John Roulac

Florida sued over lab meat ban, winter wheat planting is underway, and USDA to allow H5N1 vaccine trials for dairy cows. Farmer confidence is falling, Impossible and Motif end legal dispute, and a new app matches strangers for a meal. Common questions I get from ag stakeholders: What #agtech should I be looking for? Do I need agtech? Where do I go to find the right agtech? What should it cost? It’s difficult to navigate the dynamic agtech landscape. We could use a trusted advisor in agtech. The agtech entrepreneurs that become trusted advisors will unlock enormous value. I’ll explain how in this week’s newsletter. #agtechfriday #agriculture #advisor #trust #startups #innovation #trustedtech #agtwitter #agtechadvisor https://lnkd.in/gBgcGDEy

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This article outlines the uncertain future of California asparagus and its farmers, shedding light on the critical issues undermining the future of food production. Asparagus farming in California faces unprecedented challenges, serving as a cautionary tale for the state's agriculture. Since its peak in 2000, when it covered 37,000 acres, the asparagus fields have decreased to fewer than 3,000 acres. Factors such as labor costs, global competition, and regulatory changes are pushing farmers to the brink. Link to the article: https://lat.ms/3wAHlEf #Agriculture #FoodProduction #CaliforniaAgriculture

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Germany's Scholz asks EU to delay deforestation law over print concerns BERLIN/BRUSSELS (Sept 12): German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he’s asked the European Union (EU) to suspend a new regulation designed to reduce #deforestation to allow objections raised about the burden on the print sector to be addressed. Speaking Thursday at a BDZV newspaper lobby congress in Berlin, Scholz said he shared the concerns of publishers about the regulation, known as #EUDR, and its potential impact on print products when it’s implemented at the end of this year. The German leader’s comments add to criticism of the law voiced by countries like Brazil, Indonesia, and Malaysia, who argue that it will have a negative impact across global commodities markets. “To be clear: the regulation must be practicable,” Scholz said, adding that he had personally asked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a former German defense minister, to put the EUDR on hold until issues raised by the BDZV have been clarified. In a statement in March, the BDZV said it and other lobby groups had written to the German government and the commission urging them to “mitigate the risks, sanctions, and burdens for companies posed by the regulation”. In its current form, the EUDR represents “not only a major threat to the production of printed products for the general public but also to press products, election documents, technical documentation, labels, and packaging, which are part of critical infrastructure”, according to the statement. Aimed at tackling climate change and halting biodiversity loss, the EUDR potentially has far-reaching consequences for more than US$110 billion (RM476.79 billion) of trade annually, economies across six continents, and suppliers forced to adapt to Europe’s drive to be greener. Brazil has also urged the EU to delay implementing the law. In a letter to EU officials, seen by Bloomberg, it said the rules cover more than 30% of its exports to the bloc. “The EUDR was designed without a proper understanding of the production and export processes of different products and the realities on the ground in each country,” Mauro Vieira, Brazil’s minister for foreign affairs, and Carlos Favaro, minister for agriculture, wrote to EU commissioners, including Maros Sefcovic, the bloc’s Green Deal chief. “We consider that unilateral, coercive, and punitive measures erode trust.” Scholz’s comments and Brazil’s call for a delay add to pressure on the EU to postpone the rules, which aim to tackle the deforestation caused by the expansion of commodities industries such as beef, timber, #soybean, and coffee. The likes of Indonesia and Malaysia have also criticized the law, which they say would hit smallholder farmers the hardest. Several EU countries and lawmakers have also slammed the law for penalizing the agricultural sector. The Financial Times earlier reported the letter from Brazil. https://lnkd.in/dkbEXvZE

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Good article on finding opps and challenges related to regenerative agriculture. Key quote: "While there is approximately US$80 billion in climate finance available globally, only 2.4% is directed toward the agriculture and forestry sectors." Food and agriculture contributes ~25% to GHG. Pretty clear mismatch in investment vs impact at the scale of 10x! Lots of low capex solutions in the space to mitigate emissions and improve water quality...how can we shift some of this capital to the low hanging fruit of #climatesmartagriculture? https://lnkd.in/gcGJtdHB

