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IDAHO STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Brian Oakey, Deputy Director
AgTech: Opportunities and Challenges
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What is AgTech • Not just sensors and computer chips
• AgTech is scientifically-driven farm practices, equipment or processing:
Bio-engineered/transgenic crops
•Not just GMOs but also plants raised through traditional plant breeding to produce superior characteristics to mitigate drought, heat, pests, etc.
Proprietary breeding
•Scientific, custom approach to raising livestock
GPS/precision ag
•Reduce use of fuel and chemical inputs
Water management and improved equipment
Conservation-based best management practices
Food manufacturing and related advancements
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What is AgTech
Today, no one would survive very long farming like his or her grandfather did.
AgTech is everywhere—and has been for a long time.
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AgTech Makes a Difference • Just look at Idaho ag productivity
• Idaho has 1 farm for every 64 citizens
• But, we produce more food than we could ever consume in-state
• If we tried, we’d each have to eat the following every day:
• 195 slices of bread
• 49 potatoes
• 2 lbs of cheese
• 1.5 lbs of beef
• 2 onions
• 3 cups of beans
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Why is AgTech important to everyone?
• AgTech is fundamental to agriculture—and
agriculture is fundamental to Idaho’s economic
success
• In Idaho, agriculture and food processing account for:
• 20% of sales
• 14% of jobs
• 16% of GSP
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Opportunities
Scale Neutrality
• AgTech allows producers to move beyond traditional roadblocks of investment or access
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Opportunities AgTech can help mitigate the challenges that always will exist in agriculture:
• Farming is inherently risky
• Agriculture is expensive
• Environmental disasters (drought, heat, pests)
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Opportunities
Resources
• Innovation helps us make the most of precious resources
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Opportunities Managing Water
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Challenges
Policy/Regulation
• Innovation will always outpace regulation
• How can producers protect themselves?
• How can companies invest without safeguards?
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Who owns the data?
Is it secure?
Is it interoperable?
Is it readily accessible?
Challenges
Big Data
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Challenges
Infrastructure
• How does AgTech deal with on-farm conditions and infrastructure challenges?
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Broadband access in rural areas
On-farm conditions (dust, movement, etc.)
Moisture and inclement weather
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Challenges People
• Shortage of people
• Fallacies in thinking
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Questions?