The Reservoir

The declining birth rate—often referred to as the "Baby Bust"—is reshaping industries worldwide, and agriculture is no exception. Don Close and?Matt Woolf explain in their article, “The Big Shrink,” (published by the?Terrain team of at economists) that with a shrinking workforce, labor-intensive sectors like farming face unprecedented challenges. At The Reservoir,? we view this demographic shift as a call to action for AgTech. Here’s why: 1?? Labor Shortages Demand Innovation: As the workforce shrinks, the need for automation, robotics, and AI in agriculture increases. These technologies become essential for maintaining productivity and feeding the global population. 2?? Sustainability Meets Efficiency: The Baby Bust pushes us to rethink how we use resources. Precision agriculture helps farmers do more with less—reducing waste, optimizing inputs, and ensuring long-term sustainability. 3?? A New Generation of AgTech Talent: While the Baby Bust may reduce the traditional labor pool, it also opens the door for a new wave of talent. By investing in education and training, we can attract tech-savvy professionals to the agriculture sector, creating a workforce ready to tackle tomorrow’s challenges. 4?? Collaboration is Key: Solving these challenges requires collaboration across industries, governments, and communities. The Reservoir invests in innovators developing solutions to navigate this demographic shift. The Baby Bust is an opportunity to reimagine the future of agriculture. By embracing innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, we can build a stronger, more resilient food system for future generations. To read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gYEbvAaS cc Walt Duflock Adam Bergman Ben Palone AgTech Alchemy AgTech Advisory Collective Sachi Desai Rhishi Pethe Steve Mantle Matthew Hoffman Connie Bowen #AgTech #Agriculture #PrecisionAgriculture #SustainableFarming #FutureOfFarming #FoodSecurity #AgInnovation #FarmTech #Agribusiness #BabyBust #DemographicShift #LaborShortage #WorkforceDevelopment #NextGenFarmers #AIinAgriculture #AgriRobotics #SmartFarming #AgriTechSolutions #TechForGood #InnovationInAg #SustainableAgriculture #EfficientFarming #ResourceOptimization #GreenTech #AgriCollaboration #FarmToFuture #AgriCommunity #GlobalAgri #AgriLeadership #AgriThoughts #FutureOfFood #LetsTalkAg #AgriConversation #AgriInsights #Sustainability #Innovation #TechTrends #GlobalChallenges #ResilientFuture #ReservoirFarms #TheReservoir

40%+ of U.S. agricultural land is owned by people 65+, setting the stage for a massive transfer of 370 million acres in the next two decades (American Farmland Trust). “The next generation is stepping forward as farmland transitions hands and Western societies embrace a ‘back to the land’ movement, driven by a desire for sustainable lifestyles, regenerative practices, and a commitment to biodiversity.” – Mark Durno, Rockstart Since 2017, the number of new farmers has increased by 11% (AgFunder, USDA). Across the globe, a new generation of farmers is rising, fueled by a passion for sustainability, innovation, and a deep connection to the land. New farmers embrace technology and sustainable practices at unprecedented rates. 73% of U.S. farms use computers or smartphones for farm business, with younger farmers leading the adoption of precision agriculture tools (USDA, 2019). Multi-generational farms—where older and younger generations collaborate—are often more tech-forward, combining financial resources with fresh perspectives (Terry Griffin, Kansas State University). What’s Next? TL;DR These demographic trends are game-changers for the future of AgTech and sustainable agriculture. #AgTech #SustainableAgriculture #FarmlandTransition #NextGenFarmers #RegenerativeAgriculture #PrecisionFarming #FarmTech #SustainableLiving #Biodiversity #FarmInnovation #LandTransfer #YoungFarmers #FutureOfFarming #AgInnovation #BackToTheLand #ClimateSmartAg #FarmSustainability #AgriTechTrends #FarmToFuture #GenerationalFarming #ReservoirFarms

