Anyone paying passing attention to the agricultural sector understands that it is in the middle of an “agtech” revolution. Innovations are coming fast and furious. AgFunder reported a total of $16.9 billion in agtech funding in 2018 compared to $2.36 billion in 2014 — equal to 63.5% average annual growth in agtech funding over this 5-year window.
Innovations range from microbial seed treatments to on-farm robots, from reimagined agricultural marketplaces to data-driven farm management systems, from indoor farms to protein burgers.
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USDA’s stated vision is “to provide economic opportunity through innovation … to promote agriculture production … to preserve our Nation’s natural resources.” Could they help drive agtech innovation?
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The Farm Bill has incorporated a variety of programs over the last 15-to-20 years that aim to improve on-farm adoption of environmentally beneficial practices, including:
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)
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We can help drive US agricultural productivity in a difficult time for the sector, fuel continued innovation in the agtech arena, and facilitate the transition of novel technologies to the farm.
The law is wide open; it’s only a question of USDA leadership.
Read full, original article: USDA Could Help Pave the Way for Farmtech Adoption: Where are you Sonny Perdue?
