Podcast: Innovating to Zero COVID Cases & AgTech Musings

July 2nd, 2020

The latest episodes of the Voices of the Valley (VOV) podcast feature two prominent thought leaders who speak about innovation as a solution to coronavirus and where the agtech industry is headed.

Episode 61 of the VOV podcast interviews Rodrigo Nieto Gómez, a geostrategist and defense futurist focused on the consequences of the accelerating pace of change in homeland security and policing environments. He shares how there needs to be a global collective effort by humanity to innovate our way out of coronavirus and goes into detail on how everything from aggressive non-pharmaceutical interventions and regular testing to public health breakthroughs and vaccine deployment play a role in the eradication of the virus. Gomez also touches on how agriculture and the supply chain can adapt in a current and post COVID-19 world.

During episode 62, Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology Director Dennis Donohue interviews Hank Giclas, a leading expert on science & technology in agriculture and former senior vice president, strategic planning, science & technology at Western Growers. Giclas shares his thoughts on ag and agtech industry priorities. He also discusses the type of technology needed in today’s industry and how the WG Center for Innovation & Technology is working toward becoming an increasingly important resource for the future.

To listen to the interviews, you can subscribe to the Voices of the Valley podcast on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

On Apple:

  • Go to the App Store
  • Search for Apple Podcasts
  • Download the App
  • Open the Apple Podcasts App
  • Search for Voices of the Valley
  • Click the show’s icon
  • Click Subscribe

On Android:

  • Go to Google Play
  • Search for Google Play Music
  • Download the App
  • Open the Google Play Music App
  • Search for Voices of the Valley
  • Click the show’s icon
  • Click Subscribe

Episodes are also available at https://soundcloud.com/westerngrowers. For questions on the podcast or issues downloading the podcast, contact Stephanie Metzinger at (949) 885-2256.

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USDA to Demo Detection of Powdery Mildew on Spinach

July 7th, 2020

On Friday, a “USDA Demonstration: RPA Assay Detection of Spinach Downy Mildew in Leaves” webinar where Dr. Steve Klosterman will reveal his findings on powdery mildew will be available for producers to tune in.

Downy mildews, which are widespread and very destructive diseases on spinach and lettuce in California, are caused by the obligate oomycete pathogens Peronospora effusa (P. effusa), and Bremia lactucae (B. lactucae). Klosterman, a research molecular biologist at Agricultural Research Service – U.S. Department of Agriculture, was among the team who deployed DNA-based assays to assess the factors required for disease outbreaks on both spinach and lettuce and also to identify potential sources of the pathogens.

During the webinar, he will discuss RPA assay detection (which is a novel isothermal technique for molecular diagnosis of various infectious diseases) of spinach downy mildew in leaves. For more information on downy mildews, read the California Leafy Greens Research Program report here and tune into the webinar. 

WEBINAR DETAILS

Date: Friday, July 10, 2020

Time: 10:00 AM Pacific Time

Login Details:

Join ZoomGov Meeting

https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1604288198?pwd=Z2ozMVlROVV3dG9qRHZYeFpGWWd6dz09

Meeting ID: 160 428 8198

Password: 850627

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Upcoming Webinar Offers Solutions to Your Soil Problems

July 7th, 2020

Join Cord Nunez, NOVIHUM’s director of national sales, this Thursday for insight on how to enhance your soil. NOVIHUM’s revolutionary product contains high-value organic matter similar to the content found in the best soils. NOVIHUM offers a solution that counters the loss of organic matter in soils, achieving in hours what takes years under natural conditions.

As previously reported in Spotlight, the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology (WGCIT) has launched the “Innovating in Challenging Times” webinar series to demonstrate how technological development continues to advance during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The series, which is moderated by WGCIT Director Dennis Donohue, features entrepreneurs from different agtech startups who share how the crisis has impacted their company as well as the creative methods they are implementing to move business forward.

