GLP-1, GWP*, and the state of ag robotics: the top 10 guest posts on AgFunderNews in 2024

It should come as no surprise that the most popular guest posts of 2024 covered topics such as GLP-1, regenerative agriculture, plant-based meats, and, of course, artificial intelligence.

AgFunderNews frequently publishes guest articles from a variety of agrifood industry players, including startup founders, investors, academics, nonprofit founders and farmers.

Below are the top 10 guest articles from the last year:

1. GLP-1 drugs: The effect on food systems is going to be profound… and relatively quick – Johan Jörgensen, founder of Sweden Foodtech

The arrival of GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy, Ozempic, Saxenda is one of those watershed moments that has enough potential to merit a deep, strategic rethink for every company in and around today’s food value chain.

2. Farmers aren’t buying today’s ag robotics model. You shouldn’t either – Tim Bucher, CEO of Agtonomy

Though amazing innovation is happening, it won’t be enough to scale ag robotics and farm autonomy at the pace agriculture needs. Why? Because farm automation faces a trust and manufacturing barrier that investment money alone cannot overcome.

3. Scaling up foodtech, the investor’s take: ‘The real potential of the space has gotten muddled’ – the PeakBridge team

The next one to three years are a crucial timeframe to move out of the lab, and into the real world. And with the right approach, that doesn’t require high risk or high capital, even in today’s inflationary environment.

4. Technology is a regenerative ag tool, not a silver bullet, but we’re trapped in the belief that it can solve all our problems – John Kempf, founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture

Amidst our enthusiasm for technology and “toys,” we need to be extremely mindful of how the adoption of technological tools changes our state of being and, by extension, our relationship with the landscape and the plants and animals we are stewarding.

5. AI can transform precision agriculture, but what are the legal risks – Dr. Siegmar Pohl, partner at Kilpatrick & Jordan Glassman, associate at Kilpatrick

Precision agriculture has the power to disrupt farming as we know it, but farmers, their suppliers and purveyors of precision ag technologies also need to be aware of the associated legal risks.

6. The greenwashing effect of GWP* – the new methane metric pushed by Big Agriculture – Nusa Urbancic, CEO at Changing Markets Foundation

Its potency and short-lived nature make rapid methane cuts one of the best strategies to stay under 1.5 degree temperature increase. However, the change of metric to GWP* would undermine these efforts.

7. Are plant-based meats cooked? – Brad Jakeman, managing partner at Rethink Food

Plant-based proteins still have a lot of room to expand despite waning consumer excitement. It’s evident that consumers may adopt more plant-based diets if given some encouragement from governments, even with the industry’s hype-boom-bust cycle.

8. The EUDR is an opportunity to progress data standards in agriculture – Davide Ceper, CEO at Varda

While larger corporations may have the resources to manage the demands of the forthcoming EU Deforestation Regulation, is it reasonable to demand the same from smaller businesses or localized farmers?

9. To reduce methane’s impact across agrifood systems, we must measure it properly – Dr. Lee Recht, VP of sustainability at Aleph Farms; Leehee Goldenberg, VP of policy at Oporto Carbon; and Dr. Meghan O’Hear, director of impact at Food Systems for the Future

Methane mitigation is critical for reaching meaningful short-term climate targets and also buying much-needed time for achieving mid- and long-term goals. One notable short-term target is the Global Methane Pledge.

10. What’s driving green biology innovation in South Korean agriculture? – Seoyeon Kim, Sopoong Ventures

The synergy between startups and established companies is creating a robust ecosystem that supports sustainable and efficient farming practices, and will likely position South Korea as a global hub for agricultural biotechnology.