Next Cohort of Ag Innovators Announced for IFPA 2024 Fresh Field Catalyst Accelerator
International Fresh Produce Association
Create a vibrant future for all
International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) has announced the 12 new companies that will join the Fresh Field Catalyst Accelerator for the 2024 cohort.
The Accelerator program is designed to bring technology companies with ready to market solutions to the produce and floral industry to help make the supply chain more resilient and climate smart.???
Meet the 2024 participants here:
CEO, Susterre
Calgary, Ontario
Michael Cully is a C-Level international business executive with expertise in implementing new business strategies from the ground up for organizations ranging from startups to large multinational companies. He has expertise in global business development, brand strategy, distribution channel development, corporate sustainability, government/public affairs, and corporate development. Michael has had repeated success in building multinational teams, establishing distribution networks across multiple regions, and launching new products, growing businesses profitably worldwide.
Founder and CEO, L5 Automation Inc.
La Canada Flintridge, CA
Alex is a repeat founder, having co-founded Astrobotic Technology with his advisor and others, which has done over $600M in revenue to date. Directly prior to L5, Alex spent 9 years working at Lockheed Martin where he was responsible for bringing technologies from proof of concept to proof of value. Alex is a certified “Robot Master”, graduating from Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics’ Institute, with a focus on autonomous vehicles.?
VP Sales & Business Development, Farm-ng
Watsonville, CA.
Previous roles as CEO of Data Science / Capture company for specialty crops, Food-Origins. Reiter Berry Farms, Director of Knowledge and Innovation. Technical Manager for Gallo Coastal Vineyards and Wineries. USS Omaha SSN 692 Nuclear Machinist Mate. Wheat Custom Harvester and Farm kid from Nebraska.?
Dr. Michael Salvador
CEO, Mirai Solar
San Francisco, CA.
Dr. Michael Salvador has over 15 years of experience in basic research and R&D and a proven track record in developing solar technologies, with emphasis on thin-film, flexible photovoltaics. Previously, he held research positions at top-ranked universities in the USA and Germany, including Caltech, University of Washington, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. He has contributed to several patents for solar energy devices including those forming the intellectual property of Mirai Solar. Michael has led Mirai Solar from an R&D project into a full-scale startup with manufacturing capabilities and pilot demonstrations.?
Founder & CEO, innov8.ag
Walla Walla, WA
A distinguished former Microsoft exec, Steve Mantle expertly blends data-driven insights with genuine care for the agricultural community—a testament to his founding of innov8.ag. His work focuses on empowering growers through meaningful partnerships, reflecting his commitment to both technological advancement and the human element of innovation.?
Janice Gould
Founder / Owner & CEO, Responsive Drip Irrigation, LLC
Bradenton, FL, USA, and Abu Dhabi, UAE
Janice’s main focus has been in developing and distributing a disruptive irrigation technology through her company, Responsive Drip Irrigation, LLC (RDI). Her mission has been to increase food production and save water for our children today and for our children’s children and grandchildren. She has become a strong advocate for water conservation and improving water management and sustainability to preserve the environment and create a livable planet. ?
Dr. Timea Ignat
领英推荐
Chief Scientist, Neolithics LTD .
Tel Aviv, Israel
Dr Timea Ignat has a Ph.D. in food science – at the Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary – on the subject of non-destructive sensor and data fusion to determine agricultural produce quality. She has developed various measurement methods using multiple sensor platforms, chemometric algorithms, machine learning and fusion techniques. She advanced proximal- and remote sensing – including airborne and satellite – in agricultural, environmental and food industry application, in the fields of precision agricultural, post-harvest of agricultural produce and food hazard management. Most recently, she is the chief scientific officer at Neolithics in Israel, where she further advances the development of agricultural produce quality control and food hazard management applications.?
Tysons, VA.
Francisco Martin-Rayo is the CEO and Co-Founder of Helios Artificial Intelligence, the world's leading AI platform that predicts agricultural supply disruptions. ?With its unprecedented coverage across 85 countries and 160 commodities, Helios AI helps agricultural buyers worldwide forecast global fruit and vegetable prices and supply availability before their competitors. ?
Dr. Agustin Büchert
Cofounder and CSO, ClearLeaf
Wilmington, DE.
Agustin Büchert is a biotechnology Ph.D. and MBA who serves as the Chief Science Officer and co-founder of ClearLeaf, a company dedicated to developing sustainable, safe, and innovative crop protection solutions. With his scientific expertise, creativity, and multitasking abilities, Agustin has transformed the company into an experimentation hub for product design. His leadership and vision drive ClearLeaf's mission to create cutting-edge solutions that benefit both farmers and the environment.
Dr. Stephanie Gamez
Director of R&D, Agragene Inc.
St. Louis, MO
Dr. Stephanie Gamez currently serves as Agragene’s Director of R&D where she oversees the development of KnockOut? sterile insects utilizing Precision-Guided Sterile Insect Technique (pgSIT). Dr. Gamez received her PhD in Biology at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) where her work explored the potential of gene drive technologies to introduce heritable modifications into insect genomes, with applications ranging from disease vector control to agricultural pest management.?
At Agragene, her leadership and work exemplify the transformative impact of genetic innovation on modern agriculture where she continues to drive innovation in sustainable pest management through the advancement of pgSIT technology.?
Dr. Sarah Placella
Oakland, CA.
With an understanding of the challenges facing modern agriculture, Sarah Placella founded Root Applied Sciences with a clear mission—to revolutionize agriculture with near real-time information on unseeable biological threats. Under her leadership, the company has become a trailblazer in developing solutions that optimize resource usage, reduce environmental footprint, and promote the overall resilience of agricultural ecosystems. Beyond her role at Root Applied Sciences, Placella is a respected advocate for sustainable agriculture and is actively involved in technical founder communities as well as advocating for women and mothers as startup leaders. ?
VP Produce & Regulation, Sufresca
Ness Ziona, Israel
An experienced system developer, designer and analyst, Ofir joined Sufresca in its commercial onset in early 2020. An expert in agri-food regulation and sustainability Ofir is responsible for portfolio products development and marketing at the company. Ofir is the past co-founder and CTO of two software startups in the fields of psychophysiology and telecommunication.?
Thank you to our 2024 Fresh Field Catalyst Supporter: Sun World International
For more information about the program, visit IFPA's website here: https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/fresh-field-catalyst/
Partner & Director at Foodcareplus, Remant Group | Member Board of Directors & Chair Supply Chain Council at IFPA
6 个月This is a great program, driving ag-innovation forward. Check out the 12 new companies joining.
We’re excited to be part of this program of innovators, bringing us together with the needs & challenges facing leading global produce suppliers! Bring it on!!