WEBINAR DETAILS

Presenter: Cord Nunez, director of national sales, NOVIHUM

Date: Thursday, July 9, 2020

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT

RSVP: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

 

For more information, contact Dennis Donohue at [email protected] or (831) 594-4883.

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Digital Edition of 2020 July/August Western Growers & Shipper Magazine Available Now

July 9th, 2020

The digital version of the latest edition of Western Grower & Shipper magazine is now available. This edition highlights a few of the warriors in agriculture, the men and women who are changing the face of the industry. Click here to access the electronic version of the magazine.

Some features from this issue include the following:

 The Warriors: Men & Women Who Are Changing the Face of Agriculture

There is a myriad of passionate agri-warriors across the United States who are fighting for the right to feed our nation. Though these farmers and ranchers are growing the healthy food that provides sustenance and nutrition for millions of people, their noble efforts are still met with adversity. In addition to battling factors out of their control such as the growing scarcity of natural resources, they must also deal with regulatory pressures that only seem to intensify.

 International Trade Uncertainty Continues

It is fair to say that 2020 has thus far proceeded in ways no one could have predicted. The issue that is top of mind for the industry is the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and economic fallout. While much of the attention and impact has been domestic-facing, COVID-19 has also thrown international supply chains into disarray.

Wearable Tech Reduces Risks of Workplace Injuries

The Connected Worker Program app monitored and tracked Rosa’s body mechanics, noting the frequency and duration of her deep bends and the rotational energy of her twists. Ultimately, the analysis demonstrated that Rosa was exerting significantly more strain on her body compared to her peers.

The Bosch Group Building Technology with a Purpose

As a leading Internet of Things (IoT) company, Bosch offers innovative solutions for smart homes, smart cities, connected mobility, and connected industry. It uses its expertise in sensor technology, software, and services, as well as its own IoT cloud, to offer its customers connected, cross-domain solutions from a single source.

Giclas Thrives with Multiple Tasks

Hank Giclas is well known in the produce industry where he worked for Western Growers for 30 years but he also worked on the family farm, spent his 20s in the oil, gas and mineral exploration world, and spent a couple of years teaching vocational agriculture before settling into his WG career.

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Whole Genome Sequencing Webinar Series Recap Materials Available Now

July 14th, 2020

Western Growers recently hosted a 5-part webinar series on topics surrounding Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), which occurred once a month from January to May of 2020. The series started by exploring the basics of WGS and how this tool applies to food safety management. In later months, the topics evolved into sequencing protocols, case studies, regulatory applications and novel applications of the next generation of whole-genome sequencing such as metagenomics.

Click here to access all recordings, presentations and key takeaways from the series!

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AgTech Webinar: Procurement Process Assistance

July 14th, 2020

Sara Matzger, iTradeNetworks’s solutions director, will be presenting on the various ways growers can help their own procurement processes during this Thursday’s Innovating in Challenging Times webinar. From diversifying one’s buyer portfolio in order to have more resilience during industry turmoil to optimizing freight options in order to cut down on costs, this information is vital for growers during times like the one we’re currently living in.

iTradeNetwork offers web-based software that automates the supply chain for the retail and foodservice industries. Through an extensive trading partner network and a comprehensive data foundation, iTradeNetwork’s products allow distributors, manufacturers, operators, retailers, suppliers and wholesalers to easily communicate and collaborate on orders, logistics and distribution. Solutions offered by iTradeNetwork reduce cost, grow revenue and strengthen trading partner relationships.

As previously reported in Spotlight, the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology (WGCIT) has launched the “Innovating in Challenging Times” webinar series to demonstrate how technological development continues to advance during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The series, which is moderated by WGCIT Director Dennis Donohue, features entrepreneurs from different agtech startups who share how the crisis has impacted their company as well as the creative methods they are implementing to move business forward.

WEBINAR DETAILS

Presenter: Sara Metzger, Solutions Director, iTradeNetwork

Date: Thursday, July 16, 2020

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT

RSVP: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

For more information, contact Dennis Donohue at [email protected] or (831) 594-4883.

