September/October 2023 - 20

GREAT LAKES EXPO NEWS
Emerging technology, innovation
headline at Great Lakes EXPO
Ag Tech Symposium to bridge gap
between ideas and innovation
BY MADI SCHAFER
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
W
ith several challenges facing growers, such as
climate change, rising input costs and more,
it's important to stay up-to-date with the
latest and greatest technology. During the 2023 Great
Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market EXPO, growers
and attendees will learn the importance of emerging
technology in the agriculture industry, hear from
Spartan Innovations, have educational opportunities
through Emerging Tech Innovation sessions, an Ag Tech
Symposium, plus watch an entertaining and informative
performance from the Peterson Farm Bros.
A few notable emerging technologies that will have
the biggest impact on growers include plant replicators,
robotic fruit and vegetable pickers, digital farm
management and record-keeping platforms, remote
plant disease management systems, single plant
moisture detection and irrigation systems and more.
Steve Kluemper is president of AgriStategies LLC
and a Mentor-in-Residence with Spartan Innovations.
At Great Lakes EXPO, Kluemper, along with Spartan
Innovations, will feature various technologies and
innovators they are partnered with. Discussions will
be held with industry participants and resources at the
Michigan State University (MSU) Research Foundation
will be available. In addition, EXPO attendees will hear
from a number of innovators during an ag tech forum.
This discussion will feature projects that enhance the
successful development of solutions to the industry's
challenges.
" Growers can benefit from interacting with innovators
at these Great Lakes EXPO sessions by learning from
them, collaborating with them and helping them with
local and industry knowledge, " Kluemper said.
Spartan Innovations is a part of the MSU Research
Foundation with a goal to " enhance research,
encourage innovation, support entrepreneurship and
facilitate economic development through modern
commercialization practices, venture creation activity
and innovation partnerships at Michigan State University
and across Michigan, " Kluemper added.
20 | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
Spartan Innovations partners with the Michigan
Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC)
Innovation Hub for AgBio, which is funded by MSU
and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation
(MEDC) through the Michigan Strategic Fund to bring
resources to the ag tech ecosystem in Michigan.
Emerging Tech Innovation Sessions
During Great Lakes EXPO, Emerging Tech Innovation
sessions will " feature technologies that hold promise
for addressing challenges to the specialty crop industry
related to crop inputs, precision monitoring, irrigation,
harvesting, sorting, waste reduction, labor, downstream
processing and farm-level decision-making. "
With over 1 million acres of vegetables in the Great
Lakes region, growers need to take the opportunity to
see new and innovative technology. Great Lakes EXPO is
bringing more labor-saving technology in 2023 with an
aisle exclusively dedicated to innovation and agriculture
technology. Presenters will teach growers the process
of bringing innovation to the industry and how they can
benefit from the testing or early-stage use of these
technologies.
Ag Tech Symposium
The Ag Tech Symposium will identify innovation
opportunities in the specialty crop industry while
highlighting recent technological successes. Producers,
innovators, entrepreneurs and established industry
leaders are invited to share their experiences and
develop conversations with potential partners. According
to Kluemper, the objective of the symposium is to
" catalyze further innovation, identify opportunities and
facilitate growth-oriented conversations between Great
Lakes EXPO participants in an industry-wide discussion. "
On Thursday, December 7, Spartan Innovations will
host a facilitated ag innovation networking event at The
Bridge, wrapping up the Ag Tech Symposium at Great
Lakes EXPO. The event will include a light lunch and will
facilitate casual interactions and deeper discussions
among MSU Research Foundation and MSU employees,
September/October 2023

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