Agtech - So What?

Sarah Nolet

We tell the stories of innovators at the intersection of agriculture and technology to answer the question: what really is agtech and why should you care?

  1. 10/12/2025

    Making underwater forestry scalable and sustainable, with Andrew Morgan of Hydrowood

    Today's episode is a tangible example of a company in the "natural capital" space. While not traditional agtech, the Hydrowood journey hits familiar themes: building a business within nature's constraints, managing capital intensity, and the frustrating search for the right investors. Andrew Morgan watched the Pieman River in Tasmania dam in the 1970s. In 1986, Lake Pieman flooded, submerging centuries-old forests. Many years later, he and co-founder David Wise spotted trees protruding from the dark water- large quantities of native species like Huon Pine, Tasmanian Myrtle, and Sassafras. The timber was salvageable, but they needed underwater logging technology that wouldn't disturb the lake's ecosystem. This led to the founding of Hydrowood. Today, the business has attracted millions in investment and high-end brand partnerships, but the journey has been far from easy. In this episode, guest host Adam Taylor, Insights Lead at Tenacious, and Andrew Morgan discuss: Why the Hydrowood narrative captivates investors and mediaTrading off custom versus standard machinery to lower financial riskPivoting to crowdfunding when traditional investment proved difficultThe future of sustainable and ethical forestryAndrew is also the Managing Director of SFM, an asset manager for large-scale plantation estates and carbon project developer. Useful Links: The economics of valuing natural capital, with Ken HenryHydrowood featured in first global flagship store by R.M WilliamsAustralian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme | Clean Energy RegulatorOnMarket crowd-sourced fundingForest Economics Congress, MONAFor more information and resources, visit our website.  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.

    47 min

  2. 26/11/2025

    Have we hit the tipping point for autonomy in ag? With Shane Thomas and Matthew Pryor

    Over the past few years, the conversation about autonomy in agtech has moved from “but, does it work?” to “how can I get started?” This is a significant shift, indicative of autonomous machinery becoming a fully commercial category in agriculture. In this episode, Matthew Pryor, Founding Partner at Tenacious Ventures, discusses his recent observations at the Gatton Agtech Showcase, in QLD, Australia, highlighting the move towards production-ready autonomous machinery. He discusses how structure is now emerging in the Australian agtech autonomy market, including in sales and distribution, with a mix of companies from established equipment dealers to venture backed scale-ups. He predicts growth in this market to only compound in the coming years. Matthew and Sarah are joined by Shane Thomas, founder of Upstream Ag Insights, to also dive into recent agtech news and market trends. They discuss: The role of traditional dealership networks in an autonomous futureThe potential misuse of the term ‘autonomous’Regional variations in market dynamics around autonomy between Australia, the US, and CanadaThe forces reshaping crop protection, including the rise of non-chemical solutions such as laser weeding and electric weed controlUseful Links: Carbon Robotics raises $20m to build ‘another AI robot’?, AgFunder News Monarch Tractor sued over tractors that were 'unable to operate autonomously', TechCrunchIs Farmers’ Traditional Loyalty to Ag Equipment Colors Fading?, Farm EquipmentThe Four Forces reshaping the crop protection industry and what comes next, Upstream Ag InsightsThe Generics Revolution and the New Economic Geography of the Global Pesticide Industry, Journal of Agrarian ChangeThe Race to Define the Future of Ag Retail with Shane Thomas of Upstream Ag Insights, Agtech So What?Getting into the Weeds: AI, Computer Vision, and the Future of Non-Chemical Weeding, Agtech So What?Investment Notes: Azaneo, Tenacious VenturesDisrupting the AgTech Ecosystem with Ron Adner, Agtech So What?Vavilovian Mimicry, BionityFor more information and resources, visit our website.  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. [0007:25] The role of dealerships in an autonomous future[00:17:45] The forces reshaping crop protection[00:25:20] Weeds adapting to non-chemical crop solutions

