Entrepreneurs Address Challenges Facing Agriculture

Do you like technology? Are you intrigued by solutions specifically developed to help America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities thrive?

If so…consider tuning in to a live pitch competition this Sunday, Jan. 26, starting at 11:30 a.m. Central on fb.org. Innovative entrepreneurs in agriculture will compete in front of a live audience of Farm Bureau members, investors and industry representatives as part of the Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge.

This national business competition showcases U.S. startups developing innovative solutions that address challenges facing America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. The Challenge was the first national business competition of its kind focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs.

Now in its eleventh year, the American Farm Bureau Federation in partnership with Farm Credit identifies top entrepreneurs who are addressing both traditional challenges farmers encounter (such as access to labor, optimizing yield and reducing operating costs) and those striving to address new challenges facing farmers and rural communities.

“The future of agriculture will rely on innovative solutions to the challenges we face,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “The Ag Innovation Challenge helps entrepreneurs grow their ideas into products that support farmers and ranchers in their mission to provide the food, fuel and fiber we all rely on.”

Farm Bureau is offering a total of $145,000 in startup funds throughout the course of the competition, with the overall winner taking home $100,000 in startup funds. The winner of the competition will be announced on Monday, Jan. 27, at the AFBF Convention in San Antonio.

Read on to learn about the finalist competitors.

Finalist Halio is from Utah. By harnessing naturally occurring halophytic bacteria, Halio offers a sustainable solution to the growing global problem of soil salinization—helping farmers protect their land and boost productivity.

Finalist Gripp is from Indiana. Gripp solves the problems of farmers across the country with an operator-centric way to keep records of any asset important to their success—in combination with communication tools to keep everyone connected.

Finalist Labby is from New York. Labby is an innovative ag tech startup transforming dairy farming with cutting-edge, real-time milk testing solutions powered by AI, advanced photonics and mobile spectroscopy.

Finalist RhizeBio is from North Carolina. RhizeBio is an agriculture technology company that develops and commercializes data-driven tools to optimize agricultural management practices. By measuring changes in biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and stress tolerance within the rhizosphere, where soil microbes interact with crop roots, RhizeBio empowers farmers to make informed decisions that improves soil health, crop performance, profitability and overall yield.

Learn more about the Ag Innovation Challenge at https://www.fb.org/challenge.