Future of Agriculture Podcast – Synthetic Biology with Dr. John Cumbers of SynBioBeta
Dr. John Cumbers is the founder of SynBioBeta. SynBioBeta prides itself as the premier innovation network for innovators, investors, entrepreneurs, and biological engineers. Their focus is introducing synthetic biology innovations to improve the human condition and make life more sustainable. John is a recipient of multiple grants and awards from NASA and the National Academy of Sciences for his work in the industry. He received his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry from Brown University, his MSc in Bioinformatics from Edinburgh University, and a degree in Computer Science with Information Engineering from the University of Hull.
John joins me today to discuss the potential of synthetic biology if applied to today’s agriculture sector. He explains what SynBioBeta stands for, what they want to accomplish, and the innovations we can look forward to as consumers. He shares his thoughts on lab-grown meat, the Anti-GMO crowds, and the future of Mars exploration. John also discusses what we can look forward to from their Beta Space Event.
“Synthetic biology is not actually what you do – it’s the way you do it.” – Dr. John Cumbers
This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:
- What SynBioBeta is and what they aim to achieve with synthetic biology.
- The innovations synthetic biology has made possible.
- His thoughts on plant-based meats and cell-based meats.
- How Rural America can benefit from what he calls the “Bio Belt.”
- What needs to happen to pursue a “Bio Belt” hub program.
- How the Anti-GMO community reacts to their technological innovations.
- Why everybody should have a bio strategy.
- What extremophiles are and how they can help produce food in space.
- His opinion on the future of Mars exploration.
- What people can look forward to the Beta Space event.
Resources mentioned:
Connect with Dr. John Cumbers:
- SynBioBeta
- Book: What’s Your Bio Strategy?
- Podcast
- The Mycelium Revolution: How a mushroom can make food, plastic, and more
This episode is sponsored by Indigo Ag
What if surviving a drought began with just a microbe? What could accessing 10,000 buyers do for your agriculture business? Indigo Ag helps farmers improve profitability, environmental sustainability, and consumer health by working with growers to reimagine every aspect of the agriculture industry – from soil to sale.
To learn more about Indigo Ag and their mission to improve the environment and agriculture industry, visit IndigoAg.com/Questions
Indigo. From questions… we grow.
We Are a Part of a Bigger Family!
The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today.
Join the Conversation!
To get your most pressing ag questions answered and share your perspective on various topics we’ve discussed on the Future of Agriculture podcast, head over to SpeakPipe.com/FutureofAg and leave a recorded message!
Share the Ag-Love!
Thanks for joining us on the Future of Agriculture Podcast – your spot for valuable information, content, and interviews with industry leaders throughout the agricultural space! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest feedback. Don’t forget to share it with your friends on your favorite social media spots!
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Shark Farmer Podcast – Alyssa Badger strength in confidence
Alyssa Badger is one of the most impressive people you’ll ever meet. Listen as she talks about building her career without a college education, and struggling to overcome an assault.
Agtech….so what podacast – Rachel Hay on the role of women in agtech adoption
Dr. Rachel Hay is a social scientist at James Cook University who has uncovered some insights into agtech adoption through her work in behaviour change.
Rachel‘s PhD focused on agtech adoption, highlighting the importance of grazier women in the use and adoption of agtech. She found that women play a vital role in unlocking the potential of agtech adoption on-farm.
Though the research is now a bit dated (it was published in 2014), Rachel’s insights still hold true and may be helpful for agtech companies looking to understand the industry and develop marketing strategies that can cut through the noise.
Here are a few tips from Rachel’s research to help agtech vendors to reach their target audience and drive adoption:
- Build trust and meaningful relationships with your producers. Though it may seem like this has to take time, Rachel highlights that content is king and relationships can be built digitally as well as in person.
- Be approachable and be seen. AgTech companies need to get out to producer events and engage with their customers, not just sell.
- Widen your marketing net, as decision makers are not always male! In fact, her research shows that it’s often the females who are doing the research and driving product adoption, both on-farm and for the back office.
- Don’t tell farmers what they need, listen to what they want. This should go without saying, and yet it’s something that tech vendors and extension agents alike get wrong.
Do you have a story of women driving agtech adoption? Are there other tips that you’ve learned for building trust with producers? We’d love to hear them!
