Brash Ag

Raymond King and Kit Franklin

Brash Ag will be lifting the lid on everything agricultural technology and agtech. Your hosts Raymond King and Kit Franklin are both Chartered Agricultural Engineers and experienced innovators and technologists. Through a mixture of commentary, insights and interviews, Ray and Kit will be using their experience to explore and explain the concepts, ideas, technology and business models that make agtech one of the most exciting and engaging industries to be involved in.

Email us: contact@brash-ag.com

The first season and launch of the podcast was supported by the Douglas Bomford Trust www.dbt.org.uk

Raymond King https://www.linkedin.com/in/flynt-technology/
Kit Franklin https://www.linkedin.com/in/kit-franklin-33649a51/

Play

Open in

29 episodes
weekly
Avg 53 min
English

Episodes 29

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

S5 · E107
Yesterday · 1 hr 1 min
107. Will Your Next Tractor Think for Itself?
AI is going to change the future for farmers and engineers, but perhaps not in the way you might think… This week, Kit and Ray gather around the crystal ball with Mark Wood from Control Technologies UK to explore the future of farming and off-highway machinery—and ask where the real payback lies. From AI-generated code to machines that make their own decisions, the trio explore what’s coming for developers, engineers and operators. Mark explains how CAN communication is evolving, why Ethernet could transform what machines are capable of, and why the data we already collect could be worth far more than we realise. But could the biggest financial gains come from predicting breakdowns rather than taking the driver out of the cab? What if your machine could spot trouble developing and act before it brings the job to a halt? Smarter machines, fewer breakdowns and more money in your pocket—but who’s accountable when AI gets it wrong? Intro Audio License Code: QSER3CYHEHIMVRDC
S5 · E106
October 29 · 59 min
106. Kidd Farm Machinery – Building Machines, Buying Businesses and Bouncing Back
How do you go from an unsuccessful job application to owning the company? And what does a brush with bankruptcy teach you about keeping a machinery business alive? Check out the Bonus Factory Tour Video on the Brash Ag Youtube Channel! This week, Ray and Kit head to Kidd Farm Machinery to sit down with John Harvey and Chris Gordon for a frank look at the business of building farm machinery. John shares his journey from starting out in agricultural engineering and nearing bankruptcy in his first year, to building a renowned pig machinery brand, John Harvey Ltd and acquiring Kidd Farm Machinery— the very company he once approached for a job. With Wrag and Bush Pig subsequently joining the line-up, he explains what makes a business worth buying and how small savings can make a big difference to the bottom line. Operations manager Chris reveals how his job interview turned into an Innovate UK project meeting before he’d even been offered the role. He also shares the challenges of bringing acquired machinery ranges into production, from reverse engineering parts to keeping the factory flowing. Along the way, there’s autonomous fencing, the search for the next generation of engineers, and why John still reaches for his Meccano when a new idea strikes. Intro Audio License Code: QSER3CYHEHIMVRDC
S5 · E105
October 22 · 58 min
105. Automation in Agriculture: From Innovation to Impact - Landwards Conference 2026
Landwards 2026 Roundup – The robots are ready; are you? This week, Kit and Ray round up the conversations from the Institution of Agricultural Engineers’ Landwards 2026 Conference at Harper Adams University, exploring how robotics and automation are changing agriculture and the way farmers work. Hear from James Miller of Earth Rover, Rhian Griffith of Flynt Technology, Nestor Nahuel Deniz of Harper Adams University, Dan Whitear of the University of Warwick, Dermot Tobin of PDM Produce and William Mumford of AS Communications. From engineering innovation to practical adoption on farm, join us to explore what it takes to turn the promise of agricultural robotics into real impact.