    32 min

  3. 12/11/2025

    The Business Case for Electrifying Agriculture, with Cherry Grower Mike Casey

    In the race to decarbonize agriculture, the spotlight often falls on carbon sequestration, genetics, and alternative proteins. But have we overlooked something that’s right in front of us? Electricity. Mike Casey is a self-described “tech bro turned farmer” from Cromwell, New Zealand. Mike runs what’s believed to be the world’s first fully electric farm, made up of 21 electric machines, from irrigation systems and frost-fighting fans, to electric tractors and forklifts. His business is aptly named Electric Cherries, where power is generated from renewable sources on-farm. Mike says this has enabled him to save tens of thousands on energy costs every year, while also developing a business model for farming that’s both profitable and low-carbon. Sarah and Mike discuss: How an old diesel pump kicked off Mike’s electrification crusadeThe economics of going electric on a farm (and is it only possible in New Zealand or on a cherry farm?)What electric machinery changes (and doesn’t) about running a farm business Why farmers stand to benefit from the shift away from centralized, fossil fuel power generation to decentralized renewable energyMike is also the CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa, a movement helping Kiwis switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy. His mission is simple: make electric technology an economic no-brainer for every farmer and household. Useful Links: On-Farm Electrification isn't an equipment change, it's a systems change, Agtech So… What?Electric Cherries,  Evoke Ag presentation by Mike CaseyElectric Farms Report, Rewiring AotearoaThe future of (decentralized) fertilizer, with Jupiter Ionics (Tenacious portfolio company)For more information and resources, visit our website.  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.

    45 min

  4. 30/10/2025

    The realities of winding up an agtech app, with Nikki Davey

    What happens when an agtech startup with market pull, a clear mission, and global momentum still doesn’t make it? Nikki Davey is the founder of Grown Not Flown, which helped thousands of local flower growers reach customers who wanted sustainable blooms. Nikki’s app directly addressed the problem of ‘flower miles’. In Australia and the US, a store bought bouquet is likely to be made up of flowers that have been flown long distances, from places such as South America, Asia, or Africa. Nikki won the National AgriFutures Rural Women's Award in 2023 for Grown Not Flown, which helped to further establish the business. But, as the Grown Not Flown app was taken up across multiple countries, the challenge of scaling became harder for the startup and ultimately it was wound up.  In this candid, episode Sarah and Nikki discuss: ·  Misconceptions about the hardest part of founding an agtech startup. ·  The realities of small founding teams,  finding investors, and scaling with limited resources. ·  The emotional toll of what happens when your identity is tied to your startup. ·  Why the end of a business does not mean the end of the mission Useful Resources: Victorian rural tech entrepreneur Nikki Davey named the 2023 AgriFutures Rural Women's Award National WinnerAre agtech startups just digital agribusinesses? Mark Kahn, Omnivore, Agtech So What?Sustainable Floristry NetworkFor more information and resources, visit our website.  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.

    46 min

  5. 15/10/2025

    Agtech trends: bundling, unbundling, LLMs and more with Shane Thomas and Matthew Pryor

    ‘Bundling’ is a well-known business strategy, especially in tech, where it’s not only used to increase sales and move slow-selling products, but also to tie customers into an ecosystem (such as Apple or Microsoft). So what about all the unbundling that’s been happening in agtech recently? While historically we’ve seen seed companies offer bundled options, such as seeds, crop management, and data products, there is now a trend towards ‘unbundling’ in agriculture. This is exemplified by Corteva’s recent decision to unbundle its seed and crop protection divisions into two publicly traded companies. Similarly, Farmers Business Network(FBN) has also spun off its global crop solutions business from its digital marketplace.  In this episode, Sarah Nolet unpacks the bundling/unbundling dilemma in agtech with Shane Thomas, founder of Upstream Ag Insights and Matthew Pryor, Founding Partner at Tenacious Ventures. They discuss: The strategic impacts of unbundling for companies such as FBN and Corteva, as well as the broader impacts on farmers and markets.The market dynamics that encourage companies to bundle or unbundle.How Large Language Models (LLMs) are being used in agtech, including Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and other AI frameworks.Shane Thomas’ new AskUpstream AI tool.Recent acquisitions in agtech, such as the Growers Edge acquisition of FarmTestUseful Links: What Corteva’s Seed and Chemical Split Could Mean For Your Farm, Successful Farming Growers Edge Acquires FarmTest, Growers EdgeFarmers Business Network the latest to spin off company, following Corteva, Kraft Heinz, AgFunderNewsDTN acquires Grain Discovery, DTNAlphaEarth, Google DeepMindKraft Heinz to split a decade after merger in a bid to revive growth, The GuardianFor more information and resources, visit our website.  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.

