Innovation and collaboration are driving efficiency and sustainability in food system

There is no doubt that the U.S. food system is one of the most productive food systems in the world. It is also incredibly complex. Delivering a safe, high quality food supply from farmers to grocery stores and restaurants to the world’s consumers involves a network of transportation, processing, purchasing, and more that is hidden from view.

I have seen many of these steps in the food system firsthand. I grew up on a farm and ranch in western Kansas and have traded grain, managed cattle feedyards and bought cattle for processors. Now I’m excited to help develop solutions for supply chain and agricultural markets at Scoular. Over the years, my belief in the ability of U.S. agriculture to innovate and find solutions to challenges has only grown stronger.

Farming and moving grain and other agricultural products through the supply chain is complex and intricate. Despite great efficiency, some aspects, notably the settlement processes, have yet to be fully digitized. The industry relies on printed scale tickets, manually entered data, and a transportation network that does not holistically share information digitally at every step.

As we face the challenging goals to produce more food for a growing world population, while protecting soil, water, and air, we must innovate and collaborate in ways that we did not think possible just a few years ago.

Farmers have always been early adopters of technology to improve how they raise crops and animals. Computerized trading has replaced outcry trading on boards of trade floors. Farmers now generate incredible amounts of data. Instead of making measurements at the farm or field level, farmers generate data at the square yard level. Scoular’s priority is to develop tools that can help farmers and the industry make informed decisions from that mountain of information

For 130 years, Scoular has worked to develop reliable and diverse supply chain solutions for end users and suppliers of grain, food ingredients, animal feed ingredients and pet food ingredients world-wide. The company that began as a country elevator in 1892, is now 1,200 employees strong with more than 100 offices, grain elevators and processing facilities in North America and Asia.

Given our global reach, we have taken a leadership role in using agricultural technology to help drive industry solutions. One of our exciting solutions was the 2019 launch of Roger LLC. Scoular and five other charter members joined their expertise and funds to launch an independent technology company that provides modern digital tools for shippers and carriers in the dry bulk truck freight industry.

With Roger, we have launched in a new way the digital transfer of information for the transportation industry. By digitizing scale tickets, payments and more, shippers and carriers can reduce administrative work and be more transparent. Advanced GPS allows shippers and carriers to “follow” loads in real time and provides options for companies to work together to increase the efficiency of every mile. By simplifying the transportation step, we are improving the food system’s efficiency and sustainability.

As we recognize National Ag Day and celebrate Agriculture Innovation Week in Iowa, it is critical to recognize the role that innovation and collaboration play in bringing to market the ideas that will disrupt and lead the industry to the future. There is no better testing ground than Iowa for these ideas.

If we are going to make a difference in protecting soil and water, while feeding 9 billion people by 2050, we have to empower growers to make decisions on approaches that are right for their farm, their soil and their production system. Land grant universities like Iowa State University and its extension service are critical to researching, developing, and delivering solutions, as well as tailoring new technologies and practices to meet farmer needs

The solutions we need can and will be developed here, and we are excited to be part of the process in America’s Cultivation Corridor.

By Ed Prosser, Senior Vice President, Emerging Businesses, Scoular 

Ed Prosser serves as Senior Vice President of Emerging Businesses. In this role, he leads the support for strategic growth investment opportunities, including biofuels, renewable energy, carbon, technology businesses/investments, including Roger LLC.

 About America’s Cultivation Corridor

Focused on further developing and marketing the world-renowned agricultural and bioscience economy in Iowa, America’s Cultivation Corridor is building on a rich history of innovation to accelerate value-added agriculture business development by attracting companies, talent and capital from across the globe to the state. Representing a diverse public-private coalition of stakeholders including Iowa State University, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Ames Chamber of Commerce, nonprofits and private sector companies from across the region and state, the Cultivation Corridor is one of the nation’s foremost cluster-based economic development organizations. For more information, visit CultivationCorridor.org.