Discussions on where Ag innovation is heading dominated the conversations at World Agri-Tech, London this month. Nearly 700 leaders in agricultural innovation came together to network, connect and accelerate the transition the industry into the future. Throughout the conference, six trends emerged.
1. Farmer ROI remains the fundamental test
Farmer ROI remains a fundamental test for AgTech innovation. With farmers facing increasing complexity to their operations with climate volatility, water scarcity, high input costs, and increased pest and disease pressure, they are looking for clear returns on their investments.
2. Biologicals as a high-potential productivity lever
Biologicals remain a particularly strong opportunity to improve crop productivity and resilience, with emerging technologies such as RNAi, peptides and other novel approaches expanding what is possible.
3. Innovation must keep pace with climate change
The pace of Ag innovation needs to keep up with the pace of climate change. Gene editing will play an important role in helping agriculture respond faster to changing growing conditions.
4. Science-based regulation as an accelerator
Regulation can be an accelerator of innovation when it provides a clear, science-based and predictable route to market. Regulatory certainty helps companies invest, innovate and commercialize with greater confidence.
5. AgTech needs a different investment model
AgTech may need a different investment model from conventional technology. Development cycles are long, field validation matters, and routes to market can be complex. For founders, understanding potential acquirers while building the company and not treating exit strategy as an afterthought can be critical.
6. Success requires a connected ecosystem
No agricultural technology succeeds in isolation. Academia, industry, regulators, investors and growers all need to be connected if promising science is going to become successful commercial technology.
To succeed, it’s clear that companies must connect science, market need, regulation, farmer economics and commercialization. This is where AgriThority® — Strategic & Scientific Agricultural Development Services can help – moving technologies from scientific promise to field validation, regulatory success and commercial reality.
Fundamentals are the core of the AgriThority Prescriptive Response™ Development process: doing all the right work in the right order is just the beginning of doing the right analysis, proof of efficacy and profit building while incorporating Best Management Practices to change the production paradigms of the farmers. Consider who knows about the efficacy and profit potential? How is the knowledge leveraged into confidence throughout the sales channels and the growers themselves. Pre-launch awareness may be the missing link for most of the innovative products and that does take proactive outreach with differentiating scientifically proven messages.
When your new agricultural innovation is ready for development, turn to AgriThority® for strategic and scientific expertise. Our global footprint is combined with our deep understanding of agricultural business, regulatory demands, market channels and producer dynamics. We help move your innovation from concept to commercial adoption. Contact the team today.