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USDA, USTR Names Dave Puglia as New Agricultural Trade Advisor

July 17th, 2020

IRVINE, Calif., (July 17, 2020) – Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced the appointment of Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia to serve on the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee. In this role, Puglia will provide advice to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on trade policy matters including the operation of existing trade agreements and the negotiation of new agreements.

In response to the appointment, Puglia issued the following statement:

“I am honored to be appointed to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee. International markets are vital to the growth of the fresh produce industry, accounting for more than $23 billion in fruit, vegetable and tree nut sales in 2019. However, tariff and non-tariff barriers continue to restrict access to key export destinations. I look forward to working with USDA, USTR and my committee colleagues to help formulate durable trade policies that benefit our domestic growers.”

About Western Growers:
Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in California, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. Western Growers’ members and their workers provide over half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including half of America’s fresh organic produce. Connect and learn more about Western Growers on Twitter and Facebook. 

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AgTech Webinar: Pesticide Application

July 21st, 2020

Join MagGrow founder and president, David Moore, during this Thursday’s Innovating in Challenging Times webinar. MagGrow’s agtech significantly reduces waste associated with conventional pesticide applications and enables growers to reduce the application of crop protection chemicals by imparting an electromagnetic charge into the sprayed liquid so it will be directly attracted to the plant’s natural electromagnetic field.

As previously reported in Spotlight, the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology (WGCIT) has launched the “Innovating in Challenging Times” webinar series to demonstrate how technological development continues to advance during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The series, which is moderated by WGCIT Director Dennis Donohue, features entrepreneurs from different agtech startups who share how the crisis has impacted their company as well as the creative methods they are implementing to move business forward.

WEBINAR DETAILS

Presenter: David Moore, Founder and President, MagGrow

Date: Thursday, July 23, 2020

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT

RSVP: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

For more information, contact Dennis Donohue at [email protected] or (831) 594-4883.

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CALIFORNIA FARMERS ANNOUNCE NEW AG COALITION AND CAMPAIGN AGAINST PROP 15

July 22nd, 2020

MEASURE HIKES TAXES ON WIDE RANGE OF AG PROPERTY – Fruit Trees, Nut Trees, Dairies, Grape Vines, and More

SACRAMENTO, Calif., (July 22, 2020) – California’s leading agricultural organizations, including California Farm Bureau, Western Growers and the Agricultural Council of California, representing farmers and ranchers of all types across the state, announced a new coalition and campaign against Prop 15, the higher property tax measure.

“Prop 15 does not exempt agriculture – it hikes taxes on fruit trees, nut trees, grape vines, dairies, irrigation equipment, barns and much more”, said Jamie Johansson, President of California Farm Bureau. “California’s family farmers were hit hard by the current COVID-19 crisis.  Prop 15’s tax hike on our livelihoods is the last thing we need.”

“California’s farmers and ranchers are already at a competitive disadvantage with those in other states and countries with far lower tax and regulatory costs,” said Dave Puglia, President and CEO of Western Growers. “Our farmers pay the highest taxes and highest wages in the nation. They simply cannot keep bearing ever-increasing taxes and red tape. Californians are proud of our farmers and ranchers and the nutritious and affordable food they produce. Another large tax increase on farmers is not sustainable. Californians should reject Proposition 15.”

Prop 15 proponents claim they exempted agriculture, but they included a fatal drafting error which exposes agricultural “fixtures and improvements” to higher taxes if the measure passes.  The independent, nonpartisan state Legislative Analyst’s Office and the California Assessors’ Association have each independently confirmed this flaw will expose farmers to higher taxes.

“Prop 15 is bad for California farmers and bad for California consumers,” said Emily Rooney, President of the Agricultural Council of California. “Prop 15’s taxes on agriculture property aren’t just going to hit farmers – they’re going to land hard on California consumers, many of whom are already struggling with the cost of living in this state.”

The new coalition – Family Farmers Against Prop 15 – is growing rapidly as more people in the ag community hear about the fatal flaw in Prop 15’s language.  The coalition is planning a campaign educating voters throughout the state about Prop 15’s impact on farmers and consumer food prices. 

