2023 Agriculture Trends We're Watching at CES

While #CES has become synonymous with the launch of new technologies, it’s not just new phones and smart home gadgets.  The innovators at CES are also addressing the Big Challenges--the challenges that cross all industries like a shortage of reliable #labor, cost effective #transportation, the need for climate smart solutions and improving equitable public health outcomes.  While all of these challenges are central to the produce industry, many of the tech companies creating these new solutions have no awareness or understanding of the potential for deploying these technologies within the produce #supplychain.   

At IFPA, we’re not only looking to help identify those technologies that can be game-changers for our industry, but we’re also focused on helping tech companies see the ROI in entering our industry.  One way is through the Fresh Field Catalyst, where we welcome innovators with market-ready solutions into the industry, creating introductions and immersing tech partners in the ways of produce. Imagine years of trial and error, market research, and cold calls – all unnecessary as we provide a fast pass to understanding the industry.  The Fresh Field Catalyst will take place again in 2023, with applications launching in January and the program beginning in May. .  

The Catalyst is just one strategy, but IFPA is always on the lookout for helping the industry understand the tech opportunities coming down the line.  As we prepare to attend CES in early January,  here are the trends we have our eyes on and how they will play a role in produce in the future.  

Sustainability – Climate Smart Solutions 

  Here’s why it’s important: More than a quarter of the world’s GHG emissions come from agriculture, forestry and land-use changes. Unlike other sectors, agriculture is far less consolidated so reducing emissions in the ag space will require more than regulation and good intentions. Agriculture employs more than 2 billion people across the globe, mobilizing an industry that large will require major innovation, especially as we consider the complex set of industry needs including biodiversity,  nutritional needs, food security and the livelihoods of farming families and communities.    

And agriculture is disproportionately affected by climate change.  We need technology to help us adapt to be able to continue to grow the food we need as the climate changes. 

Here’s what we’re looking at: There’s a lot of solutions on the horizon, we’ll be looking at everything from zero-emissions on-farm machinery to next-horizon tech for carbon measurement and sequestration.  The produce industry will benefit from technologies that improve crop monitoring capabilities and reduce waste, but also those that can help change consumer behaviors to lower waste and increase consumption of nutritious foods.  

Artificial Intelligence 

Here’s why it’s important: AI is going to be a critical tool in the tech development and adoption of solutions that support climate-smart ag.  Ag labor is not unskilled labor, those working at every point of the supply chain carry years upon years of experience.  AI will provide the opportunity to scale this expertise beyond available labor and, in time, allow many in our industry, to adopt predictive tools to address  the challenges they face each day.  

Here’s what we’re looking at: We’re already seeing AI utilized in many tech solutions in ag and we’ll be looking for ways these are evolving.  This includes solutions to automate farming activities like weeding, planting, irrigation and harvesting;  ID and prediction of pest and disease outbreak; and other tools that enable better management and monitoring of crop quality.   

Robotics & Drones  

Here’s why it’s important: Robotics and Drones are likely some of the first technologies that people think of when they think about tech that will change agriculture.  While it’s true that drones are incredible crop scouting tools, and robotics are being developed and deployed as autonomous weeders, harvesters, planters – we truly are at the beginning of this technology as it relates to a full-farm takeover.  The potential not only to adopt these technologies over time, but to also participate in the development of the tools to ensure they can best serve our industry is at a peak right now.   

Here’s what we’re looking at: We’ll be looking at the market-ready ag tools that will be on the floor at CES.  We’ll also be looking at ways the industry can help to support the development of this innovation going forward. The improvement of these tools requires data and real-time experience and we’ll have our eye out on how produce can help be a part of this critical tool.   

Other areas: 

Food Tech:  From vertical farming to ingredient and nutrition innovation, CES will be a hotspot to learn more about the scientific progress made in how food is being produced, packaged, distributed and consumed.   

Digital Health:  Produce has a role to play in helping to achieve urgent health outcomes to improve our overall quality of life and curb health costs on global economies associated with diet-related disease. Digital health technologies offer exciting new solutions and potential partnerships for produce as we seek to play role in helping to grow a healthier world for all.  

Data Interaction: There was a time when getting data was the biggest challenge but that has changed.  Now, we have a wealth of data but we could use help with creating systems that provides interoperability and insights across the entire supply chain.  

Supply Chain Management:  Every industry is struggling with supply chain issues.  With a perishable product, those struggles are even more urgent and difficult to manage.  We’ll be keeping an eye out for technologies in use in other industries that help to manage and communicate better to help achieve better yield and product forecasting.   

We’ll be sharing updates from the floor at CES (#CES2023) and Vonnie Estes , IFPA's VP of AgTech Innovation, will also be speaking at the Food Tech Conference hosted by The Spoon. Keep an eye on our social channels to see what we see at the event.