Now in its 13th year, World Agri-Tech San Francisco returns on March 11-12, 2025, where 2,500 leaders, innovators and investors from across the global agtech landscape will meet to drive innovation, collaboration, and investment in the sector.
Can the SAF market keep its foot on the gas?
Top of mind will be President Trump’s return to the White House and its impact on the biofuels sector. It has been warned the new administration might do away with the 45Z Clean Fuels Production tax, a move which would threaten the development of the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market. An expert panel at the event will for the first time explore the outlook for the SAF sector and look at how US farmers can access SAF supply chains profitably and sustainably.
Do we still need to talk about the investment landscape?
The investment landscape is likely to remain a talking point – as it was at the recent London edition of the event. Since then, data has revealed venture capital investor confidence is returning, though deal counts continue to decline and exit opportunities remain limited. Whether we have yet reached the bottom of the VC contraction cycle is likely still going to be up for debate come San Francisco, and with it questions as to what are the new expectations for start-ups.
Time for AI to get real?
Much has been said about AI and GenAI’s promise to transform agricultural efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. But the sense now is that there is an appetite for realistic discussions about what is possible today. The summit agenda will therefore be highlighting the real-world applications of this shiny new tech and the opportunities and challenges it brings.
A pre-summit day – another first for the summit – where attendees can get a head start on networking and knowledge sharing, features an AI in agriculture forum which will explore practical use cases and case studies of AI and GenAI. And with the industry keen to understand uses of AI along the value chain, expect the topic to appear in many panel discussions. For example, a key question being asked of the biologicals sector is how is AI supporting the discovery process and increasing the likelihood of success.
Where are with robotic innovation?
Machinery and robotics is another topic likely to be widely talked about. A key question for manufacturers is how they can best align with the objectives of farmers globally and drive adoption as farm margins tighten.
Meanwhile, can robotic innovation keep showing resilience despite the VC downturn? After all, robotics innovation is gaining traction in the specialty crop and fresh produce segments rather than broadacre crops given their power limitations. So do robotics require further engineering to be adapted for full automation? Or must the cultivation environment adapt? These are questions that will need answers.
Where does CRISPR stand on its commercialisation journey?
Genetics is another segment investors feel excited about despite the challenging VC landscape.
With climate change posing significant risks to global agriculture, CRISPR/Cas gene editing technology can enhance plant resilience by enabling precise genetic modifications that improve tolerance to various abiotic and biotic stresses.
Gene editing can also be used to artificially induce the concept of polyploidy, another powerful tool in plant breeding and crop improvement that offers opportunities for developing higher-yielding, more resilient crops.
But this innovation has only scratched the surface of its potential. It is yet to be established how widely applicable and scalable these technologies are, particularly within the urgent timelines needed for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Cynics might also ask to what extent are genetic technologies driven by market demand versus publicity? These issues will be debated at the summit in San Francisco.
How can we scale better biologicals?
The biologicals sector faces similar questions. While biological products have shown unquestionable potential to reduce synthetic fertiliser use, lowering carbon and nitrous oxide emissions, they continue to face doubts regarding their efficacy and versatility. Questions therefore remain over how we can scale biological products to meet the sustainability goals of agribusinesses and food brands.
The summit will ponder what infrastructure is needed to test and compare products with different modes of action and explore what partnership models are emerging to support collaboration in a highly competitive environment.
Big draw names at the event include Michael Hourihan, general procurement officer at General Mills; Wilbur Ellis CTO Annie Thesingh; Bunge CTO Debra King; and CNH Industrial CTO Jay Schroeder.
For more information about the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in San Francisco visit here or register online here.
