AgTech360

Trait Innovation and the Future of Farming 19.05.2026 30Min.

Charlie Baxter, Head of Trait R&D at Syngenta discusses how plant traits, biotechnology and genome editing are shaping the future of agriculture. From insect resistance and herbicide tolerance to AI-driven trait discovery and precision breeding, Charlie explains how crop trait innovation is helping farmers improve yield, strengthen climate resilience and advance sustainable farming practices. The conversation also explores the future of crop improvement, the evolving role of genetic techn...

AgTech at a Crossroads: Capital, Innovation, and Resilience 18.03.2026 29Min.

In this final episode of the Climate-Ready Agriculture series, agtech investor and innovation advisor Mark Brooks shares insights on how new technologies, research, and business decisions are shaping the future of agriculture. The conversation explores emerging trends in agtech, how climate challenges are influencing real-world decisions across the food system, and why stronger collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry will be key to building more resilient agricultural s...

AI-Powered Plant Breeding with Avalo 04.03.2026 23Min.

Mariano Alvarez, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of Avalo, shares how AI and machine learning are reshaping plant breeding. From genomic prediction to advanced modeling and data-driven decision-making, we explore how advanced tools are accelerating crop development and helping breeders tackle complex traits like heat tolerance, drought response, and nitrogen use efficiency. The conversation highlights how AI is reshaping the speed, cost, and impact of modern crop development—from t...

MRV: From Measurement to Impact with Bill Salas 18.02.2026 17Min.

In this episode, Bill Salas, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at Regrow, explains how MRV—measurement, reporting, and verification—is helping agriculture quantify environmental and agronomic outcomes at the field level. The conversation explores how satellite data, models, and farm-level information come together to support climate-ready agriculture, enable regenerative programs, and help growers and agri-food companies make informed, data-driven decisions.

Soil Microbes and Crop Resilience with Dr. Amy Grunden 04.02.2026 17Min.

Dr. Amy Grunden, professor of microbiology at NC State University, discusses how soil biology and plant–microbe interactions play a critical role in crop resilience under heat, drought, and other climate stresses. She shares insights into how microbial diversity supports nutrient cycling, disease suppression, and overall plant health, and how interdisciplinary research is deepening our understanding of resilient cropping systems. Find out what these discoveries could mean for growers and the ...

Using Biologicals to Tackle Resistance and Protect Global Food Systems 18.12.2025 13Min.

Dr. Louise Thatcher of CSIRO shares insights into how biological crop protection tools are helping address resistance challenges and support more resilient food systems. The discussion highlights the science behind microbial discovery, the journey from lab to field, and why consistency, grower trust, and regulatory alignment are essential for scaling biologicals globally. The conversation offers a global perspective on how nature-based solutions can play an impactful role in sustainable...

Microbes at Work: Nature-Based Crop Protection in Action 11.12.2025 14Min.

Isabel Vercauteren, CEO and co-founder of Aphea Bio, shares how microbes are being harnessed to create new biocontrol and biostimulant solutions for agriculture. She explains how Aphea Bio’s advanced R&D platform identifies promising microbial candidates, and discusses the opportunities and challenges of bringing biological products to market. Learn more about the future of biologicals, the evolving regulatory landscape, and how microbial innovations can support more sustainable and resil...

Science in Sequence: How RNAi is Transforming Crop Health 19.11.2025 13Min.

GreenLight Biosciences’ CCO Mark Singleton explains how RNA interference (RNAi) technology is opening a new pathway for sustainable crop protection. Learn how RNAi works, why it offers a highly targeted and biodegradable alternative to traditional chemistry, and how the company’s innovations are shaping the future of plant health. Tune in to hear how RNA-based tools are moving from scientific concept to real-world solutions for growers.

Molecular Precision: Micropeptides and the Next Wave of Biologicals 05.11.2025 18Min.

CTO Mikael Courbot shares how Micropep is harnessing plant-derived micropeptides —tiny, naturally occurring molecules designed with AI and advanced modeling — to precisely target weeds and diseases. Learn how this breakthrough approach is giving farmers powerful, sustainable biological alternatives to traditional crop protection chemicals.

Field Tested, Fully Charged: Monarch’s Electric Tractor Breakthrough 29.10.2025 17Min.

Chris Whitney, Chief Digital Officer at Monarch Tractor, shares how the company’s fully electric, driver-optional tractor is redefining power and productivity on the farm. By combining clean energy, advanced autonomy, and intelligent data systems, Monarch is helping drive a more efficient and sustainable future for agriculture.

Smarter, Smaller, Stronger: Kioti’s Robots Boost Orchard Productivity 15.10.2025 17Min.

