Episode 5: Interview with Kip Pendleton

Summary

In this conversation, Nathan Faleide interviews Kip Pendleton about the adoption and challenges of biologicals in agriculture. Kip shares his journey in the industry, from working in the seed industry to focusing on information and data collection through precision equipment. He believes that biologicals will be the next wave in agriculture, providing sustainable solutions for feeding the world. However, there are challenges in verifying the effectiveness of biologicals and managing expectations. Kip emphasizes the importance of harnessing and utilizing agricultural data to make better decisions and drive technological adoption. He also discusses the global competition in technological adoption, with countries like Brazil leading the way. This conversation explores various themes in US agriculture, including the impact of Brazil on the market, the utilization of technology, the fear of data privacy, the importance of collaboration, the need for change and adaptation, the potential of data, the value of sharing and learning from failures, the importance of interconnected systems, the changing business models, the potential impact of technology companies, the role of robotics, the need for collective action and data stewardship, the need for change in politics, the potential for positive change, the lessons from COVID-19, and key principles for success.

Takeaways

• Biologicals are the next wave in agriculture and offer sustainable solutions for feeding the world.
• Verifying the effectiveness of biologicals and managing expectations are key challenges in their adoption.
• Harnessing and utilizing agricultural data is crucial for making better decisions and driving technological adoption.
• Global competition in technological adoption, with countries like Brazil leading the way, is increasing. Brazil has had a significant impact on the US agriculture market, changing dynamics and affecting prices.
• The utilization of technology is crucial for US agriculture to stay competitive and maintain its position as a global leader.
• There is a fear of data privacy in US agriculture, but the potential benefits of sharing and utilizing data outweigh the risks.
• Collaboration and working together are essential for the success of the agriculture industry.
• Adaptation and change are necessary in agriculture to keep up with evolving systems and consumer needs.
• Data has the potential to revolutionize agriculture and drive advancements in various areas, including seed success, robotics, and value creation.
• Sharing and learning from failures is important for progress and improvement in agriculture.
• Interconnected systems and collaboration between different stakeholders in agriculture can lead to greater success.
• The business models in agriculture are changing, and companies need to adapt to stay relevant.
• Technology companies, such as Amazon and Google, are entering the agriculture market and understanding the food chain better than traditional players.
• Robotics can play a significant role in agriculture, particularly in areas with vast acres and a shortage of labor.
• Collective action and data stewardship are crucial for the future of agriculture.
• There is a need for change in politics to support and advance the agriculture industry.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that rapid change and collaboration are possible and necessary in agriculture.
• Key principles for success in agriculture include working with others, utilizing data effectively, and knowing the value and purpose of one's work.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:15 Kip Pendleton's Journey in Agriculture

06:20 The Rise of Biologicals in Agriculture

07:46 Challenges and Verification of Biologicals

10:13 Managing Expectations for Biologicals

13:37 Adoption Issues and the Role of Startups

16:01 The Role of Ag Retailers in Adoption

21:13 Technology and Scaling in Agriculture

24:03 Knowledge Transfer and Progression in Agriculture

25:41 Harnessing and Utilizing Agricultural Data

27:10 The Trigger for Technological Adoption

28:10 Global Competition in Technological Adoption

28:37 Impact of Brazil on the US agriculture market

29:35 Utilizing technology in US agriculture

31:02 The fear of data privacy in US agriculture

32:31 The importance of collaboration in agriculture

34:04 The unique cooperative system in North Dakota

34:32 The historical context of agricultural systems

36:26 The need for change and adaptation in agriculture

37:24 The potential of data in agriculture

38:21 The importance of sharing and learning from failures

39:18 The value of comparing and sharing data in agriculture

40:15 The need for interconnected systems in agriculture

41:12 The changing business models in agriculture

43:09 The potential impact of technology companies in agriculture

44:34 The importance of collaboration and working together in agriculture

46:21 The role of robotics in agriculture

48:46 The need for collective action and data stewardship in agriculture

51:34 The need for change in politics and agriculture

52:03 The potential for positive change in agriculture

53:18 The lessons from COVID-19 for agriculture

55:17 Key principles for success in agriculture