Advertise on podcast: Computomics: Discussions On Innovations To Drive Advanced Agriculture Solutions

If you are interested in the future of agri-food innovation, this episode offers a clear view of where the sector stands today: more practical, more disciplined, and more focused on technologies that can prove their value in the real world. In the final episode of Season 7 of the Computomics Podcast, we speak with Louisa Burwood-Taylor, Chief Communications and Intelligence Officer at AgFunder, a global venture capital investor working at the intersection of agri-food, AI, biology, climate, and deep tech. Louisa explains why agriculture remains one of the most challenging sectors for startups. A technology may be scientifically strong and technically impressive, but it still has to work across different soils, crops, climates, production systems, and growing cycles. In agriculture, innovation only matters if it can create real value for growers, supply chains, and the wider food system. The episode also looks at the growing role of multi-sector platforms, corporate partnerships, biologicals, robotics, physical AI, and the connection between agriculture, nutrition, and human health. From precision robotics to self-driving labs, Louisa shares a practical and optimistic perspective on where agri-food innovation is heading next. Companies and people mentioned: AgFunder, Verdant Robotics, Gabe Sibley (Verdant Robotics), Reservoir Farms, Atinary, Bayer, John Deere, and Bear Flag Robotics. Louisa Burwood-Taylor on LinkedInAgfunderAgfunder News

In this Computomics Podcast episode, we launch the new “Make Sense of Science” explainer series, a format designed to break down complex scientific and technical topics into clear, accessible conversations. In this first episode, Computomics machine learning scientist Alaukik Saxena introduces deep learning for genomic prediction in plant breeding. He explains how breeders use DNA marker data, field data, and environmental information to predict important plant traits such as yield, flowering time, or plant height, often before new plants are even grown. The episode also looks at why this is such a challenging task: breeding data is complex, environments differ greatly, and models can easily give overly optimistic results if they are not tested carefully. Alaukik also explains the difference between classical statistical models, machine learning, and deep learning, and where each approach has its strengths. A key message of the episode is that good models depend on good data. Better phenotyping, smarter experimental design, and realistic validation are just as important as the algorithms themselves.

In this episode of the Computomics podcast, Dr. Rex Bernardo discusses the evolution of predictive plant breeding, from early molecular markers to today’s machine learning and AI approaches. He explains how these tools can support not only trait prediction, but also more complex breeding decisions, such as whether a line is likely to be selected or become a successful variety. The conversation also highlights community-focused work on leafy African vegetables in Minnesota and reflects on how plant breeding education must evolve to prepare future breeders for a more interdisciplinary, data-driven field.

In this episode, Darryn Keiller, Futurist, Entrepreneur, and founder of WayBeyond, discusses how digital agronomy helps growers make better decisions with data. He explains how farms can combine sensor, environmental, plant-response, and satellite data to improve daily decisions, predict risks, and raise yield and fruit quality. The conversation also covers the challenges of introducing new technology into agriculture, especially around trust and data ownership. Darryn argues that AI will not replace growers, but support them by closing knowledge gaps, and helping younger professionals adapt faster. It also enables farming systems to respond better to climate change, labor shortages, and growing production pressures. More: Darryn Keiller on LinkedInWayBeyond Homepage

Chris Kubica, Technical Account Manager at Computomics, discusses the importance of pangenomes for modern plant breeding. He explains that traditional genomics relies on a single reference genome, which cannot capture the full genetic diversity of a species. This is a big problem in complex plant genomes, where major parts of breeding-line diversity can be absent from the standard reference. A pangenome combines multiple assemblies to represent more of a species’ variation and to unlock hard-to-find trait signals. Chris introduces Pantograph, Computomics’ “omics browser”, which allows users to visualize and explore structural variation and integrate diverse omics data such as gene expression and variant information. Hear about current and planned capabilities in this informative and enjoyable episode!  More: Pantograph websiteChris Kubica on LinkedIn

This episode of the Computomics Podcast features Vanessa Prigge, potato breeder and R[&]D project manager at Saka Pflanzenzucht (Solana Group). She discusses her international research background, the unique challenges of potato breeding - such as vegetative propagation, complex genetics, and long breeding cycles - and the need for compromise-driven selection. Vanessa highlights two major projects: IPMorama, which promotes integrated pest management through resistant varieties, monitoring, and stakeholder collaboration, and POMORROW, which unlocks potato gene bank diversity for future-proof breeding. Together, these efforts aim to make potato breeding more sustainable, collaborative, and future-ready.. More information: Solana Main PageIPMorama Project WebsitePOMORROW project (German language)Vanessa on LinkedIn

In this episode of the Computomics podcast, Vonnie Estes, VP of Innovation at the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), shares insights on the challenges the produce industry faces, particularly around climate change, pest management, and cold chain logistics. She discusses the importance of AI and machine learning in enhancing supply chain efficiency and food safety. Vonnie also highlights IFPA’s initiatives, such as "Supply Chain of the Future" and efforts to reduce single-use plastic in packaging. A grant program supports innovation in the produce sector, offering funding opportunities for startups in developing solutions to industry problems. More: Vonnie Estes on LinkedInInternational Fresh Produce Organization (IFPA)The Fresh Supply Chain of the FutureFresh Takes on Tech podcast

