Article by Hilary Rance and photography by James Collier for CA GROWN
What if there were a way for farmers to communicate their most pressing problems – and an agency that could help facilitate solutions? Here in California, there is. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR)’s Connect Program hosts Field Days that connect farmers with companies developing solutions to some of their biggest concerns.
What is UC ANR Connect?
Hannah Johnson, director of the Connect Program at UC ANR, created the program with one simple purpose – giving farmers the tools they need to survive and thrive. Her motivations are both altruistic and personal. Hannah’s family sold their alfalfa farm in 2017 – a difficult decision made after years of economic instability. Hannah hopes the Connect Program can help other farmers avoid a similar fate.
“The goal is to make sure there are not other farmers in the same spot, and to make sure they are connected to the tools, the expertise, the researchers, the investors, the state agencies, and the funding mechanisms that they need to keep going, because we cannot lose any more farms in California.” Hannah said. “The UC ANR Connect Program is the only program that is vetting technology for California growers.”
The Connect Program focuses on solving growers’ biggest problems. So, naturally, the first step is figuring out what those problems are.
“We ask growers up and down the state what are their biggest pain points,” Hanna explained. “We then go scout and vet tech that is solving those pain points.”
There are countless companies developing technology that could potentially benefit California growers, but only the most promising make it into the Connect Program and onto the Field Day lineup. Business models, teams and even pitches are meticulously reviewed and analyzed before a company gets the green light. “We put these companies through the wringer,” Hannah admitted with a grin.
What are Field Days?
The Connect Program’s Field Days showcase innovative solutions to some of the issues facing California growers. During these commodity or region specific events, companies are invited to showcase their products and demonstrate them in real-world conditions. Farmers, students and policymakers are invited to view and evaluate these emerging technologies. During a recent leafy greens Field Day, for example, SAMI Robotics debuted their robotic lettuce harvester, an innovative solution to labor shortages that plague farmers across the state.
Field Days are beneficial to both growers and emerging technology companies – and not just in terms of facilitating future sales. Growers can give real-time feedback on the products, highlighting potential issues and suggesting ways to improve efficiency. Technology companies then use this information to make any needed changes or adjustments, ultimately providing growers with a product that best meets their needs.
For the Connect Team, Field Days are also an opportunity to learn which companies are truly passionate about the work – who is willing to go above and beyond.
“There is so much you can see about a company in how they show up and behave at Field Day,” Hannah noted. “I want to watch this company show up early, to see how they talk to researchers. I want them to be talking to the farm owner and I want to see them stay late. We clock all of that, and I think farmers do, too.”
Field Days: Planning and participation
California grows over 400 specialty crops across the state, which the Ag Tech Alliance breaks into nine distinct growing regions, each with its own set of challenges. When planning future Field Days, the Connect team starts by “choosing a geography.” From there, they chat with growers in the region to determine their most pressing issues. Those conversations help shape an application that goes out to companies developing technology that could address those specific challenges.
The Connect Program carefully reviews the applications before selecting 10 to 20 companies to pitch their technology. From that group, the highest-ranking and most established companies are invited to join the Connect Program and, ultimately, participate in a Field Day.
The California Ag Tech Alliance
Field Days and UC ANR’s Connect Program fall under the umbrella of the California Ag Tech Alliance. While the Connect Program focuses on tackling some of the biggest challenges facing California growers, the Ag Tech Alliance takes a broader approach. The alliance brings together universities, growers and industry partners to support workforce development, build a statewide network and create an investment hub designed to speed up the development and adoption of new technologies for California agriculture.
In just two years, the Ag Tech Alliance has already made a big impact. The organization has awarded more than $2 million in funding, partnered with more than 100 startups and trained 800 people for high-tech careers in agriculture – from drones and robotics to precision farming.
Supporting California Farmers
UC ANR’s Connect Program works tirelessly to support California farmers – and Hannah encourages consumers to do the same.
“California agriculture grows the best there is,” Hannah asserted. “Farmers care deeply about the land; they care deeply about their workers, and it’s hard to grow anything – anywhere. You’ve got to love it to keep doing it. It’s sacred work – and if you can choose to purchase California Grown, you should.”