Tag: Agribusiness

Categories
Company News

The Seam Expands Peanut Platform with Coastal Growers, Tifton Peanut Company

The Seam

The Seam announced today that Coastal Growers and Tifton Peanut Company have entered into multi-year agreements for its cloud-based, peanut management platform.

Owned by a cooperative of farmers, Coastal Growers is building a new 400,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art peanut shelling operation in Atmore, Alabama, slated for completion in 2022. State officials said the $87 million project will create more than 150 local jobs. Six buying point affiliate organizations will begin utilizing the platform beginning with the approaching harvest.

Tifton Peanut Company, which maintains five shelling, warehousing, buying point and seed treatment locations across Tifton, Georgia, has also signed on with The Seam for operations specific to plant number 4.

Continue reading “The Seam Expands Peanut Platform with Coastal Growers, Tifton Peanut Company”
Categories
Peanuts

APSA 2020 Pre-Harvest Meeting Recap

American Peanut Shellers Association | The Seam

The 2020 Pre-Harvest Meeting, conducted by the American Peanut Shellers Association and the National Peanut Buying Points Association, was held Wednesday, August 12. While the format was forced to go virtual this year, attendees were still presented with great information on a wide range of industry topics.

Congressmen Austin Scott (R-GA) and Drew Ferguson (R-GA) shared a few insights from the Hill, including an update on future relief packages and upcoming hearings on support programs for growers, as well as an update on trade.

Karl Zimmer (CEO, Premium Peanut) spoke about the impact of aflatoxins on peanuts and the effects on international trade. Aflatoxins are causing increased issues with trade into the EU, with a higher percentage being tested now due to not meeting the EU aflatoxin specs. Japan also reported issues with not meeting specs. This is causing a $120 million impact to the peanut industry, or an impact of $84/acre, as exports account for 25% of the peanut sales. Zimmer also spoke on the efforts of the Aflatoxin Task Force to counter the effects on trade and further aflatoxin research.

Attendees also heard from brands, including Jif and Hershey’s. New information and insights were provided on sustainability and the impact of aflatoxin from the brands (see below).

The annual meeting was rounded out with a crop update from each producing state and an update from The Peanut Institute.

The Seam is proud to be a longstanding member of the American Peanut Shellers Association, the National Peanut Buying Points Association and many other organizations that are working tirelessly to move the industry forward.

Categories
Company News

Commodity Futures Trading Commission Technology Advisory Committee Holds 2020 Meeting

Agtech | The Seam

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is hosting its Technology Advisory Committee (TAC) public meeting via phone conference July 16, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. At this meeting, the TAC will hear presentations from the TAC subcommittees on automated and modern trading markets, distributed ledger technology and market infrastructure, virtual currencies and cybersecurity. The TAC meeting agenda includes key issues that will be discussed and the speakers for each panel.

The Seam CEO Mark Pryor will be presenting Thursday at the Technology Advisory Committee (TAC) public meeting of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). As a Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) sub-committee member, Mark will join Shawnna Hoffman, Global Cognitive Legal Leader, IBM, and Yesha Yadav, Professor of Law, Vanderbilt University Law School as lead participants.

Viewing/Listening Instructions: Watch the live webcast (including audio) at www.cftc.gov. To listen to the live audio feed (no video), call the toll or toll-free numbers below. Call-in participants should be prepared to provide their first name, last name, and affiliation.

Continue reading “Commodity Futures Trading Commission Technology Advisory Committee Holds 2020 Meeting”
Categories
AgTech

How to Develop and Improve Industry Standards

Technology is growing at an exponential rate, and it’s important for industries to adapt their standards accordingly in order for companies and organizations to work with one another efficiently.

If processes and standards are not established, companies will hold different expectations and evaluate business on a different scale, essentially speaking different languages. These points of disconnection create a lack of continuity that not only impacts the business owners, but also their clients or customers.

Whether you aim to create or improve standards within your industry, there are a few crucial steps to keep in mind.

PICK A TEAM AND ASPIRE FOR COOPETITION

Gather a group of your professional peers and key players in your industry to work with. These people should be thought leaders and advocates for change who share a common goal of unity, for the sake of collective progression and profitability.

