Roric Paulman, owner of Paulman Farms, one of Nebraska’s two “smart farms,” addressed a gathering of around 100 people, emphasizing the critical challenge of agtech adoption. He extended his arm, illustrating the trust barrier that farmers often have with new technologies. “This is my arm. This is where y’all reside — right out here,” Paulman said. “That’s where the trust factor is. It isn’t that (farmers) distrust anyone. It’s, ‘How do you get inside of this arm’s length?’”
This question was central to the inaugural Spur AgConverge conference, held Nov. 24 in Gothenburg. The event, organized by Ankit Chandra, director and lecturer for entrepreneurship in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, aimed to foster a stronger agtech ecosystem in Nebraska. Attendees included academics, startups, industry leaders, and farmers from Nebraska, North Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, South Korea, and Brazil.
Hollie Mackey, CEO of the NSF AgTech Engine in North Dakota, highlighted a key issue in agtech: “When people think about innovation, they think about the ways that they can make money. What nobody wants to talk about are the ways that (agriculture) industry players are oftentimes exploiting the growers.” Chandra and the AgConverge, however, focused on supporting growers and ensuring local resources stay within communities.
As the keynote speaker, Paulman set the tone for the day. He acknowledged the rapid pace of agtech innovation but also the financial struggles of growers due to low crop prices, trade wars, and rising costs. Farmers are often unable to invest in new technologies, making it crucial for startups and academics to prove their value in a cost-effective and trustworthy manner. “What’s the first thing to go … You’re the first to go,” Paulman said, emphasizing that farmers must prioritize essential expenses over new technologies.
The conference featured a unique format where nine startups pitched directly to farmers, who then evaluated the startups’ viability. Clark McPheeters, a fifth-generation Nebraska farmer, discussed the nuances of agtech adoption, such as the variability of moisture probes. Despite economic challenges, McPheeters saw potential in startups like iCrop and Nave Analytics, which offer probe-less irrigation data analysis. He committed to trying their products and won a $1,000 prize to support this adoption.
The risk of new technologies for producers was also addressed. One farmer expressed concern about investing in niche commodities with single-end users, highlighting the need for startups to consider the broader market. Another farmer won a $1,500 prize to work with startups, demonstrating the potential for collaboration despite financial constraints.
For founders, the conference provided a valuable opportunity to receive direct feedback from farmers. Jessi Korinek, CEO of Nave Analytics, appreciated the format: “I love the idea of the new format, and the opportunity for us as startups to get the direct feedback from our customers.”
A closing panel on industry and academia discussed the challenges and aspirations of building a cohesive agtech ecosystem in Nebraska. Xin Qiao, an associate professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, emphasized the need for research to be simple and proven, citing a disease-monitoring tool for sugar beets that took three years of testing. Kurtis Charling, vice president of global agtech sales and product management at Lindsay Corporation, highlighted the hesitancy in industry to partner with academia due to intellectual property and licensing costs.
Don Batie, manager of Batie’s Farm in Lexington, acknowledged the challenge of encouraging more farmers to attend such events and try new technologies. The Spur AgConverge conference marked a significant step in bridging the gap between agtech innovators and farmers, fostering a more collaborative and supportive ecosystem in Nebraska.