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Calculating Dairy Methane Emissions Reductions!! The California Air Resources Board (CARB) held a public workshop in late August about CARB’s progress in compiling California-specific dairy activity data and evaluating the dairy sector emissions trends. “Community advocates and residents have raised concerns about the impacts of dairies and dairy digesters on adjacent communities through both public comments and through rulemaking petitions submitted to CARB,” explained the Board in its workshop announcement. “In CARB’s most recent petition response, staff committed to continuing to evaluate the dairy sector based on the best available data and to host this workshop on dairy sector data. To better understand these concerns and emissions trends in the State’s dairy sector, CARB staff utilized data sources from federal, state, and local agencies to develop the California Dairy and Livestock Database (CADD). The database contains facility-level cattle population and digester information for California dairies from 2012 to 2022. CADD is based on publicly accessible documents and improves CARB’s ability to track the California dairy and livestock sector trends.” https://lnkd.in/gPcHZV69

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Another giant falls. 🌱 **Navigating the Future of Vertical Farming** 🌱 It's no secret that the vertical farming industry has faced significant challenges recently, with several companies shutting down due to financial challenges. While this news can be disheartening, it's also an opportunity for us to learn, adapt, and innovate. The closure of companies like Bowery Farming and AeroFarms reminds us that the path to sustainable agriculture is not without its obstacles. However, it also highlights the importance of resilience and the need for new, more efficient models. As we move forward, let's focus on the lessons learned and the potential for growth. Vertical farming remains a promising solution for food security and sustainability, especially as we continue to refine our methods and technologies. Together, we can build a brighter, greener future. 🌿✨ #VerticalFarming #Sustainability #Innovation #Resilience #FutureOfFarming

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🌍💥 Unmasking Big Meat & Dairy: The Hidden Culprits of Climate Inaction 💥 Following on from the February 2024 report by The Freedom Food Alliance disinformation report, Changing Markets Foundation has continued the conversation on how the powerful agribusiness giants are deploying distraction, delay, and derailment tactics to obstruct global environmental progress. Key findings include: 🐄 Extensive lobbying to block climate policies 🐄 Greenwashing and weak net zero targets 🐄 Targeted disinformation campaigns to Gen Z 🐄 ‘Unproven technofixes’ that taxpayers foot the bill for,  🐄 Delaying much-needed transition to more plant-based diets. It’s time to hold these industries accountable and champion a sustainable future for our planet. Link to my commentary below 👇

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SYSTEMS SANITY -- TRUTH - PROOF & TRANSPARENCY I actually -love and support - this work and the work of other courageous intellectually honest experts and concerned citizenry (Stop Ecocide International, Michael Mann) and praise the information and insights Katie Conlon, Ph.D. brings to the LI Forum and conversations. Her work focuses areas that may be neglected for attention on the distress and degradation of the Anthropocene being everywhere. We work in agriculture strictly and purely through #Nature using zero synthetic, chemical or biostimulant input with the aim to heal Soil, Biodiversity and Ecosystems while producing high quality and nutrient rich foods within land and soil capacity. Our Proof of Concept "Aims & Results" show us ready to proceed to investment and implementation. While that is a truncated overview, our overall greatest issues are not leadership or ideas to restore Nature but in standing down normalizing Climate Denial in policy and governance. We must #vote #correctly in a strong single voice of logic over deniers. In our 10 year Pilot we discovered cause in agriculture, demanding the #sanity to #activate with Nature only systems. Being a "purist" and woke against the lethal status quo is a badge of honor I am proud to wear. #biodiversity #climateaction