One person or company cannot change industry standards alone. The purpose of a standard is to be recognized across a wide spectrum of players. Picking the right team can ensure the best results and the best chance of spreading awareness.

Continue reading “How to Develop and Improve Industry Standards”
Categories
AgTech

In-The Know: Bi-Weekly Agritech Round-Up (May 10, 2019)

Agritech

The world of agritech is changing every day. Check out our bi-weekly round-up to stay in-the-know on the evolving world that is agriculture technology.

Continue reading “In-The Know: Bi-Weekly Agritech Round-Up (May 10, 2019)”
Categories
AgTech

Innovation in Agriculture: Why it Matters

innovation in agriculture

As industries across the globe evolve and adapt to new operational landscapes, it is important for the agriculture industry to take note. As the supply chain changes and becomes more technologically advanced, there is an opportunity for growth in agriculture.

Changing tradition doesn’t have to feel daunting. Consider how innovation could benefit agribusinesses and how they fit into the evolving environment of global agriculture.

The Purpose of Innovation in Agriculture

Innovation in agriculture is meant to modernize farmers’ processes and help farms operate as efficiently as possible. New ideas and operations are also needed to help protect farmers against unpredictable variables such as weather patterns, labor shortages and loss of profit. With the help of innovation, industry leaders can adapt quickly and seamlessly when something changes.

The private sector continually invests in research and development to keep up with demand and create new products that excite consumers, while also improving their quality of life. Agriculture is no exception to these trends. Whether it’s using data standards to measure the quality of crops, introducing automated farming equipment, or improving food sustainability, innovation in agriculture doesn’t have to be a foreign concept. The future of agriculture is now, and it requires collaboration and next-step thinking.

The Future of Agriculture

There is so much to learn about modern farming. Investing in agritech is one way to take the next leap in innovation. Partnering with companies that are developing technologies to make farming and selling crops easier on the farmer can improve efficiency in business operations and ensure high-quality products are reaching customers.

The demand for traceability and transparency by consumers is at an all-time high. People want to know what they are investing in and how it is going to benefit them. Solutions like blockchain technology are becoming crucial to business practices. Innovation in agriculture is not going to slow down anytime soon, and deciding to take part in the evolution can save time, money and resources.

When you combine the hardworking nature of farmers and new scientific research, a promising foundation for the future of agriculture is formed. Being a part of agricultural change not only benefits the farmers of today, but it also sets up a prosperous future for generations to come.

Categories
AgTech Sustainability

Where to Invest in Agritech

Invest in Agritech

Whether you are a farmer looking for the latest tools to help your crop production, or a business professional looking for the next leap in innovation, there is no better time to invest in agritech. Agriculture and technology have been melding together over the last decade, and now is the time to make the most of the industry’s growth.

The following solutions have shown tremendous progress, and are not looking to slow down any time soon.

Continue reading “Where to Invest in Agritech”
Categories
AgTech Sustainability

In The Know: Bi-Weekly Agritech Round-Up (March 1, 2019)

The world of agritech is changing every day. Check out our bi-weekly round-up to stay in-the-know on the evolving world that is agriculture technology.

Continue reading “In The Know: Bi-Weekly Agritech Round-Up (March 1, 2019)”
Categories
Sustainability

Agricultural Currency: From Dollars to Data

Data in Agriculture

Growing, buying and trading goods have been standard practices since the origin of economy. Farmers grow crops and commodities to sell or trade, and consumers offer money or goods in exchange for other goods. This process has been the tried-and-true foundation of the modern free enterprise system.

In today’s society, however, money is not the only capital that plays a role in agribusiness. In the last decade or so, the tides have changed, and there is one thing that may be more valuable than the dollar – data.

Continue reading “Agricultural Currency: From Dollars to Data”
Categories
Agritech Blockchain Sustainability

The Importance of Innovation: How Next-Step Thinking Boosts Success

One of the primary goals for any growing business is to gain the trust of customers, investors and industry partners. Once trust is built, credibility can begin to grow. Building trust begins with establishing goals that will serve the company’s demographic, and trust is maintained by accomplishing those goals. The entire process is dynamic and fluid. The nature of this work requires constant change, constant re-evaluation, and the ability to adapt to meet growing needs. This is why innovation is so important when building a business.

Continue reading “The Importance of Innovation: How Next-Step Thinking Boosts Success”