Last week on the 19th of March, we brought together a group of people from across agriculture, technology and the protein supply chain to explore a simple question:
Where is AI actually creating value today, and what’s holding it back?
We want to say a big thank you to our panellists for an honest, grounded discussion:
Dr. Anne Richmond, Research & Development at Pilgrim's Europe, Steve McLean, CEO of the UK Agri-Tech Centre, Matt Dobbs, CEO of Agsenze Ltd, Jonathan Statham, Professor of Sustainable Livestock Health & Welfare and David Speller, Founder and CEO of OPTIFARM.
Here are a few reflections that stood out to us and our attendees:
"Don’t wait for perfect. Start with possible.”
The technology is moving fast. Computer vision, machine learning, and real-time analytics are all reaching real-world viability. And yet, adoption across the sector is still in its early stages, with most organisations rating their AI readiness at around 3/10.
AI isn’t just a tech problem
Barriers are just as much about funding models, regulation, trust, and people as they are about algorithms.Aligning investment with impact
The funding question is critical: when AI delivers a public good, the way it’s funded needs to reflect that.Adoption is emotional, not just financial
A $21m saving doesn’t guarantee uptake. Farmers adopt what they trust, what solves real problems, and what fits seamlessly into their workflow.
What's the bottom line?
The technology is ready but the challenge now is building solutions that are trusted, practical and economically meaningful at farm level.
Thanks again to everyone who joined the discussion, we’re already looking forward to our next event.
If you'd like to learn more, get in touch with us here.
