SILICON VALLEY FORUM PRESENTS
THE SEEDS OF OUR FUTURE: INNOVATING GLOBAL AGTECH
AUGUST 27-30, 2018 | SILICON VALLEY, CA
#SVFAgTech18
DON’T WAIT TO SIGN UP – LAST YEAR’S PROGRAM TICKETS WERE SOLD-OUT!
About the Program
Silicon Valley Forum’s the Seeds of Our Future: Innovating Global AgTech invites global AgTech innovators on a one-week journey through Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and the Central Valley, where you’ll explore sustainable, scalable solutions for the projected population increase in the years to come. California is home to the world’s most productive seats of both technology and agriculture, and this program examines the ways in which we can bridge the two, building a sustainable, connected, beautiful future.
Since the inaugural event in 2016, the Seeds of Our Future has brought together tech innovators, startups, investors, farmers, universities, governments, and industry experts to connect on topics such as automated farms, food safety and traceability, controlled environments, UAVs, and much more.
AgTech Startups – Apply to pitch at Driscoll’s Cassin Ranch on Aug 29th here.
Farmers and Growers – Get a complimentary invite to the conference on Aug 30th here.
How to Choose Your Ticket:
The choice is up to you – spend the full four days with us (immersion program + conference) or attend the conference only!
The “Seeds of Our Future” Agtech Immersion Program will be held August 27 – 29, 2018, and will tour through a variety of locations in San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and the Central Valley. Program tickets automatically include entrance to the AgTech conference on August 30.
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The “Seeds of Our Future” Agtech Conference is a one-day event that will be held August 30, 2018, at Forager in historic downtown San Jose, CA. If you wish to attend the conference only, please select the “Conference” ticket type.
Watch 2017 Highlights: The Seeds of Our Future AgTech Program
WATCH VIDEO
Speakers
more to be announced
Immersion Program Speakers
Deborah Magid Dir. Software Strategy, IBM Venture Capital Group
Dir. Software Strategy, IBM Venture Capital Group
Hank Giclas SVP Science Technology Strategic Planning Western Growers
SVP Science Technology Strategic Planning Western Growers
Nolan Paul R D Strategy Emerging Tech Driscolls
R D Strategy Emerging Tech Driscolls
George Kellerman COO GP Yamaha Motor Ventures Laboratory Silicon Valley
COO GP Yamaha Motor Ventures Laboratory Silicon Valley
Mareese Keane Thrive Platform Director, Thrive Accelerator
Thrive Platform Director, Thrive Accelerator
Rob Leclerc CoFounder, AgFunder
CoFounder AgFunder
Helle Petersen Program Manager, Water Energy and Technology Center
Dennis Donohue Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology
Manuel Esteban Gonzalez Guzman Managing Director & Founder, FoodBytes and Terra
Eric Migicovsky Partner, Y Combinator
Manu Pillai Founder & President, WaterBit
Danny Royer VP of Technology, Bowles Farming Company
Joe Gunter Mayor, City of Salinas
Dr. Alessandro Turatti President & CEO, Turatti North America
Bill Green Education Manager, Center for Irrigation Technology
Sarge Green Interim Director, Center for Irrigation Technology
Tim Jacobsen Field Research Manager, Center for Irrigation Technology
David Zoldoske Project Specialist, Center for Irrigation Technology
Adam Wolf Founder & CEO, Arable Labs
Waldo Moraga CEO and GM, ECO2MIX
Mitch Partovi Key Account Manager, Waterfind USA
Jason Aramburu Venture Capital Investor, Baidu.Ventures
Miku Jha Founder and CEO, AgShift
Christopher Seifert VP of Data Science, Granular
Sofia Elizondo Co-founder & COO, Brightseed
Jun Axup Scientific Director & Partner, IndieBio
Mike Selden CEO, Finless Foods
Spencer Maughan Partner, Finistere Ventures
Brendan Solan Director Supply Chain Platforms, Driscoll's
Bakur Kvezereli CEO & Co-Founder, Ztractor
Arturo Elizondo CEO, Clara Foods
Raja Ramachandran Founder, Ripe.io
Conference Speakers
Denyse Cardozo CEO, Silicon Valley Forum
CEO, Silicon Valley Forum
Karen Ross Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture
Nicky Molloy Business Innovation Adviser - Agritech, Callaghan Innovation
Peter Wren-Hilton Executive Director, Agritech New Zealand
Steven Saunders Owner & Board Chairman, RoboticsPlus
Charlie Wang CEO & President, Oasis Biotech
Ricardo Jaramillo CoFounder, Agrofuturo
Arama Kukutai CoFounder & Partner, Finistere Ventures
Sarah E. DiCicco Vice President, DroneSprout
Sofía Ramírez Calvo Commercial Manager, Liventus Global
Gonzalo Fuenzalida CoFounder & CEO, Andes Ag
Patricia Hansen Investment Commissioner North America, InvestChile
Prakash Iyer Senior VP, Software Architecture & Strategy, Trimble
Tim Groser New Zealand's Ambassador to the United States
Liz Specht Senior Scientist, The Good Food Institute
AGENDA
The first 3 days of ``The Seeds of Our Future`` will tour through innovative farms and businesses throughout Northern California. The week culminates on August 30th with a full-day conference at Forager in San Jose, CA.