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🏛 The potential impact of shifting government support away from industrial animal ag toward sustainable food practices cannot be overstated __________________________________________________________________________ In this week's episode, Sonalie and I dig into a new 10-country report by think tank Green Alliance, commissioned by The Good Food Institute Europe, that shows the potential market share of plant-based, fermentation, and cultivated-derived foods depending on the level of government support As with any analysis, there's obviously major margin for error, but the directional takeaways are still important to note 🌟 As you might expect, the more government support (and less $ going to industrial animal ag) the higher the market share of alt proteins overall But I thought these were some interesting points to note: 💡 This suggests that without government support, cultivated has no chance - that's a pretty bold statement, and while I can't say I FULLY agree, I'm basically there 💡 Plant-based market share definitely increases with government support, but not by much, indicating that maybe the industry's trajectory has been decided already 💡 Fermentation seems to be the area with the biggest potential upside, both for current investment dollars and with government support - and that's representative of what I've been seeing in the market recently in the investment community ⏱ I do think the market share expectations in this are lofty given the timelines. I'd love for alt proteins to be 10-70% of the market by 2050, but 26 years is pretty short for food system changes, so I don't think that's reasonable Either way, the report is very interesting and shows how impactful government support can be to make the changes in the food system we so desperately need Aside from that, Sonalie and I also discuss: ☕ Starbucks digging deep into sustainable farming approaches for arabica coffee involving agroforestry and smallholder farmers. Love what I'm seeing there 🥵 A majority of the 380 climate scientists surveyed by The Guardian say we’re on our way to breaching the 2.5°C barrier this century – and only 6% believe we’ll meet our 1.5°C budget. Not the most optimistic thing to see, but maybe thinking a bit more like Hannah Ritchie can be helpful from a mental health standpoint! 🥚The positive of the week was that Taiwanese hospitality chain Silks Hotel Group has pledged to transition to cage-free eggs across all its sites by 2030, following a partnership with the Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan. The shift to better animal welfare standards in Asia may have been slower than in other parts of the world, but Sonalie hits on how the rate of change may be increasing, and that's a win worth noting. To listen to the episode or read the full Green Queen Media newsletter, check out the links in the comments!

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🌍🚜 A #Gigaton Opportunity: Can #Tech & #Agriculture Join Forces to Solve #ClimateChange? 🚜🌍  #Farmers are unlocking a #climate solution that could sequester a gigaton of #CO₂ in the next decade, using #soil as a natural #carbon sink. Meanwhile, data centers—some of the fastest-growing carbon emitters—are searching for ways to offset their footprints.  The answer could lie in an unexpected partnership. Imagine integrating cutting-edge agricultural solutions with the tech industry’s carbon strategies. Together, they could create an environmentally regenerative system that’s socially equitable and drives prosperity across the value chain—from farmers to tech innovators.  As this article in CropLife written by Andrew Duff of Groundwork BioAg explains, farmers are already leveraging new revenue streams through sustainable practices. But scaling this impact needs visionaries. https://lnkd.in/ghnqJTUD #ElonMusk, you’ve revolutionized industries—how about catalyzing this collaboration? You can bridge #agriculture and tech to create a gigaton-scale climate solution that benefits everyone.  Solutions that work for farmers, entrepreneurs, and the planet.  #ClimateAction #CarbonSequestration #TechMeetsAg #SustainableFarming #DataCenters #CarbonSolutions #RegenerativeEconomy #FutureOfWork #SoilHealth #ClimateInnovation #gigacorn #gigacornhunter #decarbonization Jack Levy Brian Mixer Idan Mor Mick Messman Adi Vagman Inbar Morag Dan Grotsky Yossi Kofman Jonathan Schwartz Gal Gitter 🇮🇱 Adam Fell Gil Eiges

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https://lnkd.in/g8TnXahp Voting "No" on Sonoma County Measure J is essential to protect the county's progressive strides in animal welfare and organic farming. While it's crucial to address any bad actors, this measure could undermine the significant progress we've made in leading the nation on ethical treatment of animals and sustainable farming practices. We shouldn't jeopardize these achievements by introducing unnecessary regulations that could harm the very initiatives that have made Sonoma County a model for others to follow