    32 min

  6. 01/10/2025

    Putting cotton farmers at the forefront of the cotton industry, with Marzia Lanfranchi

    The biggest issue facing the cotton industry isn't fast fashion or water consumption. It's that the people growing cotton have been rendered invisible. The industry fixates on fiber quality and commodity pricing while the farmers themselves– and their role in determining sustainability outcomes– get lost. Marzia Lanfranchi, founder of the global community Cotton Diaries, is a strategic consultant working to improve supply chain sustainability in the cotton industry. She argues that cotton is viewed first and foremost as ‘a cheap fiber,’ instead of a commodity that is grown in the field.  She has seen that when cotton is treated purely as "a cheap fiber" rather than an agricultural product shaped by farming practices, the entire system suffers, including the sustainability frameworks fashion brands are trying to build. In this episode, we discuss why putting farmers at the center changes everything. Sarah and Marzia discuss: What fashion brands miss or overlook about regenerative agricultureWhy cotton is often perceived as a ‘water thirsty crop’ (and why that is not always the case)How stories are useful ‘tools’ to help people visualize solutions to problemsHow traceability can be built into supply chains to help fashion brands improve sustainabilityUseful Links: Cotton Diaries “Manifesto”VejaLandfill to Farmfill: rethinking cotton waste (podcast)Promises of premiums won’t cut it to scale sustainable agrifood supply chainsFor more information and resources, visit our website.  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.

    32 min

  7. 17/09/2025

    Will China’s cheaper tractors disrupt ag equipment? With Lachlan Monsbourgh

    As the world’s largest agricultural economy, when China makes a move, the world pays attention. China has just unveiled an ambitious plan to accelerate its development of ag machinery by shortening its research and development cycles. So will China dominate the future of agricultural machinery, and what does this mean for dealers, farmers, and agtech companies? Lachlan Monsbourgh, Global Rural Agricultural and Environmental Lead at Rabobank, joins us to discuss China’s pivotal role in global agriculture. This includes China’s rapidly developing ag machinery industry, which can manufacture tractors and equipment for about half the cost of the other major players in the US, Europe and Japan. While the products currently face quality, durability and serviceability challenges, Lachlan argues it is only a matter of time before these are overcome.  Lachlan and Sarah discuss: The price point difference between Chinese agricultural manufacturers and other big OEMsThe impact of cheaper tractors on agtech adoption and autonomyHow China is moving to ensure sustainable supply chains from countries such as Brazil.Global biodiversity targets and the role of autonomous robotics in helping to achieve them.Useful Links: How China is reshaping Global Food Systems for the Climate Change Era, World Economic ForumTarget to accelerate agriculture machinery development, AgTechNavigatorKunming Montreal Biodiversity frameworkThe Three Categories of Autonomy in Agriculture, SwarmFarm RoboticsFor more information and resources, visit our website.

    38 min

  8. 03/09/2025

    From agtech adoption problems to high performance farming teams, with Kevin Boyle, EFI

    When the agtech is not working in the field, we can be quick to search for answers in the product itself. But sometimes, the solution is not there. That’s because it’s not a technical problem, but rather a social systems challenge. Kevin Boyle is the Director of Organizational and Workforce Development at the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI). He argues that a key component of the farming and food system is often overlooked; and that’s the people who work on the ground. Farm workers can be seen as low-skilled, with little more to offer than the set tasks they perform. However, Kevin is seeking to change this approach, to better recognize the knowledge these workers have, and to create recognizable career paths for them. Kevin also believes that focusing on the workforce will ultimately benefit the development and adoption of agtech. He spent much of his career in telecommunication tech, where he helped integrate the new digital technologies of the 1990s into the system, including the workers. Sarah and Kevin discuss: ·  Kevin’s unique career background, from growing up on a farm, to working in telecommunications tech, and consulting across Europe and the United States. ·  How the perception of farm workers as ‘tools’ rather than humans with skills, knowledge, and desires has hindered tech adoption. ·  How to better recognize the skills and knowledge of farm workers, to build high performance farming businesses ·  How applied university research can be used to test a product in the broader system before it goes to market. Useful links: ·  Can robotics solve the farm labor problem? With Connie Bowen and Sophie Thorel ·  How policy hamstrings agtech in California - Walt Duflock

    41 min
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4.8
out of 5
68 Ratings

About

We tell the stories of innovators at the intersection of agriculture and technology to answer the question: what really is agtech and why should you care?

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Nolet
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    201
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 Tenacious Ventures
  • Show Website
    Agtech - So What?

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