Background For this project, autonomous technology, or artificial intelligence (AI), is described as “systems in which the designer has not predetermined the responses to every condition. Such systems are capable of surprising their designers and behaving in unexpected ways” (Omohundro 2014). This technology is attractive, especially in militaristic and economic contexts, because of the ability […]
Characterizing Success in AgTech StartUps
Background AgTech, an economic sector devoted to innovation in food and agriculture, has been around formally since biotechnology and seed genetics entered the market in the mid 90s, but only since 2013 has the sector seen rapid growth with new technology in big data, robotics, indoor agriculture, and more (Leclerc et al. 2015). This is reflected […]
Reflection From First Two Concentration Courses
Technologies of the Future This course has been by far one of the most interesting and exciting courses I have ever taken. Throughout the semester we learned through lectures, workshops, and lab work about leadership, design thinking, cultivating a growth mindset, and otherwise applying your skills for new technology creation. For my concentration, I learned […]
In Vitro Meat Case Study
In 1936, Winston Churchill wrote, “Fifty years hence, we shall escape the absurdity of growing a whole chicken in order to eat the breast or wing, by growing these parts separately under a suitable medium” (Test-Tube 2007). At this time, synthesized meat was science fiction, hypothesized and capturing the public’s imagination, but far from a […]
Golden Rice Case Study
Golden Rice is a famous example of the possible benefits of genetically modified organisms. It was originally engineered in 2000 in order to produce ß-carotene to combat vitamin A deficiency world-wide (Ye 2000). This was proposed as an interesting and unique solution to a problem that effects millions of people, mainly in impoverished countries in […]
Five Recently Funded AgTech Startups
Phytech – A leading, Israeli-based precision farming company. Specializes in sensors that attach directly to crops that work with soil moisture and microclimate sensors to provide the most accurate condition of a certain crop. It pairs these stats with yield improving suggestions for farmers directly provided through an easy-to-use app. The company recently closed Series A […]
Chinese Drone Maker Plows Into Agriculture – WSJ
NEWLEY PURNELL in Singapore and JACK NICAS in San Francisco November 26, 2015 China’s SZ DJI Technology Co., the world’s top consumer-drone maker, is setting its sights on the agriculture industry with the launch of a crop sprayer that will test whether farming is fertile ground for drone technology. DJI, which helped kick-start the global […]
Hi-tech agriculture is freeing the farmer from his fields | The Guardian
by John Vidal The big, blue 18-tonne New Holland T8.435 tractor is not the heaviest or the tallest in the world but its £3,000 tyres and tank-style tracks stand two metres high, it bristles with antenna and at, about £250,000, it must be one of the most expensive. For that, the farmer gets a monster […]
Concentration Proposal – Entrepreneurial Methods in High-Tech Agricultural Innovations
Descriptive: What current AgTech innovations are being successfully implemented? How are successful AgTech innovations currently being implemented? Explanatory: What are the key characteristics of successful AgTech innovations? What are the best ways to market AgTech innovations? Evaluative: How can breakthrough technologies make farming more efficient? Can private sector innovations be effective in causing large-scale impacts? […]
Finding Scale
Gearing up for the concentration draft deadline, I have been thinking a lot about scale. A concentration is supposed to be larger than a situated project, but smaller than a broad environmental theme. Finding the perfect balance and focus has been difficult. I have narrowed down to the broad theme of agtech, but just agtech […]