S5 · E104
October 15 · 1 hr 1 min
104. British Design Fund – How hard cash meets hardware
What does it take to build an investment fund from scratch? Can a fund focused on hardware hold its own against rivals investing in software and AI? And why are agritech firms so attractive to the British Design Fund? This week, Kit and Ray sit down with Damon Bonser, CEO of the British Design Fund. Damon shares how a career building hardware businesses led him to develop the investment thesis and assemble the team behind the fund. The world of venture capital and start-up investing can often seem mysterious. In this interview, Damon lifts the veil on the sector, explaining in clear terms how the fund works and how companies progress from initial enquiry to investment and beyond. Damon also explains how BDF selects the businesses it backs, looking for what he calls “painkiller businesses” that solve clear problems for their customers. He shares how that approach has led to investments in UK agritech firms, including EcoNomad and Cordon Technologies. If you’re an engineer with a prototype or a founder wondering how to fund your next step, this episode puts you on the other side of the pitch — to hear what a hardware investor is really looking for. British Design Fund - https://www.britishdesignfund.co.uk/ Economad - https://economad.co.uk/ Cordon technologies - https://www.cordon.ai/
S5 · E103
October 8 · 33 min
103. Harper Hits 125, Oxbury Goes Global & Robotti Rides Again
Can Oxbury take their pioneering farm finance global? Who saved Robotti and can they build a home for the hardware in the UK? How is Harper Adams celebrating 125 years of educating the farmers of the future? This week Ray and Kit open the news bag and rifle around for some quick fire news nuggets including: Harper Adams turns 125 — celebrating the University and 125 years of educating the future of farming and agricultural engineering IAgrE conference preview — agricultural automation, safety and what’s actually working on farms including speakers from Flynt Technology, PDM, Harper Adams, AS Communications, Earth Rover and Warwick Agritech. UK agri-tech connections — Harper’s links with Dyson Farming and Simon Pearson of Lincoln University set up partnerships in the US with University of Florida and Texas A&M University . Business moves — new ownership (Ed Holmes) at J & A Growers and Oxbury’s expansion into New Zealand under the guidance of Matt Ryan. Robot rescue and farmer confidence — a new chapter for ROBOTTI with new owners Autonomous Agri Solutions. IAgrE Conference link: https://iagre.org/landwards-conference-2026
S5 · E102
October 1 · 55 min
102. Is the perfect fence, No Fence?
Can managing livestock really be as easy as a few taps on a smart phone? How can a tech career go from Silicon Valley to a Nordic fjord? Can a virtual fence be safer than a real one? This week Ray and Kit get the chance to talk to Fabien Lepoutre, VP of Engineering at No Fence. Fabien shares his personal story, from starting out in embedded electronics to following a career in Silicon Valley, including supporting product prototyping for Google X. He also explains his desire, as an engineer, to make a difference to people's lives, which led to working in Norway for the livestock hardware manufacturer No Fence. As VP of engineering at No Fence, Fabien is well placed to help explain how No Fence started, how the tech works and the business case that No Fence has been built around. Fabien also lifts the lid on what is next for No Fence, including their latest product the N3 collar that is more robust than their old collar and adds features to the core virtual fencing offering such as reproductive management through heat cycle scores and calving alerts. All part of their aim to deliver precision livestock technology to farmers all over the world. Special thanks to Tina Tharadsen and Finlay Russel for helping to set up this interview.
