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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/

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  • 20 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 52 min
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • S5 · E99
    Yesterday · 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

  • S4 · E88
    June 25 · 49 min

    88. Cereals Special - Chapter 3 - Spotting

    Is 6 cylinders still better than 4? Have Smith Robotics really got a Balespike product on their hands? Is the UK back on track when it comes to funding for agri-tech? This week Kit and Ray bring you Chapter 2 of their expedition to Cereals 2026 with five more interviews from around the show. They catch up with: Martin Hamer and Phil Mattey of Fendt, discussing the latest engine developments in the 200hp range of tractors. Can four cylinders really be better than six? We also get a fantastic run down of the state of the UK machinery market and sentiment of farmers, is the predicted poor harvest in the US leaving UK farmers feeling buoyant? Ryan Smith of Smith Robotics, explaining their wildlife scanning technology and what it can offer for farmers, conservationists and environmentalists. Can we really call their wildlife monitoring device a bale spike product? Jack Wrangham of Drone Ag, showcasing their latest drone in a box solution. Can automated drones really offer farmers with cheap, near continuous data capture? How many hectares can a single drone in a box cover? How much is it going to cost? Micheal Reardon of UK Agri-Tech Centre on how the UK government is supporting Agritech businesses during challenging times and how the public and private sectors can work together to support growth and investment in the farming and technology sectors. Tom Brookes of Opico gives the pair a walk through of the latest spot sprayer technology from Rumex. How many nozzles does the machine have? Is it crop specific and how much does it cost? Kit also gets a chance to fan boy, as we get a run down of the latest improvements in the FarmDroid robot.

  • S4 · E87
    June 18 · 47 min

    87. Cereals Special - Chapter 2- Networking

    Is there really a market for a €90000 blackgrass detecting drone? Are German manufacturers taking the UK market seriously? Is a farmer built RTK network a UK agritech (secret) success story? Is there really a market for a €90,000 blackgrass-detecting drone? Are German manufacturers taking the UK market seriously? Is a farmer-built RTK network one of British agtech's best-kept success stories? This week Ray and Kit bring you Chapter 2 of their Cereals 2026 adventure, featuring five fascinating interviews from across the show. They catch up with: Finlay Russell of NoFence, discussing how virtual fencing technology is helping livestock farmers adopt regenerative farming practices and manage grazing more effectively. Mark Arnold of RTKFNet, sharing the story behind the UK's farmer-built RTK network, how it has grown, and how the technology is expanding beyond agriculture into new industries. Oliver Watson of Amazone UK, explaining why Amazone is investing heavily in the UK market and what they hope to learn from showcasing a prototype machine at Cereals. Zoe Rühlmann of SAM Dimension GmbH, introducing SAM Cam AI, a drone-mounted scanning system designed to detect, map and quantify blackgrass infestations with remarkable precision. James Everitt-Car of Techneat Engineering, discussing the evolution of intelligent spot spraying, from machine-learning systems targeting weeds on hard surfaces to tractor-mounted sprayers capable of detecting and treating weeds in-field. #BrashAg #BrashAgPodcast #Cereals2026 #CerealsEvent #Agriculture #AgTech #AgriculturalEngineering #FarmingInnovation #PrecisionAgriculture #RegenerativeAgriculture #NitrogenUseEfficiency #Innovation #FarmTech #Engineering #IAgrE #EngineersAndBeers #DiddlySquat #ArableFarming #FutureOfFarming #UKAg

  • S4 · E86
    June 11 · 27 min

    86. Cereals Special - Chapter 1 - Brashing

    Was the Cotswold Brash kind to the co-hosts? Were they knee deep in mud or was the show a roaring success? What new tech is worth keeping an eye out for? This week Kit and Ray travel to Clarkson's Diddly Squat farm and Cereals 2026. They catch up with number 1 super fan, Kieran Walsh as he kindly hosts them on Grounded Agvice Ltd Stand. The pair give their thoughts on the first day of the show and share an interview with Mechteld Blake-Kalff of Hillcourt Farm Research and her thoughts on the importance of Nitrogen use efficiency and the part that technology can play to help. The co-hosts also celebrate a successful “Engineers and Beers” event hosted by them in their respective roles for the Institution of Agricultural Engineers. #BrashAg #BrashAgPodcast #Cereals2026 #CerealsEvent #Agriculture #AgTech #AgriculturalEngineering #FarmingInnovation #PrecisionAgriculture #RegenerativeAgriculture #NitrogenUseEfficiency #Innovation #FarmTech #Engineering #IAgrE #EngineersAndBeers #DiddlySquat #ArableFarming #FutureOfFarming #UKAg

  • S4 · E85
    June 4 · 47 min

    85. Can Technology Outperform Traditional Agronomy?

    Can robots really farm better than humans? Where have machines got an edge? Does the real value come from humans and machines working in harmony? This week Ray and Kit catch up again with Jonathan Trotter from Agrii. Jonathan tells the co-hosts about the exciting ongoing trial of promising new agritech at the Revesby Estate in Lincolnshire. The estate land (and air) has played host to the likes of Skippy Scout from Drone Ag, PerPlant and their tractor-mounted crop scanner, Soil Acoustics' soil monitoring equipment, BioScout's AI-powered spore detection technology and the integration of these data streams into Agrii's Contour platform. Can these tools prove their worth to farmers? Jonathan unpacks how technology-backed agronomy stacks up against the traditional human approach to crop health and which technologies moved the needle most for their farmers. Jonthan also shares some thoughts on other interesting trials and projects that Agrii has been involved in, including trials of the Earther rover weeding technology and a fascinating project with M&S and their supplier huntapac to grow the world's first fully autonomous parsnip crop. #BrashAg #Agritech #Agronomy #PrecisionAgriculture #DigitalFarming #Robotics #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfFarming #Agrii #Agronomy

