Oct 23, 2023
Organic Grower Summit includes seed, AgTech sessions
An educational session on the changing landscape of ag technology for organic growers and a panel discussion on the challenges of organic seed production round out the educational sessions at the Organic Grower Summit (OGS).
The event, presented by Western Growers and Organic Produce Network, is Nov. 29-30 in Monterey, California.
As technology and innovation continue to help organic growers produce crops in the most cost-effective and efficient manner possible, OGS 2023 will highlight the companies at the forefront of ag tech and how growers decide which technologies to use. An OGS session, “How Organic Growers Are Using AgTech: Obstacles & Opportunities,” will explore how growers are using ag technology to improve production while showcasing one of the leading ag technology companies and its work in displacing traditional farming methods.
The session will be moderated by Bart Walker, president of Pacific Ag Rentals, with panelists Tom Nunes V, president of The Nunes Company; Kristen Smith Eshaya, president of JV Smith Companies; and Paul Mikesell, CEO and founder of Carbon Robotics.
“Technology and data management continue to evolve for organic growers, and a wide array of new tools are being designed for greater efficiency in the production of crops,” Walker said in a news release. “This exclusive ed session will highlight some of the newest technologies, equipment, and programs available for growers and how they can best be utilized in the ever-changing landscape of organic fresh produce production.”
Another session, “Challenges of Organic Seed Production,” will provide OGS attendees an overview of how organic seed production has declined over the past few years and how this has been affecting the organic produce industry.
The panel will be moderated by Tom Willey, owner of T & D Willey Farms, and panelists are Theojary Crisantes, CEO of Wholesum; Zea Sonnabend, owner of Fruitilicious Farm; Jared Zystro, research and education director at the Organic Seed Alliance; and Michael Willey, North American production lead for Bayer Crop Science.
OGS 2023 includes eight educational sessions and a pair of keynote presentations. As part of the keynotes, the annual Grower of the Year award will be presented to, Rod Braga, president and CEO of Braga Fresh. The other keynote presentation is “Grower Roundtable: The State of Organic Growing,” which will feature leadership from three prominent organic companies who will be announced soon.
The other educational sessions at OGS 2023 are:
- SOE (Strengthening Organic Enforcement) Deadline Looms — Are You Ready?
- Understanding Evolving Production Challenges for Organic Growers
- Regenerative — What Does it Mean for Organic?
- Unlocking the Value of AI on the Digital Farming Journey
- Meet the Ag Sharks
- Roadmap to a Sustainable Pest Management Future for Organics
The sixth annual summit is designed to provide information vital to organic growers and producers, including an overview of the opportunities and challenges in the production of organic fresh food.
“In partnership with Western Growers, this year’s OGS will provide up-to-date resources and information to support the continued success of organic producers, with an emphasis on the changing organic production landscape as well as the role of ag technology,” Matt Seeley, co-founder and CEO of Organic Produce Network, said in the release. “From seed to soil to harvest, our goal is to present the most relevant and timely information on the most important subjects and issues facing organic production.”
The sold-out OGS trade show floor will feature soil amendment, ag tech, food safety, packaging and equipment exhibitors who will have the opportunity to connect with organic field production staff, supply chain managers, pest management advisors, and food safety experts. OGS 2023 general registration is open, for more information, visit www.organicgrowersummit.com.