S5 · E101
September 24 · 54 min
101. How a Teenage Founder Got 200 Farms Using His App in 90 days
How do you grow a brand new farming app from zero to over 200 farms in 3 months?! Could anyone vibe code an app for farmers? How do you scale and sell a business before your 16th Birthday? This week Kit and Ray sit down to chat with Ben O’Connor, a farmer, innovator and serial entrepreneur. Ben gives a fascinating insight into FarmFlow, the farm management tool he is building along with his software developer cousin. With a focus on solving real world problems with labour management on his family farm Ben has launched his app into over 200 farms, and more than 1000 users in the space of a few months. As a GCSE student and a commended finalist of the ABP Angus Youth Challenge , Ben has already started, grown and sold a B2C gift box business shifting over 200,000 boxes in three years and employing 13 people in the process. Ben is a great example of how AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropics Claude can unlock new ideas and allow non-technical people to explore new business opportunities. In building FarmFlow Ben has been working on his plans to monetise the app, could farm data be the key to delivering free tools for farmers? Can big producers foot the bill while accessing some valuable insights that farm data can provide? Ben is a great example of a can-do attitude, harnessing potential weaknesses as strengths and a tolerance for rejection that gets him in front of the right people at the right time. With the help of none other than Rory Sutherland to steer his marketing and business building efforts, what is next for Ben and FarmFlow? https://myfarmflow.co.uk/ #BrashAg #FarmFlow #AgriTech #FarmTech #FarmManagement #AgriculturalInnovation #VibeCoding #ArtificialIntelligence #StartupGrowth #Entrepreneurship #YoungEntrepreneur #Farming #UKFarming #RuralInnovation #FutureOfFarming
S5 · E100
September 17 · 1 hr
100. The Brains Trust
The podcast has hit 100 episodes, to celebrate this milestone, Kit and Ray sat down with a formidable Brainstrust panel, with a collective 100 YEARS of experience. Each panel member has been a part of the Brash Ag journey to 100 episodes, some as guests, some as instigators and even an apprentice host. The Brainstrust work together to answer the questions; What has changed in agtech in the two years since the podcast started? And what will the future be in two years' time when the podcast reaches it 200th episode. The pair are joined by: Belinda Clarke OBE: Director of Agri-TechE and guest on Episode 33 of the Brash Ag podcast. Clive Blacker: Precision Farming innovator, Director of Agrivation Ltd, Key part of the AgAnalyst team, Nuffield Scholar and guest on Episode 52 of the Brash Ag podcast. Andy Newbold: Secretary General of the European Society of Agricultural Engineers, Past President of Institution of Agricultural Engineers, Managing Director of FarmSmart and Newmac and guest on Episode 60 of the Brash Ag podcast. Kieran Walsh: Director and co-founder of Grounded Agvice and apprentice host on Episode 97 of the Brash Ag Podcast. Along with industry insights, advice and information that can’t be found anywhere else, the panel also bring a healthy dose of humor and banter to keep Ray and Kit grounded as they continue their journey with the podcast. Message from Ray and Kit: “ We would like to thank our loyal audience for continuing to support the podcast by tuning in each week, providing guest suggestions and giving us feedback to help us improve. We would also like to thank the Douglas Bomford Trust for getting us started and our current Series sponsor Control Technologies UK for helping us to grow the podcast and improve the content….here’s to many more episodes to come”
S5 · E100
September 17 · 1 hr
100. The Brains Trust
The podcast has hit 100 episodes, to celebrate this milestone, Kit and Ray sat down with a formidable Brainstrust panel, with a collective 100 YEARS of experience. Each panel member has been a part of the Brasg Ag journey to 100 episodes, some as guests, some as instigators and even an apprentice host. The Brainstrust work together to answer the questions; What has changed in agtech in the two years since the podcast started? And what will the future be in two years' time when the podcast reaches it 200th episode. The pair are joined by: Belinda Clarke OBE: Director of Agri-TechE and guest on Episode 33 of the Brash Ag podcast. Clive Blacker: Precision Farming innovator, Director of Agrivation Ltd, Key part of the AgAnalyst team, Nuffield Scholar and guest on Episode 52 of the Brash Ag podcast. Andy Newbold: Secretary General of the European Society of Agricultural Engineers, Past President of Institution of Agricultural Engineers, Managing Director of FarmSmart and Newmac and guest on Episode 60 of the Brash Ag podcast. Kieran Walsh: Director and co-founder of Grounded Agvice and apprentice host on Episode 97 of the Brash Ag Podcast. Along with industry insights, advice and information that can’t be found anywhere else, the panel also bring a healthy dose of humor and banter to keep Ray and Kit grounded as they continue their journey with the podcast. Message from Ray and Kit: “ We would like to thank our loyal audience for continuing to support the podcast by tuning in each week, providing guest suggestions and giving us feedback to help us improve. We would also like to thank the Douglas Bomford Trust for getting us started and our current Series sponsor Control Technologies UK for helping us to grow the podcast and improve the content….here’s to many more episodes to come”
S5 · E99
September 10 · 59 min
99. Control Technologies UK – Speaking the language of machines