  • S4 · E84
    May 28 · 56 min

    84. Paul Mikesell: Carbon Robotics and the $1million laser weeder

    Can farmers really justify investing $1million in a new machine? How can AI be leveraged to solve physical problems in ag? Why did Nvidia, one of the world's most valuable companies, invest in laser weeding agtech? This week Kit and Ray are joined by a pioneer, innovator and entrepreneur Paul Mikesell CEO of Carbon Robotics (arguably the brightest agtech company right now!). Paul has a long career in Deeptech development, working for companies including Oculus (Meta) , Uber, Clutrix (Maria DB Corporation). Paul has been spearheading chemical free laser weeding for farmers and growers around the world. He explains how the laser weeder tech works, how to keep it safe, how the carbon robotics product has evolved and why protecting IP is so important. Paul shares some refreshingly brash thoughts about some of the recent big failures in the agtech start-up ecosystem and why they should have failed. More than anything Paul shares his relentless optimism for agtech, agricultural engineering and the future of farming. #AgTech #AgriTech #AgriculturalEngineering #CarbonRobotics #LaserWeeding #AIinAgriculture #FarmTech #Robotics #PrecisionAgriculture #WeedControl #BrashAg

  • S4 · E83
    May 21 · 58 min

    83. Connie Bowen: Why Agtech needs more chickens, more cows and fewer unicorns

    Where do VCs get the money from? Is the power-law dead for farm tech funding? What is a $100 million chicken? This week Kit and Ray are joined by General Partner of Farmhand Ventures and member of the Agricultural Autonomy Institute steering group, Connie Bowen. Connie brings her candid approach and brash insights to bear on the Brash Ag podcast. With a background in engineering and an impressive investment portfolio including L5 automation, Scout, New West Genetics and Nutt Bio, Connie is well placed to talk to the co-hosts through the fascinating world of venture capital investing. Connie gives her thoughts on why Agtech investors should be more focused on Cows and chickens than unicorns and how start-up giants like Monarch Tractors can fail and why their failure is all part of the venture game. Connie also gives her take on the UK agtech start-up scene and the part played by Innovate UK in innovation and start-up support in the UK. She even shares a few comments on Small Robot Company and its valuation history…

  • S4 · E82
    May 14 · 46 min

    82. Jonathan Trotter: “Keeping up with the Droneses” Technology Trials Manager at Agrii

    How do agronomy businesses stay at the forefront of technology development? What happens at the interface of robotics and farming? How can farming experience help to mould and shape new technologies? This week Ray and Kit speak to Jonanthan Trotter, technology trials manager at agronomy company Agrii. Jonathan's career perfectly intersects cutting edge tech and farming, providing a vital horizon scanning role to bring in and experiment with new technologies to keep Agrii at the bleeding edge of modern agronomy. Jonathan is from a traditional farming background, growing up on a family farm. After graduating from Harper Adams University he followed a career path into working on farms and estates, covering everything from grain analysis in shipping to growing crops on the home farm. Since then he followed a path into agronomy and technology, working for Frontier managing crops trials and then Lincoln University supporting researchers (and Professor Simon Pearson) to ensure they had the crops they needed to test autonomous harvesting and scanning systems and that they had the agronomic advice they needed to develop their machines. Jonathan has a wealth of information and experience to share for farmers, engineers and innovators alike.

  • S4 · E81
    May 7 · 56 min

    81. Luke Breedon: Biochar - Smoke, Fire and Black gold

    How did charcoal support entire ancient civilisations? What is biochar and can it support and improve today's soils and modern farming techniques? This week Ray and Kit talk to farmer turned charcoal maker and now Nuffield Scholar, Luke Breedon. Luke runs the successful, sustainable charcoal business Slatehill Charcoal. While Luke didn’t come from a farming background, he did have a passion for woodland management and as part of his degree at RAU he completed a dissertation on the topic. Fast forward a few years and Luke has spent time farming in Australia and then for Velcourt at Down Ampney Estate. With the arrival of their first child Luke and his wife decided that they should start a venture closer to home that could fit around family life. Since launching Slatehill charcoal, predominantly selling into the BBQ charcoal market, Luke has had a fascination with biochar. Following this interest through to completing a Nuffield scholarship and travelling around the world to learn more about how biochar can be used on farms. Luke shares some amazing insights with the pair and helps explain the four pillars that he sees to building a successful biochar business along with how farmers can get the most from biochar application. As ever Brash Ag brings you real insights from real innovators and pioneers in the world of farming and technology

  • S4 · E80
    April 30 · 58 min

    80. Jonathan Gill: The future is now, the future is robots

    Is it unusual to see robots working in a field? Do ag robots have to look “roboty”? Do Dutch farmers embrace technology more than the rest of the world? What special cafes has Jonthan been to recently? This week Kit and Ray catch up with friend of the pod and former guest, Jonathan Gill. Jonathan is now Head of Field Operations at Earth Rover. After a recent trip to Holland to visit a customer he was struck by how many robots were working in the fields. Naturally he texted Kit to tell him he was wrong and thus started the debate “Is the future of farm robots based on tractors or something altogether more robot like in appearance?” The trio fight it out to try and answer the question and along the way share stories, insights and laughs.

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