June 10, 2015
Dave Gebhardt
Chief Strategy Officer
FarmLink
By Garrett Baldwin
With GAI AgTech Week 2015 set for June 22-24 in San Francisco, GAI News is exploring the impact of data science in the agricultural sector. Growth in the industry has been remarkable in recent years as new innovations have dramatically improved the overall performance of farms across the country, from optimization of soil quality to dramatically conserving water in times of drought. But we’re just at the beginning of this technological wave in the agricultural sector. According to a recent report, even though corn and soy crops reached record levels in 2014, more than $9.5 billion in potential revenues were lost because of poor optimization of farmland. That’s a big opportunity and bigger challenge for the future.
In fact, as the global population swells and food demand is expected to surge through 2050, one of the most fundamental challenges over the next few decades is if how farmers are capable of maximizing the performance of their current land and labor, while maximize yields with their current resources, including our dwindling fresh water sources.
This week, GAI had the good fortune of catching up with Dr. Dave Gebhardt, the Chief Strategy Officer – Data Products and Agronomy with Farmlink. The data science and technology company is a leader in boosting productivity, profitability and sustainability of the global food system through its cutting edge platforms. Cooperation between companies like Farmlink and farmers around the nation has led to an increase in the efficiency of crop-growing operations, especially in staples like soy, corn, wheat, and rice.
In this podcast, Dr. Gebhardt discusses the opportunities and challenges ahead for data science, the new frontier as data science is linked across the booming Internet of Things, and provides insight into how agricultural experts and novices can take part in this unstoppable trend in the sector.
Data science will be a central discussion point at GAI AgTech Week, which will offer two and a half days of engaging keynote presentations by industry leaders, thought-provoking panels, innovative company presentations and interactive workshops. The event is designed to educate and inspire investors and entrepreneurs with a broad range of investment opportunities in the food and agriculture technology sectors worldwide.
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Learn more about AgTech Week at www.agtechweek.com
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