#United States #Agriculture #Arden Hills #Land O'Lakes #AgRogue

Land O'Lakes and Local Ag Retailers Join Forces to Innovate

In a groundbreaking move for the U.S. agriculture sector, Land O'Lakes, Inc. has announced its participation in the AgRogue Growth Partners initiative, alongside a coalition of agricultural retailers. This partnership aims to accelerate the discovery, investment, and adoption of innovative technologies tailored to boost efficiency and productivity among farmers nationwide.

Founded on the principles of its cooperative model, Land O'Lakes understands the challenges faced by the agriculture industry, especially in a climate where breakthrough innovations struggle to penetrate the farming sector. Recent statistics indicate that net farm income for U.S. row crop producers remains worryingly low, and the decline in public funding for agricultural research mirrors funding levels from the 1970s. Meanwhile, global competitors, particularly those in China, have ramped up their investments, increasing the urgency for domestic innovation.

A Focused Investment Strategy

The AgRogue Growth Partners initiative will channel significant resources — up to $7 million into each of 10 to 15 selected agritech firms. These investments will specifically target advancements in crop inputs, agricultural data management, supply chain enhancements, and innovative business models. Jason Trusley, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Land O'Lakes, emphasized that effective collaboration between retailers and farmers is essential to overcoming the barriers that inhibit the adoption of modern agricultural technologies.

“This platform represents a strategic approach to harness the inherent strengths of our cooperative model, enabling us to assist Radicle Growth in identifying and scaling pioneering innovations,” Trusley stated.

Through the collaboration, Land O'Lakes and its retail partners plan to:
1. Invest in Innovative Technologies: The AgRogue initiative focuses on scaling solutions that can create tangible on-farm impacts.
2. Pool Resources: By combining capital, expertise, and market insights, participants aim to discover proprietary agricultural innovations that typically remain outside traditional funding channels.
3. Accelerate Adoption: Utilizing trusted relationships between retailers and farmers, the initiative seeks to facilitate a faster rollout of proven innovations in the agricultural landscape.

Addressing Industry Challenges

The timing of this initiative is critical. As existing agricultural practices face mounting pressures, innovative solutions remain stagnant before reaching farmers who could benefit from them. Brett Bruggeman, COO and Executive Vice President of Land O'Lakes Ag Business, highlighted that the cooperative model positions retailers uniquely to bridge this gap, ensuring that new technologies can reach farmers promptly and effectively.

The participating local retailers play a vital role in this initiative, including:

• - Keystone Cooperative (Indiana)
• - Central Valley Ag (Nebraska)
• - Farmers Cooperative – Dorchester (Nebraska)
• - Farmward Cooperative (Minnesota)
• - Alabama Farmers Cooperative (Alabama)
• - GreenPoint Ag (Alabama)

In partnership with Radicle Growth, recognized as a leader in the agtech investment space, AgRogue Growth Partners plans to sift through a selection of cutting-edge startups worldwide to identify viable solutions that resonate with the needs of modern farming.

Looking Forward

The AgRogue Growth Partners initiative marks a pivotal shift in how agricultural innovation can be stimulated within the U.S. agriculture framework. As Kevin Still, President and CEO of Keystone Cooperative, expressed, this collaborative effort is all about leveraging combined strengths to create valuable opportunities for farmers, arming them with new tools to tackle industry-specific challenges and contribute towards a more robust food supply.

By harnessing the inherent potential of cooperative systems, Land O'Lakes, alongside its partners, aspires to not only drive innovation but also to ensure that U.S. agriculture remains competitive and resilient amidst evolving global demands.