The Growers Experience

Putting AI to work on your farm during the season starts with a clear, long-term strategy. This panel explores how farmers and agribusiness leaders can move beyond experimentation to build an AI approach that delivers real value in day-to-day operations. From understanding ROI, managing risks, and staying competitive, to deciding whether to build, buy, or partner, experts will share practical frameworks for decision-making.

The discussion will also address the foundations of a successful AI journey: data ownership and interoperability, infrastructure choices, and the human side of transformation—skills, teams, and adoption. Finally, panelists will outline how to prioritize investments over a 3–5 year horizon to turn AI into a scalable, operational tool throughout the growing season.

A robot is not a one-time purchase, it’s a system that needs to be maintained, updated, and supported over time. This workshop explores what happens after deployment: maintenance routines, software updates, breakdowns, spare parts, and the level of support you can realistically expect. Who do you call when something goes wrong? How fast can issues be resolved? And what skills do you need in-house? A practical look at the full lifecycle of a farm robot to help you avoid costly surprises.

This open barcamp is designed as a hands-on working space where growers, solution builders, equipment manufacturers, and AgTech startups come together to actively shape the next generation of agricultural tools. Moving beyond traditional feedback sessions, participants will collaborate on real-world use cases, challenge current approaches, refine existing concepts, and explore new directions grounded in field realities.
Each discussion table will focus on a key stage of the crop cycle, enabling targeted exchanges and practical problem-solving:

Land Preparation & Soil Management (incl. tillage)
Planting / Seeding / Establishment
Irrigation & Water Management
Nutrient Management (incl. fertigation)
Crop Protection (pest, disease & weed management)
Canopy & Crop Management (pruning, thinning, training, crop load management)
Scouting, Monitoring & Sensing
Yield Management & Forecasting
Harvest
Post-Harvest (handling, sorting, storage)

By fostering direct dialogue between end-users and innovators, this session aims to accelerate the development of solutions that are not only technologically advanced, but also practical, scalable, and aligned with growers’ needs. Participants will leave with actionable insights, new connections, and a clearer vision of where innovation should focus next.