For more information, please visit https://cafarmersagainstprop15.com/.

Our Coalition:

California Farm Bureau

Western Growers

Agricultural Council of California

Butte County Farm Bureau

Fresno County Farm Bureau

Kern County Farm Bureau

Madera County Farm Bureau

Marin County Farm Bureau

Merced County Farm Bureau

Monterey County Farm Bureau

Sacramento County Farm Bureau

San Joaquin County Farm Bureau

San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau

Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau

Solano County Farm Bureau

Sonoma County Farm Bureau

Tulare County Farm Bureau

Yolo County Farm Bureau

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Webinar to Detail FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety

July 23rd, 2020

Western Growers, United Fresh Produce Association (UFPA) and Produce Marketing Association (PMA) are hosting a webinar on August 5, 2020, that will provide an in-depth overview of the recently-released FDA New Era Blueprint.

The blueprint outlines the approach FDA will take over the next decade to usher in the New Era of Smarter Food Safety. The “Beyond the Blueprint Bullets: Produce Perspectives on the FDA New Era of Smarter Food Safety” webinar will go beyond the numerous bulleted framework points to share the insights, implications, anticipated impacts and opportunities for engagement in the journey with FDA.

Western Growers, UFPA and PMA are committed to fostering a more streamlined, efficient, innovative and, as appropriate, collaborative process for guidance, policy and regulation. A key element of this webinar will be to identify the approaches, needs, barriers and timeline to advance the concepts proposed in the New Era document.

WEBINAR DETAILS

Beyond the Blueprint Bullets: Produce Perspectives on the FDA New Era of Smarter Food Safety

Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Time: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. PT/2 p.m. – 3 p.m. ET.

Speakers:

  • De Ann Davis, Senior Vice President of Science, Western Growers
  • Jennifer McEntire, Senior VP of Food Safety and Technology, United Fresh Produce Association
  • Trevor Suslow, VP Food Safety, Produce Marketing Association

Cost: Free

Registration: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

For more information about FDA’s New Era Blueprint, visit the New Era of Smarter Food Safety website register for the August 5 webinar.

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WGCIT Automation Initiative to Identify Sentinel Project

July 23rd, 2020

Phase II of the Field Harvest Acceleration Initiative has begun. After reviewing the recommendations from the Maestro Consulting Group, the Field Harvest Acceleration Steering Committee has begun implementing the five suggestions on how to best define an acceleration strategy specifically geared toward field harvest automation.

Two different subcommittees are meeting to identify a Sentinel project. The first group meeting explored criteria for lettuce, broccoli and melons. Mike Dentinger from Trimble, a Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology sponsor, guided the group in exploring projects and technologies that would best demonstrate the importance of collaboration and lay the groundwork for quicker results. In addition to Dentinger, participants included Turlock Fruit, Church Brothers, Grimmway Farms and Driscoll’s.

For more information, contact Dennis Donohue at [email protected] or (831) 594-4883.

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FDA to Discuss Leafy Greens Action Plan During Webinar Next Week

July 23rd, 2020

Register today for U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) webinar to discuss the 2020 Leafy Greens STEC Action Plan. The webinar will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2020, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. PT/2 p.m. – 3 p.m. ET.

The Leafy Greens STEC Action Plan, which was released this past March, outlines steps the agency plans to take this year to advance the safety of leafy greens. During the webinar, FDA will provide an overview of the Action Plan, provide an update on key activities and address external stakeholder engagement activities associated with the plan and how stakeholders can engage in this process.

Featured speakers include the following:

  • Frank Yiannas, Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response
  • Dr. Steve Musser, Deputy Director for Scientific Operations, Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition
  • Natalie Krout-Greenberg, Director, Division of Inspection Services Division at the California Department of Food & Agriculture
  • Dr. Jennifer McEntire, Senior Vice President of Food Safety & Technology at United Fresh Produce Association

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Registration will close on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, at 9 a.m. PT/12:00 p.m. ET. Sign up today, as space will be limited.

