TechCapsules

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

At the Big Iron Farm and Construction Show in West Fargo, North Dakota, Michael Frank, director of On‑Farm Innovation at the NSF AgTech Engine, highlighted that precision agriculture adoption remains at 27% after three decades. Frank cited the collapse of 18 ag‑tech firms last year and the difficulty many face in securing additional funding. He argued that the industry must evaluate technologies by their tangible value—financial savings or problem solving—rather than mere adoption rates. He compared precision tech’s slow uptake to the rapid rise of herbicide‑tolerant soybeans, which solved a clear farmer need.