AgTech360

Molecular Precision: Micropeptides and the Next Wave of Biologicals

CTO Mikael Courbot shares how Micropep is harnessing plant-derived micropeptides —tiny, naturally occurring molecules designed with AI and advanced modeling — to precisely target weeds and diseases. Learn how this breakthrough approach is giving farmers powerful, sustainable biological alternatives to traditional crop protection chemicals.

Field Tested, Fully Charged: Monarch’s Electric Tractor Breakthrough

Chris Whitney, Chief Digital Officer at Monarch Tractor, shares how the company’s fully electric, driver-optional tractor is redefining power and productivity on the farm. By combining clean energy, advanced autonomy, and intelligent data systems, Monarch is helping drive a more efficient and sustainable future for agriculture.

Smarter, Smaller, Stronger: Kioti’s Robots Boost Orchard Productivity

Kioti is redefining smart farming with a new generation of compact, autonomous technologies built to meet the needs of smaller farms. Chief Product and Technology Officer YJ Son discusses how the company’s innovations—from transport robots for orchard operations to AI-driven equipment—are boosting productivity and addressing critical labor challenges. Learn how Kioti is making advanced automation accessible to a wider range of growers and helping small farms thrive.

Drones, Sensors, AI: Farming the Future with Dr. Bai

Dr. Frank Bai shares his global journey into precision and digital agriculture and highlights how sensors, drones, and AI-driven tools are shaping the future of farming. As an Assistant Professor at NC State, he bridges engineering and agriculture to tackle challenges in the field. In this episode, he discusses his autonomous scouting project at the Sandhills Research Station, innovative methods for screening drought tolerance in soybeans, and the growing role of digital technologies in making farming more efficient, sustainable, and affordable. The conversation also explores the importance of collaboration, technology adoption, and equipping the next generation of farmers for an increasingly automated, data-driven future.

Engineering Autonomy: John Deere’s AI-Powered Tractors at Work

Aaron Wells, Director of Engineering & Autonomy at Blue River Technology, a John Deere company, discusses the evolution of agricultural machinery—from traditional horsepower to advanced hardware and artificial intelligence. He explains how John Deere’s next-generation perception system, known as the “eyes and brain” of autonomous tractors, is transforming modern farming. This episode explores how AI, machine vision, and retrofit kits are making autonomy in agriculture possible, the engineering challenges of scaling autonomous tractors, and the future of precision ag technology for large-scale farming.