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Too much go-to-market advice for companies in #agriculture stinks. It’s rooted in flawed thinking. Many companies get advice that assumes: If you build it, they will come. But customers almost never grasp your product's essence or why they should part with their cash for it. You need to reshape their perspective. Traditional go-to-market tactics? They're tailored for established markets. They assume you're: - Vying for market share. - In a known category. - Offering an incrementally better product. But here are some questions to ponder: ❓ In 1870, what did market research say about tractors? ❓ Was there a competitive breakdown on Roundup Ready beans in the 80’s? ❓ What were opinions on auto-steer in the 90’s? Traditional tactics falter when crafting a never-before-seen concept. They can't help when there’s no budget allocated for your innovation, nor can they redefine the problem you solve for customers. And research tells us that in technology categories, the category king normally takes about 76% of the market capitalization. Because no one remembers the also-ran, they only remember the winner. So if your go-to-market is not built to design a new category of your own - one you are uniquely qualified to define and dominate - then you’ll be letting someone else set the conditions for the way you communicate with your customers. And that's a bad plan for success. Instead, you need to build your go-to-market to have the conversation with your customer on the terms you establish You need to move the thinking in the industry from where it is today to where you want it to be. This should impact the way you price your product, the way you promote your company, and the methods you use to place your solution in front of the target customer. - Stop robbing your future valuation in the name of scaling the distribution of users. Upselling later is harder than it looks today. - Stop softening your market differentiation by selling through an existing distribution network. The channel usually won’t save you unless their is market pull for your product downstream. - Stop hiring salespeople and expecting that they’ll be ready to “just sell.” Early sales depend on organizational learning and renaissance team members who are willing to take the time to educate the customer. Remember, almost nothing is more important to the future value of your company than the way you build your #gtm today. Start investing in your story as if it matters. Start designing your category. Make something different. Make people care. Make fans, not followers. #agtech #gotomarketstrategy #agribusiness #categorydesign

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I was trained to hate Big Ag. Coming up in the natural food space, they were the defacto enemy of the people, driven by reckless abandonment to profit at the cost of all else. But 5 years into our small scale regenerative farm, I came to a brutal realization. Those $40 whole chickens I was selling to be financially sustainable? My parents could have NEVER afforded that growing up. That sent us on a deep dive of figuring out how to make real pasture raised chicken more accessible and affordable - without cutting corners on quality. After a few years, we kept running into (and resisting) the same conclusion - maybe Big Ag had figured out some important innovations in their 70 year drive toward efficiency. Maybe there WAS something for us to learn from them. MAYBE we needed to put our “holier than thou” ego down and humble ourselves that there really are a lot of smart, dedicated people in that world that could help us achieve our goals of scaling regenerative ag. And it turns out, most of them LOVE the mission of healing soil, improving animal welfare, and making nutrient dense food more accessible and affordable. Oh - and we were able to borrow their tech for automated feed pans, auger lines, climate control, and water delivery to implement in our large scale mobile system. Farmer Friends - I think it’s time to put down the ego. I’m not saying Big Ag is anywhere near perfect - but let’s be honest, neither are we. If we want to really leave it better for the next generation it’s going to take a collaborative effort between big, medium, small - and industry outsiders.

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🌿 What Is Regenerative Agriculture? A Unified Definition or Guiding Principle? 🌍 Is regenerative agriculture simply a buzzword, or is it the key to transforming our food systems and healing the planet? 🤔 I’ll be co-moderating this insightful discussion at New York Climate Week, where we’ll dive deep into what regenerative agriculture truly means, its potential, and whether we can create a unified definition across different geographies and practices. 📅 Thursday, September 26th | 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM 📍 Regen House, New York City 👉 REGISTER HERE - https://lu.ma/pokg3h43 🎙️ Confirmed Speakers: 🔹 Marcela Quintero (CIAT) - Associate Director General, Alliance for Bioversity and CIAT 🔹 David Laborde, Director of FAO’s Agrifood Economics Division, FAO 🔹 Jessica Norup - Director, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/ Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada 🔹 Martin Ochien'g’g - Group Managing Director, SASINI PLC & Chair of the United Nations Global Compact Network Kenya 🔹 Peter M. Umunay - Cluster Lead, Food Systems and Land Use, Global Environment Facility 🔹 Lucy Wallace - Director of Global Relationships, EIT Food 🔹 Gerardo Martinez - CEO, Global Alliance Of Latinos In Agriculture, 💬 Join us as we explore how regenerative agriculture can restore soils, boost biodiversity, and rethink food systems that nourish both people and the planet. Can we define it, or is it about embracing a principle of regeneration? #RegenerativeAgriculture #ClimateAction #NYClimateWeek #SustainableFarming #Biodiversity #FoodSystems #RegenHouse

