In this issue of Global Signals we see EV manufacturers seemingly support a right to repair pact, learn laser-based testing could put a stop to food fraud; and how genetic researchers making coral more resilient to a usually fatal, mysterious disease.
We’ve designed this newsletter to deliver interesting signals that will influence agritech in New Zealand and beyond.
Leading American electric vehicle makers Tesla and Rivian are supporting a controversial pact between carmakers and automotive repair organisations that critics say is an attempt to undermine legislation that would make it easier for Americans to fix their cars.
These arguments have led members of Congress from both parties to introduce a bill called the REPAIR Act that would grant car owners, and the mechanics of their choosing, access to their telematic data.
But the auto industry, which stands to make billions of dollars selling telematics to insurers, streaming radio services, and other third parties, contends that carmakers should be the gatekeepers of this data to avoid compromising vehicle safety, which seems to be a swift U-turn to their support of the agreement.
The John Deere ‘Right to Repair’ case study shows there is no simple answer when it comes to the usage and ownership of vehicle-generated data. Now that the debate is moving from the paddock to passenger vehicles, will we see some clear-thinking legislation that can be applied to farm usage, namely who can own data, use data, and profit from such data?
A researcher from Purdue University has developed a portable and accessible technology for detecting food fraud using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy.
This technology creates a unique ‘fingerprint’ for various foods, allowing for on-the-spot identification of authenticity for regulated foods like cheese. It has the potential to improve food safety and provide quicker results than traditional lab testing methods.
Who stands to profit from the ability to instantly verify provenance of foods? We know terroir is important, but sometimes it’s nothing more than packaging a feeling. Does that mean more to consumers than a lab certificate?
What unusual edge cases that this fingerprinting technology unlock that would reveal valuable attributes of NZ’s produce in international markets?
Lidl Germany recently announced that almost the entirety of its own-brand vegan range will be priced equally to products of animal origin and will be placed in the direct vicinity to their animal counterparts in all of its 3,250+ German stores.
Lidl's commitment to disclosing the proportion of animal protein sources in its range and its setting of targets for increasing plant-based protein sources and alternative dairy products demonstrates a long-term commitment to sustainability and addressing the environmental impact of food choices.
This seems like a concerted effort by a retailer to entice shoppers to make more sustainable choices. Knowing that retailers usually make big decisions based on sound research, is this change (similar pricing, similar location) finally delivering what consumers really want?
Researchers are working to identify genetic patterns that make some coral strains more resilient to the mysterious, yet deadly, white band disease. The disease can destroy coral tissue and kill entire colonies, destroying up to 95% of Acropora corals in the Caribbean.
Their findings could guide global coral restoration efforts, but there may be trade-offs in terms of sensitivity to other stressors. This work is important as it aims to help safeguard corals in rapidly changing environments, ensuring their survival and the preservation of essential reef ecosystems.
Are genetic tools now required to preserve our natural environment as well as enhance our farmed environment? Could this more targeted approach to conservation in the long game help preserve biodiversity?
(Thanks to our friend futurist David Mattin for this story from his recent New World Same Humans newsletter, it was just too good not to share - SD)
NVIDIA Research has introduced Eureka, an AI agent powered by the GPT-4 model, which can teach robots complex skills using reinforcement learning. Eureka autonomously generates reward algorithms for robots, outperforming human-written ones on over 80% of tasks, resulting in a more than 50% average performance improvement. It uses GPU-accelerated simulation and human feedback to fine-tune robot training, enabling a wide range of robots to perform various tasks.
This clearly demonstrates that complex and delicate tasks will be done by machines and sooner than we think. We have seen many robotic agritech companies attempt to replicate the complex series of movements made unknowingly by an apple picker's hand - is this the unlock the industry has been waiting for? And what other roles can we give highly trained, fine tuned, teachable robots in this new world full of the same humans?
George Monbiot's book Regenesis offers a fresh perspective on the future of food and its impact on the environment. He calls for a major shift in the way we produce and consume food.
Calling out New Zealand (more than once), Monbiot observes a dire state of how the world farms today. There is a persistent, stark and hyper-real criticism of current farming practices. But there is also an evidence-based hope, all set against the backdrop of unending climate emergencies.
Regenesis presents a transformative vision for a new food future, one that has the potential to restore
nature and feed the world. It's a confronting but important book as we are faced with the reality of what we are doing to our planet with our food production systems. For me, Monbiot’s writing triggered emotions that hit home given my years long participation servicing the agricultural sector (the problem), from the perspective of an agritech company (trying to be part of the solution).
We’d love to hear your feedback so we can continue to share relevant monthly reads with you.
Don’t forget to share with us any signals or interesting innovations you’ve come across so we can spread the word. We enjoy seeing NZ companies be creative, innovative and push the boundaries, it makes for insightful reading.
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