Kioti is redefining smart farming with a new generation of compact, autonomous technologies built to meet the needs of smaller farms. Chief Product and Technology Officer YJ Son discusses how the company’s innovations—from transport robots for orchard operations to AI-driven equipment—are boosting productivity and addressing critical labor challenges. Learn how Kioti is making advanced automation accessible to a wider range of growers and helping small farms thrive.

Drones, Sensors, AI: Farming the Future with Dr. Bai 01.10.2025 15Min.

Dr. Frank Bai shares his global journey into precision and digital agriculture and highlights how sensors, drones, and AI-driven tools are shaping the future of farming. As an Assistant Professor at NC State, he bridges engineering and agriculture to tackle challenges in the field. In this episode, he discusses his autonomous scouting project at the Sandhills Research Station, innovative methods for screening drought tolerance in soybeans, and the growing role of digital technologies in...

Engineering Autonomy: John Deere’s AI-Powered Tractors at Work 17.09.2025 14Min.

Aaron Wells, Director of Engineering & Autonomy at Blue River Technology, a John Deere company, discusses the evolution of agricultural machinery—from traditional horsepower to advanced hardware and artificial intelligence. He explains how John Deere’s next-generation perception system, known as the “eyes and brain” of autonomous tractors, is transforming modern farming. This episode explores how AI, machine vision, and retrofit kits are making autonomy in agriculture possible, the ...

Microbial Innovation Meets Gene Editing: New Biological Solutions for Agriculture 27.08.2025 13Min.

Tom Williams, Director of Microbiology at BioConsortia, discusses how beneficial microbes are driving more sustainable agriculture by boosting nutrient availability, soil health, and crop performance. He shares how BioConsortia’s advanced microbial discovery platform and gene editing technologies are unlocking new opportunities for plant health and yield. The conversation also explores regulatory frameworks, grower adoption, and the exciting future of biological solutions in agriculture.

New Center, New Frontier: Tim Kelliher Leads NC State’s Genome Editing Mission 13.08.2025 19Min.

Newly appointed Director of NC State’s Genome Editing Center (GEC), Tim Kelliher, shares his unique path from organic farming to the forefront of plant science. He explains how advances in genome editing offer a faster, more precise alternative to traditional breeding—delivering vital solutions for farmers in as little as 5–8 years. Get an inside look at the GEC and how genome editing is shaping the future of agriculture.

Bananas, Biotech, and Beyond: Gene Editing with Tropic 30.07.2025 22Min.

Dr. Eyal Maori, co-founder of Tropic, is using advanced gene editing technologies to revolutionize tropical crops such as bananas, rice, and coffee. The conversation explores how Tropic developed proprietary tools like Agrotrop and GEiGS to overcome the unique challenges of editing tropical crops. Dr. Maori also highlights Tropic’s work on non-browning and longer shelf-life bananas, engagement with growers, the evolving regulatory landscape, and the company's vision to bring meaningful innova...

CRISPR, Then and Now: A 2025 Update with Rodolphe Barrangou 15.07.2025 31Min.

Genome editing pioneer Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou returns to AgTech 360 to share how CRISPR has advanced and expanded since his last appearance in 2021, transforming from a breakthrough technology into a global force across medicine, agriculture, and beyond. From scientific breakthroughs to real-world applications, he highlights how genome editing is reshaping food systems, farming, and human health. Rodolphe shares insights on the FDA approval of CRISPR-based therapies, the rise of gene-edited c...

Shifting Perspectives: How Nanotech is Gaining Ground in Farming 24.04.2025 19Min.

Dr. Jason White from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station explains how nano-scale materials, once seen as potential hazards, are gaining popularity and are now used to boost plant health, increase crop yields, and build climate resilience. He discusses global collaborations, regulatory landscapes, and promising work using nano-nutrients to prepare crops for future stress. Learn how precision delivery through nanotech could reshape sustainable farming.

Tiny Particles, Huge Potential: Assessing Benefits and Risks of Nanotech in Ag 09.04.2025 18Min.

Dr. Khara Grieger explores the fascinating world of nanotechnology in agriculture. From nanoscale fertilizers and pesticides to vaccines and biosensors, she explains how these tiny particles could have a big impact on sustainability, food safety, and animal health. The conversation also dives into public perception of nanotech, the challenges of assessing risk, and what’s needed to responsibly scale these innovations for real-world use.

Women in AgTech: Breakthroughs in Biological Solutions with Dr. Pam Marrone 18.03.2025 25Min.

Dr. Pam Marrone is a pioneering force in biologicals and sustainable agriculture. Explore how the integration of biocontrols and biostimulants is reshaping farming by boosting crop yields while minimizing the environmental footprint of traditional agricultural practices. Through her groundbreaking commercial biological solutions, Dr. Marrone has equipped farmers with the tools to embrace more sustainable, profitable practices that benefit both their farms and the environment. Discover the tra...