The Carbon Robotics case study, led by Western Growers, Braga Fresh Family Farms, and JV Smith Companies, is a powerful example of how technology can transform agriculture:? ??Efficiency: The LaserWeeder covers 1-2 acres per hour, zapping up to 100,000 weeds with pinpoint accuracy. ??Sustainability: By reducing herbicide use, it cuts chemical runoff and supports healthier soil.? ??Cost Savings: Farmers report a 3-5x return on investment from reduced labor and chemical costs. The Reservoir believes validation is a critical unlock to building grower trust in emerging technology. Studies like this from Western Growers, Braga Fresh, and JV Smith Companies show how technology can solve real challenges and empower farmers and farmworkers. Read more about the study: https://lnkd.in/giuYTEWU #AgTech #SustainableFarming #Innovation #Agriculture #Robotics #Collaboration #FutureOfFarming #LaserWeeder

?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? Just wrapped up a whirlwind trip to the Netherlands, diving deep into the country’s world-class AgTech, greenhouse, and automation ecosystem. From Wageningen University & Research—the "UC Davis + Cal Poly + UC ANR" of Europe—to robotics-driven greenhouses and cutting-edge validation farms, I saw firsthand how Dutch startups, industry leaders, and policymakers collaborate to accelerate the future of food and farming. A few key takeaways: ?? Validation is everything. Every conversation reinforced the critical need for trusted AgTech testing and certification. ?? Automation requires rethinking farm design. Companies like Saia aren’t just adding robots to existing farms—they’re redesigning how we grow from the ground up. ?? International collaboration matters. The geopolitical climate makes it clear: building global bridges—especially in AgTech and sustainability—is more critical than ever. ?? Read the full trip report to see what the Dutch model can teach us about AgTech innovation and how The Reservoir is exploring opportunities for international collaboration. #AgTech #Automation #Innovation #TheReservoir #Netherlands #PublicPrivatePartnerships

By 2050, 70% more food must be produced globally (United Nations FAO).?At the same time, the global agri-tech market is only $22 billion, showcasing the immense potential for innovation to transform agriculture (MarketsandMarkets?). These challenges—and opportunities—are at the heart of Danny Bernstein’s roundtable session at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit. Titled "Scaling Sustainable Agri-tech: Collaboration, Investment & Impact," this discussion will bring together agri-tech innovators, investors, and stakeholders to explore how we can build a more resilient and productive global food system. Key topics include: ? Resource efficiency: Doing more with less. ? Farmer adoption of new technologies: Bridging the gap between innovation and implementation. ? Cross-sector partnerships and innovative business models: Unlocking scalable solutions. The goal? To foster actionable insights that drive impact at scale, ensuring agri-tech advancements are both economically viable and environmentally sustainable. If you’re attending the summit, don’t miss this critical discussion! ?? When: Wednesday, March 12 at 12:25 PM ?? Where: World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in San Francisco ?? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eW4RCj2r #AgriTech #SustainableAgriculture #FoodSecurity #WorldAgriTechSummit #InnovationInAgriculture #ResourceEfficiency #FarmTech #Sustainability #FutureOfFood #TechForGood #TheReservoir #ReservoirFarms

?? ?? ?? This week, I’m headed to the Netherlands ???? and Israel ???? — two world-class agtech ecosystems — to meet with growers, NGOs, academics, and startups. Our goal is to gather insights and refine our investment and incubation process for The Reservoir as we prepare to welcome our first cohort of startups to Salinas and Merced in 2025. More details coming soon : ) We’re focused on scouting smart implements, harvesting technologies, fresh approaches to drones and rovers, precision agriculture, ag biotech, and AI-enabled software—technologies that can drive real impact for growers and rural economies. The Reservoir, via our collaboration with Walt Duflock, Ben Palone, and Western Growers, will help rural-focused startups go from prototype to scalable commercial success, and the feedback we get from global leaders will help ensure we’re building the right platform for breakthrough innovation. If you have thoughts, recommendations, or introductions we should consider, I’d love to hear them—drop a comment below! #AgTech #Innovation #Startups #VentureCapital #PrecisionAgriculture #TheReservoir #AI #Drones #Robotics #Sustainability #RegenerativeAg

