expanding income options, and reducing farmers' risks by smartly matching supply with demand. With the current momentum seeing both titans and emerging players in the agricultural sphere converging in EU-level initiatives, this session delves into the 'who,' 'why,' and 'how' of this united front. 🌽 Offering perspectives from across the value chain, including pivotal stakeholders such as financial institutions, insurers, investors, and governmental bodies, we unravel the synergistic potential that regenerative agriculture holds for a resilient and thriving ecosystem. The session is moderated by Charlotte Weston. We look forward to welcoming you next week at F&A Next 2024! #fanext #agriculture #emissions #climate

If you've heard me chat about my work over the past year, you'll know that I've had the chance to lean deeply into the intersections of ranching, regeneration, technology, and data. This surprises me, as I am the kind of person who has long been averse to centering data and technology as "solutions"; I strongly believe we cannot use technology to shortcut our way out of deeply rooted cultural and paradigmatic issues in the food system. That being said, my work has repeatedly demonstrated the value of bringing technology and data together with the "soft things" that I naturally tend to (cultural change, relationship development, and reenvisioning the role that humans have) in order to address our environmental and social issues. If technologies can support rancher decision-making, farm economics, animal well-being, and thriving ecosystems, maybe I shouldn't be so hard-headed! I still place paradigmatic change at the forefront, but lets say I've become tech-curious 😉 . As a result, my work today leans more toward data and technology than I could have expected. Most recently, I have spent the past half-year generating a report that highlights 249 tech entities and 30 datasets that are available to ranchers and corporations to advance sustainability in the beef industry. Topics addressed include #carbon impact #MRV and modeling, #rancher decision-making, hardware, and/or #biotech for improved ranch efficiency across impact areas of #soil, #forage, #feed, #biodiversity, #herd management, #fertility, #health, #genomics, and more. Writing this report in partnership with the Nature Tech Collective has furthered my enthusiasm for sustainability technologies. If you look at the report, though, you'll see much of my concerns (as highlighted by expert interviews) come through in the take-aways: 1) Adoption of technologies will remain low if tech solutions don't first and foremost provide value to farmers/ranchers and their communities 2) The industry will fall short if it does not holistically address environmental and social challenges; an overemphasis on carbon is potentially a reason that other indicators, like biodiversity and water, have been underemphasized 3) Collaboration across the industry is necessary to support the first and second points Unsurprisingly, I turned a report focused on technologies back to the "soft things" 😅. Join this webinar to hear folks in the industry dive into the nitty gritty and share their perspectives as funders, tech providers, and industry conveners. (And comment below if you want me to send the report your way!)

Before you clock out for the year, join us for an exclusive webinar providing the highlights of our upcoming Cattle Tech 2.0 sector map. We have a fantstic panel of experts from both the field and the lab - some please come with questions!

This year’s United Nations theme, "From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development", perfectly aligns with our mission at Agriarche. We are at the forefront of the digital agriculture revolution, driven by a team that is 80% youth, and we are passionate about empowering more young people in the sector. Check out our latest blog post on how youth can drive the future of agriculture through technology. https://lnkd.in/dXpvXwf5

Alongside our problem solving CEO, Jennifer Morris, and Michael Wironen, Ph.D. our Corporate Engagement Director with The Nature Conservancy, I attended the always thought provoking annual S2G Ventures Summit - Financing the Transition: From Innovation to Scale. Jennifer spoke to Howard W. Buffett about our work - Living Laboratories: Bridging Private Sector to Bring Strategy to Life. How is The Nature Conservancy working at scale to finance the transition to tackling the dual crises of the #climateemergency and #biodiversity loss? Examples from our agriculture innovation work, nature.org/aginnovation: vence corp, virtual herd management- piloting across several ranches including in Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico- testing with ranch operations to see the climate mitigating impact of regenerative grazing and business outcomes from the use of the tech.   Working with Growers Edge to pilot warranties to de-risk the adoption of cover crops in Iowa and the adoption of nutrient management strategies in Chesapeake Bay. The adoption of these practices is critical for our scaling agriculture's role as a nature based solution. Results from this pilot are coming in Q3 2024. Thank you to Jessica Murphy and S2G Ventures for hosting us.

Year 2 of the AgTech Innovation Hub in action with the construction on a series of weather stations - called a mesonet - to provide more accurate weather data for farmers. Our valued partnership with Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau provides research funding that drives agricultural advancements to manage and mitigate climate risk. Four research projects selected by the Hub Council tackle big challenges in agriculture: labor shortages, safety in controlled environment ag, and support for climate-smart practices as producers and communities adapt to extreme weather. Read more: https://bit.ly/3TKDZHj

Reflecting on key insights from the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) Congress 2024, we are reminded of the enduring importance of resilience in agriculture. As we face an evolving landscape with both local and global challenges, it’s vital that we create spaces where every voice can be heard, much like in a thriving democracy. As International Democracy Day approaches, let's commit to fostering an environment where diverse perspectives shape the agricultural sector we need. #AgbizCongress #FoodSecurity #Sustainability 📷: Agbiz/Strike A Pose Studios.

🌍 Europe's Agricultural Crisis in the Spotlight of the Global Collaboration Institute 🌿 Check out our latest article on how we could address Europe's agricultural challenges through metacollaborative solutions. Step by step, through a series of successful pilots, we've transformed global collaboration from a distant dream in 2021 into a vibrant reality in 2024, unlocking a world of possibilities. Soon, we will invite you all to join us in co-creating innovative solutions for a sustainable future! Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dE_cwpCA #GlobalCollaboration #AgriculturalSustainability #Metacollaboration #Innovation #SustainableFuture