This week, Kit and Ray speak to Mark Wood, CEO of Control Technologies UK. Mark shares his unconventional journey from rowing coach to controls engineer and the proactive, feet-first approach that helped him build a multimillion-pound engineering business. Drawing on his knowledge of embedded software, CAN bus and ISOBUS, Mark explains how his 14-strong team combines specialist hardware with engineering expertise to solve control and automation challenges across agriculture, construction, defence, marine, rail and motorsport. Mark discusses his long relationship with Standen Engineering, from helping develop the second-generation control system for its potato harvester while at STW to Control Technologies UK recently delivering the third generation. Kit and Mark also step back in time to discuss a time when they worked together on design and engineering of the big bale transtacker. Mark also explains how the business has expanded from engineering consultancy into hardware distribution and a successful online shop. The conversation covers the importance of defining project scope and introducing dedicated project management as the company has grown. Looking ahead, Mark shares his ambition to develop Control Technologies UK’s own products and intellectual property, including configurable software tools, machine connectivity and intelligent edge devices. Mark also introduces the latest initiative from Control Technologies UK called meet an engineer, allowing prospective clients to get in contact to discuss their challenges and find out how CT UK can help. Huge thanks to Controls Technologies UK for being the first series sponsor for the Brash Ag podcast! Meet an engineer: https://controltechuk.com/contact-us/ Webshop: www.controltech.uk.com
S5 · E98
September 3 · 57 min
98. Economad – Where There’s Muck, There’s Gas!
Could anaerobic digestion power the future of small farms? How small is too small when it comes to herd size and viable energy production? This week, Kit and Ray sit down with EcoNomad Solutions founder Ilan Adler to explore his vision for making anaerobic digestion accessible to smaller farms. Ilan explains how his academic background—including a PhD in rainwater harvesting at UCL—and his experience in wastewater treatment and renewable energy inspired him to develop anaerobic digestion technology for smallholders and farmers. He also discusses becoming a Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Fellow and how the Academy’s support helped him transition from academia into building EcoNomad. Using advanced bag technology, EcoNomad has developed low-cost, relocatable—hence the “nomad” in EcoNomad—and straightforward-to-install systems capable of turning farm waste into useful heat, electricity and biogas. Drawing on his wealth of experience, Ilan gives a fascinating high-level view of the opportunities and challenges surrounding renewable energy generation and infrastructure. He also addresses some of the criticisms levelled at anaerobic digestion, including the use of energy crops, and explains the potential value of capturing energy from unavoidable agricultural wastes. Based at Rothamsted Research, EcoNomad is continuing to develop its technology through research, commercial installations and collaborative projects. Ilan discusses the role of support from organisations including the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Innovate UK’s Energy Catalyst programme in helping the business develop and test new ideas. Having recently secured investment from the British Design Fund, alongside further backing from the Beeches Group, Ilan reflects on the challenges of financing physical technology in the UK. He considers the complementary roles that private investors and public funders such as Innovate UK can play in helping hardware-focused start-ups bridge the gap between an early prototype and a scalable commercial product.
S4 · E97
August 27 · 51 min
97. We F**ked Up and We’re Sorry—Plus Robots, Crop-Sap Scanning and Bespoke Fertilisers
This week, Ray and Kit issue a sombre apology for some of the mistakes they made in Episode 94. Did they get too giddy about receiving the podcast’s first press release? Or were they so excited by the potential collaboration between TAFE and Deutz Engines that they forgot to check the facts? Either way, they got it wrong—and they are sorry. In lighter news, Kit plugs the upcoming Institute of Agricultural Engineers Annual Conference. Titled Automation in Agriculture: From Innovation to Impact, the event promises to showcase the bleeding edge of agricultural technology and hardware. Whether you are an IAgrE member or not, book your place and join Kit and Ray at Harper Adams University on Wednesday 21 October. Ray brings news from Cornish straw-chopper manufacturer Teagle Machinery, which recently welcomed celebrity guest Steph McGovern to celebrate vocational training and apprenticeships. How does the business attract and retain young talent in its local area? And what innovative approach does it use to empower younger members of its team? The pair then climb aboard their virtual time machine for a Throwback Thursday trip to Groundswell, where they hear from: Philippe Cousin of SENSEEN, who introduces the NutriScope. Is it a Bale Spike product? Can it help farmers and agronomists make better, more timely decisions about their crops? What does the future hold for the NutriScope—and could it support growers beyond the arable sector? Howard and Sam Mason of Left Field Agriculture, who tell the co-hosts about their pioneering inter-row mowing robot, developed to maintain beneficial living mulches while supporting regenerative farming and soil health. How has Ray’s consultancy, Flynt Technology, supported its development? And what does the future hold for this breakthrough technology? Andrew Sincock of Agro-Vital UK/Agritron, who explains the Triplex system for small-scale batch production of fertiliser—an approach designed for larger farms, cooperatives and joint-venture farming businesses. Could the technology give farmers greater control over how they source and manage fertiliser? How much does it cost, and how does the business model work? https://open.spotify.com/episode/1qfRxKRpuVxHHa3o1yhr5L?si=KFSX2-A-S0iNUaSpjlllOQ&utm_source=copy-link
