The Future of Agriculture Depends on Reducing Grower Risk
Reflections from the Agri-Pulse Food & Ag Issues Summit, the Salinas Biological Summit, and conversations across agriculture.
Across the produce industry, growers are adopting new technologies, improving irrigation practices, implementing conservation measures, exploring biological products, collecting better data, and finding new ways to strengthen their operations. Researchers continue to advance the science. Industry is developing new tools. Policymakers are investing in the future of agriculture. Retailers are asking important questions about resilience, transparency, and long-term supply security.
Innovation isn’t standing still.
Over the past month, I attended the Agri-Pulse Food & Ag Issues Summit and the Salinas Biological Summit. While speaking with growers, researchers, retailers, policymakers, and industry leaders across agriculture, conversations on the surface covered very different topics. Some focused on agricultural policy. Others explored biologicals, water management, conservation, retailer expectations, and emerging technologies. Yet, they were all pointing to the same goal:
Building a more resilient agricultural system.
The difference was in how each group described getting there. Growers talked about managing risk. Researchers talked about innovation and field validation. Retailers focused on resilient supply chains and measurable outcomes. Policymakers discussed long-term sustainability and competitiveness. Different perspectives. The same destination.
One comment during the Salinas Biological Summit captured that reality perfectly:
“Growers are not resistant to change, they are resistant to unnecessary risk.”
That statement has stayed with me because it reflects the reality of farming. Every season, growers make decisions that affect their businesses, employees, and families. Trying a new biological product, implementing a regenerative/conservation practice, investing in irrigation technology, or changing a production system isn’t simply about adopting something new. It’s about determining whether the benefits outweigh the financial and operational risks.
Innovation has to earn its place in the field.
Throughout these conversations, another important realization emerged. Resilience isn’t something growers build alone. Growers, retailers, foodservice companies, manufacturers, researchers, universities, industry organizations, and government all have a role to play.
Growers need the flexibility to evaluate new approaches under real farming conditions. Researchers provide independent science. Manufacturers develop practical tools. Universities and industry partners validate emerging tools and technologies. Government can reduce barriers through practical, science-based policies. Retailers help create market demand and rely on resilient supply chains that can adapt to changing environmental and economic conditions.
Relationships have to work both ways.
If retailers expect growers to implement new technologies, conservation practices, and other sustainability initiatives, growers also need committed partners willing to support the transition. Innovation takes time. It requires learning, adaptation, and continuous improvement. Building resilience isn’t about expecting perfection. It’s about working together and creating the conditions that allow progress.
We see this firsthand through our work with growers. We have many ongoing conversations with growers through the USDA Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) Grant. The program demonstrates how the industry can reduce barriers by providing technical assistance, supporting conservation practices, documenting measurable outcomes, and helping growers evaluate new approaches under commercial farming conditions.
Agriculture’s long-term competitiveness will depend on more than producing great crops. It will depend on practical policy, continued investment, collaboration, and helping growers navigate an increasingly complex operating environment where water, labor, regulations, technology, consumer expectations, and market pressures are becoming increasingly interconnected.
Agriculture has never lacked innovation.
What it has often lacked is the confidence, collaboration, technical support, and market alignment needed to help growers put innovation into practice. The future of agriculture won’t be determined by the next breakthrough technology.
It will be determined by how well we help growers adopt existing innovations and solutions.
For more key takeaways from the Agri-Pulse Food & Ag Issues Summit and the Salinas Biological Summit, view our conference summaries: