Agtech Action | Week of 09.14.19-09.20.19

Happy Friday!

Welcome to Agtech Action. 

This is the last Agtech Action written by me (for a while, at least...who knows, maybe I’ll make a guest appearance some time…) I’m stoked to introduce you to Brandon Day, who, among many other things at the Yield Lab Institute, will be taking over responsibility for this newsletter. PR coming next week, but you guys get the early scoop. Definitely reach out to Brandon@theyieldlab.com to welcome him aboard. He’s ALMOST as excited about the opportunities within agrifood technology as I am (maybe even on my level :) .) 

Quick Connie update: I’ve taken an opportunity to build a new company, Farmacopia Farms. We’re building a new farm-to-consumer brand that enables good farmers to profit through vertical integration. Buy some hemp products (or stay tuned for hazelnut…my weekend plans involve large quantities of hazelnut and chocolate…new product coming soon.) I’m staying engaged with the Yield Lab Institute as a board member. Reach out to me at connie@farmacopiafarms.com if you’d like to learn more (or, catch me on AgGrad Live this upcoming week.)

Now on to the good stuff (warning, more text than usual here...not sure if you’ll miss my unsolicited opinions/comments on things, but I’ll miss sharing them!)

Applications & deadlines:

1. My personal favorite accelerator, The Yield Lab North America is open until Oct 25th! Apply today! ($100k investment, 1on1 mentorship, and access to an awesome, ever-expanding global network)

2. IMPULSE, a 12- week acceleration program for innovative startups that have a prototype or a marketable product in the fields of Agtech, Biotechnology applied to Agriculture, Mining Technology or Materials Science & Nanotechnology. Applications close in 10 days on Oct 1 - learn more and apply now!

3. Don't forget to nominate folks for Forbes 30under30! (here’s hoping they don’t let the 100-most-innovative(dudes+1 woman) guys run the selection committee this year…)

Opportunities:

1. Meat & dairy producers are not doing their job on emissions << Manure Challenge to the rescue! (*in part - there’s no one solution for anything, of course!*)

2. Australia's place at the global table

3. It's time to invest in seeds

4. RethinkX declares the end of animal protein < Feels like whoever wrote this hasn’t stepped outside of the US….pretty solid evidence pointing to the importance of young children eating animal protein….

   1. Are plant-based milks causing harmful nutritional deficiencies in children?

   2. But, lots of folks are betting on it > check out AgFunder's new alt protein fund

5. Consumers are confused about sustainable diets (which part, sustainable or diet? Neither seems to have a standard definition…)

6. Nitrous oxide, the under-rated GHG! < Some pretty cool companies participating in the Manure Challenge address this!

7. A Louisiana spillway helps flood-proof New Orleans, and its killing Mississippi's seafood industry

8. How America's wild horses end up in slaughterhouses abroad

Solutions:

1. What happens when food delivery startups hire employees instead of contractors?

2. Eliminate crop insurance?

3. Farmers understand that climate change is happening and that we have to adapt

Policy:

1. AFBF demands that USDA NRCS abuses must end (AFBF is mad)

2. ILSI's role in shaping global food policy

3. Farmers & Ranchers sign on to support Green New Deal

4. Workers groups sound alarm over risk of new federal laws allowing higher-speed pig slaughtering 

Finance:

1. The problem with sugar-daddy science < watching this MIT “expose” blow up has been fascinating...

2. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em - the role of JVs for agtech startups

3. Bellweather coffee check's the impact boxes (which appear to be totally qualitative, as per usual...still, cool model/company.)

4. Impossible Foods makes retail debut as Tim Horton's removes Beyond Meat from menu

5. Marfrig, leading Brazilian beef producer, guilty of deforestation

6. Farmwise raises $14.5M Series A

7. Cannalysis raises $22.6M Series A

Fun:

1. An interview with Meat Planet author, Benjamin Aldes Wurgaft < Adding this to my to-read book list (finally got through The Wizard & The Prophet on my drive from STL to Oregon...that’s definitely worth a read for everyone on this listserv...though honestly, cliff notes version would probably suffice.)

This week’s Agrifood Conversation Webinar, “Turning Organic Waste into Energy, Clean Water and More,” will feature Dan Spracklin, CEO and founder of SoMax BioEnergy. Register here, and tune in on Thurs, 9/26 at 3pm CDT.

Thanks as always, for reading! I’ll miss my fun Friday-night newsletter time and your responses, but I’m sure I’ll run into most of you at one point or another in the wonderful world of agrifood tech!

Have a great weekend,

Connie