In this episode of the Computomics podcast, Pernille Ollendorff Hede, CEO and co-founder of Healthycrop, discusses the company's innovative approach to fungal-resistant crops. Healthycrop boosts the production of Nepenthesin, a naturally occurring enzyme in plants, to degrade fungal enzymes, preventing fungal growth without the need for fungicides. Using cis-genesis and gene editing techniques, Healthycrop enhances the plant's natural defense. While these techniques are classified as genetically modified (GM) in Europe, they are considered non-GM in the U.S. Pernille shares the company's mission to revolutionize agriculture by offering sustainable solutions and hopes for regulatory changes in Europe to facilitate broader adoption. More: Healthycrop - HomepagePernille Ollendorff Hede on LinkedIn

In this episode of the Computomics podcast, bioinformatics analyst Michelle Hagen describes how her work bridges biology and data science. As a data analyst in bioinformatics and plant breeding, Michelle transforms raw genetic and environmental data into insights that guide breeding decisions. She particularly enjoys the teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity involved in her job. Michelle works on Computomics’ Climate-Smart Breeding technology xSeedScore and the Metagenomics Analysis Platform MORPHEUS. Her main tasks involve performing data quality control, running bioinformatics pipelines, and creating interactive dashboards for customers. Her work supports the development of climate-resilient, high-yield crops, and it helps breeders make data-driven breeding faster and more precise.

Glendon Ascough, Research Director at Starke Ayres, discusses the evolution of the company from a historic seed merchant to Africa’s largest independent vegetable breeding company. He shares his personal journey into plant science, driven by a fascination with genetics, and highlights the company’s focus on breeding disease-resistant vegetable varieties tailored to local and international markets. He talks about the collaboration with Computomics, using machine learning to predict sweet corn hybrid performance. Glendon emphasizes the importance of high-quality, diverse phenotypic data and the shift in breeder mindset required for data-driven approaches.

This episode features Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson, a Hopi dryland farmer from Arizona’s Colorado Plateau. He shares how his community has grown crops for 3,000 years on just 6-10 inches of annual rain without irrigation. Using deep planting, wide spacing, clumped seeds, and reading native vegetation, Indigenous farming conserves moisture and maintains biodiversity. It yields nutrient-rich crops without chemicals, protects soil, and integrates spiritual traditions. Climate change impacts - shorter summers, longer winters, less precipitation - are addressed by adapting planting practices and trusting in seed adaptation through continual cultivation. Michael advocates for growing seeds annually to keep them climate-resilient, and for revitalizing Indigenous food systems to combat health crises like diabetes. Beyond yields, the Hopi system offers values of stewardship, sharing, and hope, which he believes can inspire global agricultural approaches. More: "Dr. Hopi Farmer" on InstagramMichael K. Johnson on LinkedInIndigenous Resilience CenterIndigenous Landscapes: An example from Hopi (Lecture)

In this Computomics podcast episode, Computomics Chief Commercial Officer Juan Manuel Montes shares insights into his passion for learning and his recent experience at the International Seed Federation conference in Istanbul. He discusses industry challenges like climate change and consumer demands, highlighting how Computomics supports plant breeders with technologies like xSeedScore and Pantograph. These tools accelerate variety development and genomic analysis. Juan emphasizes the company’s customer-centric approach, tailoring solutions for clients of all sizes through strategic collaboration. The episode wraps up the current season, with new content returning in September.

Our guest in this episode is Keren Moshelion, CEO and co-founder of Plant-Ditech. Karen shares insights into the company’s advanced plant phenotyping platform. The system simulates stress conditions like drought, salinity, and nutrient variability, measuring plant responses with high-resolution sensors up to 500 times a day. These real-time measurements help researchers rapidly assess plant productivity, growth, and water use efficiency. It enables them to customize treatments per plant and analyze physiological traits linked to yield. Designed for greenhouses and growth chambers, the platform significantly accelerates agtech R[&]D, with customers reporting time savings of up to two years. The company's clients use the system for both academic and commercial research.

Our guest in this episode is Kinneret Shefer, co-founder and CEO of AgTech startup GeneNeer. Kinneret shares the founding of GeneNeer, driven by her shift from pure RNA research to market-driven innovation. GeneNeer aims to revolutionize crop breeding by drastically shortening trait development time using fast, tissue culture-based gene editing platforms. Kinneret compares her vision for GeneNeer to Pfizer's rapid vaccine development during COVID-19, enabling fast responses to agricultural challenges like drought or new pests. GeneNeer's "super line" platform allows rapid, iterative trait development with backup options, while their AI-supported platform enables precise, tissue- and time-specific gene editing without introducing foreign DNA. GeneNeer's business model includes custom collaborations and independent product development. More: GeneNeerKinneret Shefer on LinkedIn

In this episode of our podcast Amrit Nanda, Executive Manager of Plants for the Future ETP, discusses the importance of plant breeding, public-private collaboration, and science-based policymaking in the EU. She highlights the platform’s mission to connect academia, industry, and policymakers, and to improve science communication through initiatives like “Plantastic Discoveries.” A recent study on 20 years of EU research funding revealed limited growth for plant breeding despite strong overall program growth. Amrit stresses the need for long-term funding models, more support for Eastern Europe, and the potential of gene editing and AI.