Immersion Program
August 27 - 29
Updated weekly!
Conference Agenda
August 30
Updated weekly!
Immersion Program
subject to change
Day 1 (August 27th)
7:00 am – 8:30 am
Pickup From Hotel. Travel to first location.
8:30 am – 9:00 am
Registration and Breakfast
9:00 am – 9:30 am
Welcome Remarks – with Silicon Valley Forum and Yamaha Motor Ventures
New Zealand Partnerships and the Importance of Global Collaboration
9:30 am – 11:30 am
Global Ecosystem Learning Session
speakers to be announced
11:30 pm – 12:30 pm
Lunch Break and Networking
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
PANEL – Laying the Groundwork for Impactful Investments in AgTech
Speakers:
George Kellerman, Yamaha Motor Ventures
Eric Migicovsky, Y-Combinator
Rob Leclerc, AgFunder
more panelists to be announced
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm
BREAK
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
PANEL – The Future of Food is Biotechnology
Host: Jun Axup, IndieBio
Mike Selden, Finless Foods
Sofia Elizondo, Brighseed
Arturo, Elizondo, Clara Foods
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Talk with Granular
Christopher Seifert, VP of Data Science
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Adjusting Automation Systems to Improve Crop Yield
Steve Saunders, Robotics Plus
Bakur Kvezereli, Ztractor
Harvest Croo, Paul Binney
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Travel back to San Jose
Day 2 (August 28th)
6:00 am – 9:00 am
Pickup From San Jose and travel to Bowles Farm, Los Banos
9:00 am – 11:00 am
Tour of Bowles Farm and Showcase of Water Technology
Speakers:
Manu Pillai, WaterBit
Danny Royer, Bowles Farm
Hosted by Bowles Farms
11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Commute & Lunch
12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
The Future of Water Technology: Innovation and Investment Opportunities
Dr. Sandra Witte, Dean at Fresno State
Helle Petersen, Water Energy and Technology Center
Sarge Green, Center for Irrigation Technology
Bill Green, Center for Irrigation Technology
Tim Jacobsen, Center for Irrigation Technology
Hosted by The Wet Center
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Talk: Status of Water in the San Joaquin Valley
Sarge Green, Water Management Specialist, Fresno State
Panel: Strategies and Innovation for Stretching Water
Moderator: David Zoldoske
Panelists: Manu Pillai, WaterBit
Paul Bettencourt
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Break
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Water, Energy and Ag Pitches
Moderator: Jeff Macon
Waterfind (Mitch Partovi)
Waldo Moraga, Eco2Mix
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Travel back to San Jose
Day 3 (August 29th)
7:00 am – 9:30 am
Pickup from San Jose and travel to Salinas
9:30 am – 10:30 am
Welcome remarks with Salinas Mayor Joe Gunter
PANEL – Growing Pains: Understanding the Critical Needs of Farmers
10:30 am – 11:30 pm
Practical Applications in Blockchain: A New Business Model for Produce Management
Moderator: Mareese Keane, Thrive Accelerator
Deborah Magid, IBM Ventures (on behalf of IBM Blockchain team)
Alessandro Turatti, Turatti North America
Brendan Solan, Driscoll’s
Ami Patel, Ripe.io
11:30 pm – 12:30 pm
Lunch and Networking at Portabello’s
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Berry Harvesting for the Future: Accelerating Supply Chain Processes Using Applied AI and ML
Hosted by Driscoll’s Cassin Ranch
Startup Presentations by Driscoll’s partners
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Startup Presentations and B2B Matchmaking session
Hosted by Driscoll’s Cassin Ranch
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Break
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Driscoll’s Cassin Ranch Pitch Night!