The future of California farming is at a crossroads—and the data tells the story. A new study by California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo professor Lynn Hamilton and Professor of AgriBusiness at Cal Poly, Mike McCullough reveals a startling trend: Regulatory costs now account for 12.6% of production costs—up from just 1.24%. Through data sourced directly from farmers in the Salinas Valley, in collaboration with Western Growers, the study uncovered significant trends over the last 18 years. From food safety to labor wages, water quality to air regulations, rising costs are eroding profits and pushing growers to consider moving production abroad. New technology solutions must seek to: ? Offset rising labor costs ? Manage regulatory overhead ? Reduce reliance on chemicals ? Optimize water resources The future of farming depends on developing solutions that keep production local and support growers. The full study can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gmKHD4Jj Correction: The graphic states that regulatory costs for lettuce growers have skyrocketed by 795% from 2006 to 2024. However, this percentage reflects the increase from 2006 to 2017. The actual percentage increase from 2006 to 2024 is 1,366%. #AgTech #SustainableFarming #SalinasValley #FoodSecurity #InnovationInAgriculture #CaliforniaGrown

It has been an inspiration and a joy to meet these incredible entrepreneurs and to host them at the BEAM Circular office this week for the kickoff of the BEAM Circular Accelerator. Every one of these talented teams has an incredible vision for creating value and a more sustainable future. Can't wait to follow these entrepreneurs and their scale-up journeys! Big thanks to the fabulous gener8tor team for bringing this program to life, to The Reservoir for kicking off our venture capital partnerships, to our programmatic and technical partners for continuing to build our innovation ecosystem, and to the State of California and California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) for supporting the launch of this new Accelerator through the #CaliforniaJobsFirst initiative. Jack Marck Ryan Jeffery Dexter A. Danny Bernstein Amanda Hughes Erick Serrato Yolanda Meraz Josette Lewis Adrienne McKee Walt Duflock Maria Olide Gloriamar Gamez Deepti Tanjore Blake Simmons James Gardner

Humbled to announce that Reservoir Farms just received a significant boost from the State of California. ?? Through California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), the California Jobs First initiative, and Uplift Central Coast, we’re thrilled to share that Roots of Resilience: Empowering Communities Through AgTech, our close collaboration with Hartnell College, is a key grant recipient. The grant will help fund: ? The launch of Reservoir Farms in Salinas ? Workforce development programs to equip residents with the skills to lead in AgTech. Thank you to Christopher Padgett, Jackie Cruz, Ed. D., and Jillian H. for leading this grant; Maria Elena Manzo, Barbara Meister, David Mancera, MS, Josh Metz, Andrea Pesce, Walt Duflock, Ben Palone, and Gabriel Youtsey for partnering to secure this opportunity, and Tahra Goraya and Larry Samuels for your leadership. Together, we’re building a resilient future for the California agricultural ecosystem. cc Quinn Brady Bruce Stenslie Melissa James Richard Vaughn, MPA Luis Alejo Christopher Lopez Wendy Root Askew Kate Daniels Marek Gootman Rachel Barker DART UCANR The VINE Western Growers Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) University of California, Santa Cruz #AgTech #WorkforceDevelopment #SalinasValley #InnovationInAgriculture #UpliftCentralCoast #CaliforniaJobsFirst

The data speaks for itself—regenerative agriculture is on the rise. According to the Bushel State of the Farm Report: ? Participation in Carbon programs increased by nearly 10% year over year, with 50% of farmers aged 18-40 reporting involvement. ? 57% of farms have adopted nutrient management, and over 50% of larger farms use no-till methods. ? 40% of farmers aged 18-40 are using cover crops. These trends show a growing recognition of the benefits of regenerative agriculture—from improving soil health to reducing environmental impact, especially with the next generation. Karen Ross Eric Morgan Charlie Dubbe John Kempf Kristin Coates Adam Bergman Matthew Hoffman Sachi Desai AgTech Alchemy AgTech Advisory Collective Jose Corona Dane Scurich Rhishi Pethe #RegenerativeAgriculture #SustainableFarming #SoilHealth #ClimateAction #CarbonFarming #AgricultureInnovation #FarmToTable #NoTillFarming #CoverCrops #NutrientManagement #FutureOfFarming #AgTech #SustainableAgriculture #YoungFarmers #FarmLife #Agribusiness #EcoFriendlyFarming #NextGenFarmers #GreenRevolution"