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CDFA Survey on Ag COVID-19 Needs due July 27

July 23rd, 2020

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is currently assessing COVID-19 information resource needs and is asking food and agriculture businesses across the state to participate in a brief survey. Results from the survey will help improve how COVID-19 information is relayed to California food and ag businesses.

Don’t miss this opportunity to voice your concerns about potential COVID-19 tools to local and state agencies. WG encourages you to take five minutes to respond to the survey today.

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY.

The deadline to fill out the survey is Monday, July 27, 2020.

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Eight Counties to Receive Funding to Slow Spread of COVID-19 in Central Valley

July 28th, 2020

Yesterday, July 27, Governor Newsom announced actions to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the Central Valley, including $52 million in funding for testing, contact tracing, and isolation and quarantine efforts. Eight counties will receive the funding: Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern.

Additionally, three Unified Support Teams will be deployed to these counties, which are experiencing increased cases and hospitalizations, to boost local efforts to reduce transmission rates. These strike teams will investigate outbreaks in factories, long-term care facilities, high-density housing developments and agricultural workplaces.

According to Newsom, these teams will be supportive of employers, rather than punitive. The state has already seen success with this strategy in the Imperial Valley.

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Key Takeaways from FDA Leafy Greens Action Plan Webinar Today

July 30th, 2020

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hosted a webinar today to discuss several topics related to the safety of leafy greens.

After FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannas offered insightful opening remarks, the following topics were discussed:

  1. Latest Outbreak Investigation Report
  2. California Longitudinal Study and CDFA update
  3. Agricultural Water Treatment Update
  4. Leafy Green Traceability Pilots

Latest E. coli Outbreak Investigation

FDA leadership discussed key findings in the “Factors Potentially Contributing to the Contamination of Romaine Lettuce Implicated in the Three Outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 during the Fall of 2019” report.  The agency considers adjacent or nearby land use for cattle grazing as the most likely contributing factor associated with these three outbreaks. This report was released on May 2020, click here to see the original release and full report.

California Longitudinal Study and CDFA Update

An update regarding a recently launched study to review the different factors that may contribute to contamination of leafy green was discussed. This portion of the webinar emphasized how the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is taking a whole systems approach and looking at the inter-connectedness of agriculture in California.

CDFA has been instrumental in coordinating this effort. Some important milestones for the Longitudinal Study include:

  • The Industry Advisory Committee as well as the Communications/Coordinator Committee have been formed.
  • The Academic Advisory Committee has been formed and is working closely with the Western Center for Food Safety.
  • The research team has begun initial sampling efforts.

New Protocol for Treatments for Preharvest Ag Water

FDA announced a new protocol for the development and registration of antimicrobial treatments for preharvest agricultural water. For full details about this release, click here.

The protocol is intended to help companies develop data on the effectiveness of their products in inactivating pathogens (e.g., E. coli or Salmonella) in preharvest agricultural water. Though FDA recognizes that effective treatments could be a valuable tool in helping to prevent foodborne illnesses, there are currently no registered antimicrobial treatment products that are authorized to control microorganisms of public health significance for use on agricultural fields, or for treatment of irrigation water systems or ponds. The new protocol, which was developed through a collaboration between FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), means that companies may use the data developed using the protocol to support registration of new treatment products, or amendments to current products’ labels, for use against foodborne pathogens in pre-harvest agricultural water.

Leafy Green Traceability Pilots

New leafy greens traceability pilots will be launched and managed by six industry organizations, with the goal to support the need of achieving end-to-end traceability throughout the leafy greens supply chain. The pilots are meant to deliver the key traceability concepts needed for scaling better industry practices such as testing interoperability of tracing systems and public-private data sharing. They also will provide the industry with better visibility into FDA’s Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation traceability processes and also to examine utility of the Produce Traceback Template, which was an outcome of the Romaine Task Force.

A few entities are already working on this pilot and they are expected to be completed in about two months. More information can be found at www.Producetraceability.org.

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