International Pitch Session with selected startups
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Travel back to San Jose
Conference Agenda (August 30th)
subject to change
8:30 – 9:00 am
Registration and networking
9:00 – 9:15 am
Opening Remarks: Denyse Cardozo, CEO of Silicon Valley Forum
9:15 – 9:45 am
Keynote: Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture
9:45 – 10:00 am
Welcome Speech by Yamaha Motor Ventures
10:00 – 10:35 am
Panel Discussion: How Can NZ Agritech Feed the World
Panelists:
Peter Wren Hilton, Executive Director, Agritech New Zealand
Nicky Molloy, Business Innovation Adviser – Agritech, Callaghan Innovation
10:35 – 10:50 am
Short Break
10:50 – 11:25 am
Canada: Panel Discussion—topic and panelists to be announced
11:25 – 12:00 pm
Japan: Panel Discussion—topic and panelists to be announced
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Lunch, Networking and B2B Farmer Networking—Sponsored by DroneSprout
Sarah DiCicco and Brian DiCicco, CoFounders
1:00 – 1:35 pm
Keynote with Finistere Ventures
Arama Kukutai, Co-Founder
1:35 – 1:45 pm
Keynote: Watermelon Harvesting and Labor Robotics on the Farm
Danny Royer, Bowles Farm
1:45 – 2:20 pm
Speed Talk: Autonomous Irrigation Systems
Danny Royer and Manu Pillai, Bowles Farm
2:20 – 2:30 pm
Fireside Chat: Innovations in the Clean Meat Revolution
Dr. Liz Specht, Senior Scientist at The Good Food Institute
2:30 – 3:05 pm
China: Panel Discussion—topic and panelists to be announced
3:05 – 3:20 pm
Short Break
3:20 – 3:30 pm
India: Panel Discussion—topic and panelists to be announced
3:30 – 4:05 pm
Lightning Talk—topic and speaker to be announced
4:05 – 4:40 pm
Chile—Panel Discussion: Extending Shelf Life of Agricultural Products
Patricia Hansen, Sofia Ramirez, Gonzalo Fuenzalida
4:40 – 5:00 pm
Closing Keynote with Prakash Iyer, SVP Trimble
5:00 – 5:10 pm
Closing remarks—Denyse Cardozo, CEO of Silicon Valley Forum
5:10 – 7:00 pm
Cocktails, networking, and conference conclusion
WATCH HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2017!
IT ALL HAPPENS AUGUST 27 – 30, 2018!
The immersion program will take you on a whirlwind tour through Northern California; the conference itself will be held in historic downtown San Jose, CA.
Immersion Program Locations – August 27-29:
San Francisco, Davis, Watsonville, and more
Conference Location – August 30 only:
420 S. 1st Street
San Jose, CA 95172
2018 Partners
Premier
Silver
Conference Lunch Sponsor
Country Partners
Program Host Partners
In-Kind Partners
Video Production Partner
Networking Partner
Community Partners
Hotel Recommendations
For your convenience, we have a list of hotel recommendations below. Please note: as the pickup point for each day of the program will be in downtown San Jose, the hotels below are, too. If you elect to go with a different hotel, we strongly recommend staying as close as possible to San Jose. The hotels below have been selected because of their proximity to the pickup point and the conference itself.
Fairmont San Jose ($$$$)
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Fairmont San Jose offers refined elegance and sophistication set amid the magnificent backdrop of Northern California.
Westin San Jose ($$$)
The Westin San Jose combines distinctive character and modern design in the heart of downtown San Jose.
San Jose Marriott ($$$)
Connected to the San Jose Convention Center, our recently redesigned San Jose Marriott offers travelers an inspired downtown location.
Sponsorship Packages
Sponsorship Packages
If you’re interested in hosting a session on the Immersion Program or organizing a country panel at the Conference, enter your details below and we will email you more info.