S4 · E96
August 20 · 49 min
96. RootWave – Can electricity kill off herbicides?
What inspired Andrew Diprose to swap a career in the City for reviving a weed-control technology first explored in the 1980s? What makes RootWave different from other approaches to electrical weeding? And how can partnering with established machinery manufacturers unlock entirely new markets for a core technology? This week, Ray and Kit sit down with Andrew Diprose at RootWave's high-tech facilities in Warwickshire. Andrew explains: How, inspired by his academic father, he swapped a career in the City for a 'shed venture' developing chemical-free weed-control technology. What it took to build the business, develop the technology and bring it to market. How RootWave's unique approach to generating and delivering electrical energy is designed to make electrical weed control as safe as possible. How partnering with Garford Farm Machinery has helped RootWave take its technology into markets it may otherwise have struggled to reach. How the business has raised investment and where the funding needed to support the journey has come from. Why Jorge Heraud joined the board to help steer Rootwave to success. From shed-built prototypes to high-voltage weed control and major manufacturing partnerships, this episode explores the journey behind RootWave and asks whether electricity could become a genuine alternative to herbicides.
S4 · E95
August 13 · 53 min
95. Warwick Agri-Tech – Can robotics solve farming's toughest bottlenecks?
How can we bring industry and academia together to solve some of farming's biggest challenges? What can agriculture learn from the automotive sector? And where should robotics be deployed first to deliver real value? This week, Kit and Ray head up the Fosse Way to visit Warwick Agri-Tech at the University of Warwick, meeting the engineers developing practical technology for growers today. Hear from three members of the team: Alicia Feledziak – Business Development Manager at Warwick Agri-Tech, explains how the initiative brings together engineering, crop science and industry to tackle real-world farming challenges, how Warwick Agri-Tech was founded, and why collaboration is key to accelerating innovation. Harry Boyce – Lead Engineer (Hardware and Robotic Developments), demonstrates how his team is helping J&A Growers tackle one of nursery production's biggest labour challenges. With more than 200,000 tree saplings needing to be sorted every day, Harry explains why automating even part of the process could transform productivity. Ben Ayre – Lead Engineer, Intelligent Vehicles – Integration and Trials, gives Kit and Ray a demonstration of autonomous logistics in a commercial strawberry operation, arguing that supporting human pickers may deliver greater value than trying to replace them with complex harvesting robots. From autonomous logistics to AI-enabled tree sorting, this episode explores what happens when world-class engineering meets real farming problems.
S4 · E94
August 6 · 56 min
94. TAFE Builds DEUTZ – Plus AI Dystopia, 3D Printing Nirvana & are we now at ‘Peak Subscription’
What can we learn from DEUTZ's new manufacturing partnership with TAFE? Could 3D printing turn customers into your best R&D team? And are subscriptions and AI giving manufacturers too much control over the products we buy? In this week's News Feed, Ray and Kit unpack: TAFE's newly announced agreement to manufacture DEUTZ 50–100 hp engines in India. Is it simply a cost-saving move for DEUTZ, or part of TAFE's strategy to secure world-class powertrains for its next generation of tractors? They also explore how Festool and Renault are using 3D printing to put manufacturing directly into customers' hands. Could user-generated parts and accessories become a competitive advantage rather than a threat? The pair discuss reports that a Ford Bronco was effectively disabled over a missed subscription payment. Whether the story is entirely accurate or not, it raises a bigger question: have manufacturers pushed subscription models too far, and are engineers sacrificing customer ownership in the process? Finally, with AI becoming embedded across engineering businesses, Ray and Kit ask whether companies are becoming dangerously dependent on AI providers whose pricing, policies and capabilities remain outside their control. Kit also shares two interviews from a Harper Adams study tour organised by Gofar, the team behind FIRA, exploring why Australian farmers have come to the UK and what British agriculture can learn from the exchange.
