Will Farmers Grow AI Okra?
November 20, 2025
A VP at Land O’ Lakes laments US farmers’ hesitance to turn their family farms into high-tech agricultural factories. In a piece at Fast Company, writer and executive Brett Bruggeman insists “It’s Time to Rethink Ag Innovation from the Ground Up.” Yep, time to get rid of those pesky human farmers who try to get around devices that prevent tinkering or unsanctioned repairs. Humans can’t plow straight anyway. As Bruggeman sees it:
“The problem isn’t a lack of ideas. Every year, new technologies emerge with the potential to transform how we farm, from AI-powered analytics to cutting-edge crop inputs. But the simple truth is that many promising solutions never scale, not because they don’t work but because they can’t break through the noise, earn trust, or integrate into the systems growers rely on.”
Imagine that. Farmers are reluctant to abandon methods that have worked for decades. So how is big-agro-tech to convince these stubborn luddites? You have to make them believe you are on their side. The post continues:
“Bringing local agricultural retailers and producers together for pilot testing and performance discussions is central to finding practical and scalable solutions. Sitting at the kitchen table with farmers provides invaluable data and feedback—they know the land, the seasons, and the day-to-day pressures associated with the crop or livestock they raise. When innovation flows through this channel, it’s far more likely to be understood, adopted, and create lasting value. … So, the cooperative approach offers a blueprint worth considering—especially for industries wrestling with the same adoption gaps and trust barriers that agriculture faces. Capital alone isn’t enough. Relationships matter. Local connections matter. And innovation that ignores the end user is destined to stall.”
Ah, the good old kitchen table approach. Surely, farmers will be happy to interrupt their day for these companies’ market research.
Cynthia Murrell, November 20, 2025
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