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I certainly don’t want to discourage efforts to gain a better understanding of consumer perceptions, but I really question the value of these kind of surveys. There is such widespread ignorance about modern production practices that the answer to most of these questions from most of the people really should be “I don’t know.” In fact, in this case, it was a pretty common answer. One of the most useless questions we always get in these surveys is “would you be willing to pay more for X?” It rarely asks how much more and they always say they will pay more, but when it comes down to it, very few of them will actually pay anything more and only a fraction will pay significantly more. I know it sounds like I’m dragging consumer research, but I really think it’s important. I just think we need to find better ways to do it. I have advocated for a long time for reactive surveys where you don’t ask people what they would do, but measure what they actually do and then ask them why. Alas, this is expensive and hard and consumer surveys are relatively cheap and easy to do. So, instead of paying 10 times more for a study that will be 1,000 times more valuable, we’ll fund 1,000 useless studies that are 10 times cheaper. https://lnkd.in/gYZh6HAv

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Great article on the growing investments into regenerative agriculture strategies. Thx to The Conservation Finance Network for profiling Conservation Resources' farmland investment strategy. #farmlandinvestment #regenerativeagriculture

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The CEA Census is back! Are you a grower using CEA? Your participation in the 2024 census helps shape the future of CEA practices and policies.   Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is more than a burgeoning industry; it's a vital solution to some of the most pressing challenges facing our world today. From ensuring food security in the face of climate change and population growth to maximizing resource efficiency and promoting sustainability, CEA stands as a beacon of innovation and resilience.   By participating in this census, you're not just sharing your experiences; you're shaping the future of CEA. Your insights and perspectives will inform stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers worldwide.   Amazing Prizes: Survey respondents will be entered into a draw to win one of five complimentary registrations to the CEAg World Conference & Expo. This premier event is a must-attend for anyone involved in CEA, offering unparalleled networking opportunities, expert presentations, and the latest innovations in the field.   Additionally, respondents will receive 6 months of free access to Agritecture Designer, Agritecture's award-winning farm planning software.   Thank you for helping us make your voice heard. https://lnkd.in/dfm7wP45

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Power companies are incentivizing cultivators to move to more efficient technologies, to reduce the impact on the power grids and make use of private and government funding. These are powerful tools and can reduce or eliminate several barriers to entry for new cultivators. Facilitators can be very helpful in navigating the waters of paperwork with some power companies being much easier to work with than others. Here's looking at you PG&E! Whether or not you decide to work with a partner it is important to know the difference between rebates and incentives. Rebates are paid after the retrofit or new construction hardware is installed. These are the most common programs (Xcel Energy in multiple states for example). Incentives on the other hand require pre-approval and if there is a signed purchase agreement, there can be no funding allocated or paid. Null and Void. (Ameren for example in IL and MO). Many lighting and hardware (HVAC, Controls, Dehumidification) companies offer in-house help to facilitate these processes. 3rd party options are also a good option for those not familiar with the math and could potentially benefit from registered "Trade Allies" that have pre-agreed terms and relationships in place with power providers. Also, it's important to note that most providers of lighting hardware have a current listing on the DLC-approved QPL (Qualified Products List). The metrics listed here will be used to calculate the incentive or rebate if the program is based on a kWh (kilowatt per hour) reduction in a retrofit situation. Have a question? Drop it below! #GandyGrows #growlight #horticulture #rebates #incentives #lights #cultivation

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The alarming loss of 24 billion tons of fertile topsoil annually threatens our ability to produce nutrient-rich food and sustain ecosystems. Rodale Institute is stepping up with groundbreaking soil research and regenerative organic methods that promise a better future. Join their “Loyal to the Soil” webinar on World Soil Day to hear from farmers and scientists about practical solutions to protect topsoil, enhance food quality, and support the well-being of farmworkers and animals. Together, we can champion practices that safeguard the planet and ensure food security for generations. #WorldSoilDay #RegenerativeAgriculture

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