S4 · E93
July 30 · 56 min
93. Could lasers be for losers? - The Earth Rover Story
What is concentrated light and how can it beat lasers at annihilating weeds? How can autonomous weeding help fill in resource gaps? Who actually grows the trees that get planted for every new conservation project and hedgerow in the UK? This week Kit and Ray are on the road (Up the Fosse Way again!) and headed to J&A growers in Warwickshire to see an Earth Rover robot in action, eradicating weeds in beds of Hawthorn saplings. The pair speak with Earth Rover CEO James Miller, hearing about his career working in engineering consultancy, moving to work for Tafe in India as the group CTO and why he moved back to the UK to spearhead the future of chemical free weed control. Harry Ellis, Field Test engineer at Earth rover also helps to give more detail about the system, how it works and his experience since starting at Earth Rover a year ago. While in the field the co-hosts also take the opportunity to speak with Jamie Dewhurst Director at J&A Growers to hear why he has chosen to work with Earth Rover and what benefits the autonomous concentrated light autonomous weeding system (CLAWS for short) has brought to the business of growing saplings for wholesale. Could UK agritech steal a march on the likes of L&Aser and Carbon Robotics when it comes to chemical free weeding? The future’s bright the future’s….concertrated
S4 · E92
July 23 · 1 hr
92. Roger Robson-Williams – Electrifying Farming
Are electric tractors the future workhorses of agriculture? What can life in New Zealand teach us about the fragility of global oil supply chains? And could electrification completely redefine how farm machinery is designed and used? This week Roger Robson-Williams joins Kit and Ray around Kit's dining room table to discuss his journey from crop scientist in the UK and New Zealand to becoming a freelance sustainability expert—and the owner of an electric tractor affectionately known as Lottie. Roger has a background in crop and horticultural science, working for the likes of RHS, FAR and The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd. His experience has given him a deep understanding of the challenges facing farming. Now a small holder and Sustainability consultant, Roger takes a systems-level view of the transition away from fossil fuels, explaining why electrification is about far more than simply replacing diesel engines with batteries. The trio explore how energy generation, storage, machinery and farm infrastructure must work together if agriculture is to make the most of electric power. Roger also shares what he's learned from putting Lottie through her paces on the farm. Which jobs are best suited to electric tractors? Is there a future for converting existing machinery, as pioneers like Ben Bament and Loxley Innovation are demonstrating? And as implements become smarter and electrically powered, could the mechanical PTO eventually become a thing of the past?...Critically the trio discuss if a better metric for electric tractor is crumpets per hour? To check out more from Roger and his consulting work visit Future-Fit Business Benchmar. Kia ora Roger! #BrashAg #AgriculturalEngineering #AgriTech #ElectricTractor #Electrification #FarmInnovation #FutureFarming #FarmMachinery #Engineering #PrecisionAgriculture #RenewableEnergy #BatteryElectric #NetZero #CleanTechnology #Podcast
