July 14, 2016

From expanding coverage in mainstream media to the growing number of innovators creating solutions designed to address agricultural and food challenges, the increasing momentum behind agtech is undeniable. Global AgInvesting’s deal activity data indicates that the number of capital deals involving agtech companies and the number of agtech investment funds launched increased from 2015 to 2016. Meanwhile, the number of accelerators dedicated to facilitating the growth and success of emerging agtech companies has ballooned with no less than six accelerators launches in the second quarter of 2016 alone.

At Global AgInvesting’s recent AgTech Week event in San Francisco, investors and innovators in the agtech space gathered to discuss the enormous opportunities that the sector presents, as well as the challenges that lie ahead. One familiar face in the crowd was Paul Pittman, chief executive of publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) Farmland Partners, and a recognized leader in the agricultural investment space.

Farmland Partners is dedicated to farmland investment in North America and currently has a portfolio of 268 farms under contract with an aggregate of 113,933 acres. Pittman, who has a farm and finance background, has led the company since its 2014 public offering, but many may not know that he’s also been a technology entrepreneur and understands the headwinds that agtech entrepreneurs face.

With this varied background across agriculture, finance, technology and real asset investment, Pittman has a unique perspective on agtech. GAI News had the opportunity to sit down with him at the AgTech Week event. He shared his thoughts on the challenges to adoption of new technologies by farmers, explained the role technology plays in Farmland Partners’ investment decisions, and explained what technologies he thinks will be the most crucial in today’s rapidly developing farm and food system.

Listen to the complete conversation here.

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Sarah Day Levesque

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