You can find Rachel, a boutique pig farmer when she’s not writing or researching, on social media here:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrRach4Research
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrachelhay/
Facebook page: The Engagement of Women & Technology in Agriculture
To delve more into Rachel’s research click here
Idle Chatter Podcast – Hot Rod Farmer: Making sense of oxygen sensors
What every farmer needs to know!
Idle Chatter Podcast – Hot Rod Farmer: Only a little is good… when it comes to valve lash…that is!
You need to understand the importance of proper valve clearance.
Future of Agriculture Podcast – Genetic Testing for Soil with Dr. Poornima Parameswaran of Trace Genomics
Dr. Poornima Parameswaran is the President and Co-Founder of Trace Genomics. Trace Genomics is a company that based its business around mapping living soil, analyzing its microbial content, and helping growers maximize yield potential without sacrificing sustainability. Poornima’s goal is to build the world’s most massive actionable body of soil intelligence, allowing even ordinary farmers to have access to expert information on what’s underground. Poornima earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University School of Medicine, her entrepreneurial skills at Stanford University Graduate School of Business, and her Bachelor’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology at The University of Texas at Austin.
Poornima joins me today to discuss how Trace Genomics seeks to improve farm yield and sustainability through genetic testing for soil. She shares the benefits of knowing which microbes are dominant in a particular farmland. She also explains how their analytics engine works, their process, and what a typical scenario using their technology would be like.
“There are two sides of the coin when you’re looking at what is causing production losses above ground.” – Dr. Poornima Parameswaran
This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:
- The questions farmers have before submitting soil samples.
- Diseases that can be prevented by genetic testing for soil
- Knowing when it is a soil health issue instead of a disease problem.
- Developing food in the perspective of sustainability and not just increased yields.
- How they know which microbes are important for the soil.
- The challenges that are top of mind to growers regarding soil health.
- The action steps they can take based on the data they gathered from growers.
- Variability of microbe samples in similar soil samples.
- How they reconcile the difference between gene presence and gene expression.
- Why they don’t have that many companies as competition.
Connect with Dr. Poornima Parameswaran:
This episode is sponsored by Indigo Ag
What if surviving a drought began with just a microbe? What could accessing 10,000 buyers do for your agriculture business? Indigo Ag helps farmers improve profitability, environmental sustainability, and consumer health by working with growers to reimagine every aspect of the agriculture industry – from soil to sale.
To learn more about Indigo Ag and their mission to improve the environment and agriculture industry, visit IndigoAg.com/Questions
Indigo. From questions… we grow.
We Are a Part of a Bigger Family!
The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today.
Join the Conversation!
To get your most pressing ag questions answered and share your perspective on various topics we’ve discussed on the Future of Agriculture podcast, head over to SpeakPipe.com/FutureofAg and leave a recorded message!
Share the Ag-Love!
Thanks for joining us on the Future of Agriculture Podcast – your spot for valuable information, content, and interviews with industry leaders throughout the agricultural space! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest feedback. Don’t forget to share it with your friends on your favorite social media spots!
Learn more about AgGrad by visiting:
AgGrad on Twitter AgGrad on Facebook AgGrad on LinkedIn AgGrad on Instagram
Shark Farmer Podcast – Brian Brown, Brian’s farm videos
One of ag YouTube’s biggest stars. @BriansVideos talks about how he has never wanted to do anything else but farm.
Please visit our sponsor: Degelman
What the Farm Podcast – David Coletto listening to millennials
Millennials are a unique generation that have grown up with social media. Posting on social media has been part of their life. This has affected where they shop and what they eat. However, they are interested in facts and are willing to listen, which gives agriculture an opportunity to share information. Listen as Rob Sharkey and Lesley Kelly talk to David Coletto about this large segment of our population as they continue to drive decisions.
Rock and Roll Farming Podcast – Rearing to Go
Always a pleasure to talk to Peter & Paula Hynes, & they’re back on Rock & Roll Farming to talk about the Rearing to Go mental health workshop and charity auction that’s taking place in Shrewsbury livestock market on 13th September 2019
Episode Sponsors:
Griffith Elder – Designers & Manufacturers of rugged weighing systems for heavy industrial use www.griffith-elder.com
NFU Cymru – for more information please visit www.nfu-cymru.org.uk
Podcast Partners:
Farmer’s Guardian. For the biggest range of news and features from across the Ag industry, please visit www.fginsight.com
Rock & Roll Farming is proud to be a part of the Farm & Rural Ag Network. To find more great podcasts and vlogs, please visit www.farmruralag.com
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