S4 · E91
July 16 · 50 min
91. Groundswell - Stuart Oates: No diesel, no problem?
Can sunrise yoga cure a hangover? What new technologies are needed to remove fossil fuels from farming? And has Ray really been replaced by Brash Ag's number one fan, Kieran Walsh? This week Kit and Ray head to the Sustainable Food Trust Podcast Tent at Groundswell Festival 2026, where they were kindly invited by Stuart Oates to record a live episode, generously supported by the Rothschild Foundation. The pair begin by reflecting on their time at Groundswell, discussing how the event compares with more traditional agricultural shows and sharing some of the innovations that caught their attention before sitting down with Stuart Oates to explore one of farming's biggest long-term challenges: achieving fossil-free farming. Drawing on his experience as a farmer and his Stuart Oates scholarship, Stuart examines where fossil fuels are still deeply embedded across agriculture—from diesel and fertiliser to plastics and the wider supply chain. Together they discuss where the biggest opportunities lie, the trade-offs involved, and how engineers, automation, electrification and emerging technologies could help farmers reduce their reliance on fossil-based resources while maintaining productive, profitable businesses. #BrashAg #Groundswell #Groundswell2026 #FossilFreeFarming #AgriculturalEngineering #AgriTech #RegenerativeAgriculture #FarmInnovation #Engineering #NuffieldScholar #NetZero #SustainableFarming #Automation #FutureFarming #Podcast
S4 · E90
July 9 · 57 min
90. Jamie Hutchinson of Cordon technologies and the £1 million bet on smarter spraying.
What if the biggest opportunity in precision spraying isn't a new sprayer at all? This week Kit and Ray are joined by Jamie Hutchinson, founder and CEO of Cordon Technologies. Jamie's career has taken him from venture capital to founding a successful wine retailer, running a regenerative vineyard in France, and now developing one of the most interesting spraying technologies to emerge in recent years. After becoming frustrated with the limitations of conventional crop spraying in his own vineyard, Jamie set out to rethink the process from first principles. Rather than replacing existing machinery, Cordon's technology transforms conventional sprayers into dynamic precision application systems capable of adjusting spray recipes on the move. The conversation explores: Why Jamie believes we've been thinking about crop spraying the wrong way. The challenge of balancing productivity with regenerative farming. Why understanding the farmer's problem matters more than chasing the latest technology. Raising investment for agricultural engineering and what investors are really looking for. The realities of patents, intellectual property and building an agritech start-up. Why the next generation of agricultural engineering businesses needs to focus on solving real problems rather than simply building clever technology. It's a fascinating discussion about entrepreneurship, engineering, precision agriculture and what it really takes to bring new technology into the hands of farmers. #BrashAg #AgriTech #FarmInnovation #AgriculturalEngineering #PrecisionAgriculture #SmartFarming #CropProtection #AgInnovation #Engineering #AgPodcast #Startups #Innovation
S4 · E89
July 2 · 55 min
89. AI, Automation & Agricultural Paradoxes
Are start-ups changing agriculture for the better? Has Clarkson's Farm improved the public's understanding of ag-tech? Can robots stay lightweight as they scale? And is AI making engineers better—or just lazier? This week Kit and Ray are back in their respective studios to take a break from adventures at shows and interviews to talk about some topics that have been playing on their minds. This week the pair discuss: Ray’s recent Professional Perspectives article written for The Institution of Agricultural Engineers. Ray tries to demystify the term start-up and answer the question “What is the role played by start-ups in the agritech sector?” What impact has the recent series of Clarksons farm had on the perception of automation and robotics in agriculture to both farmers and the public. Could researchers and academics learn a thing or two about robot tractors from Kaleb Cooper and Jeremy Clarkson? Farm Droid have announced a new, bigger, stronger, wider, faster robot, due to be formally released in September. The pair discuss the implications and whether Farmdroid can stay true to its roots and tread lightly on the soil or will they follow the crowd with farm machinery and continue to get bigger and heavier? The pair discuss Jevons paradox, that really digs into the cross over between economics, engineering and innovation? Could automation and cheap robots enable humans to carry out more activities such as tillage rather than less? Could this lead to poorer soils as a result? Kit confesses his guilt about using AI to help him as an engineer. Does Ray feel the same? Is AI an unlock or just cheating? The co-hosts discuss their thoughts and how they do and don’t use AI. Finally, Cornish farm machinery manufacturer Teagle Machinery is looking for help naming it’s four welding robots. Check out their social media to see how you can help… #BrashAg #Agriculture #AgTech #Farming #PrecisionAgriculture #AgriculturalEngineering #Robotics #FarmAutomation #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Startups #Innovation #JevonsParadox #ClarksonsFarm #FarmDroid #TeagleMachinery #Engineering #FutureOfFarming #DigitalAgriculture #UKAgiculture

Showing 1–20 of 29 episodes