Innovation Pipeline

In the past several years working farms have been looking hard at ways to modernize via technology. In Vermont, farmers are getting help from the University of Vermont Agricultural Innovations Initiative.

This past summer, Vermont farmers participated in trials to test new types of organic soybeans grown in Vermont. The farmers hope to grow organic soybeans to compete with other states. The university hopes to accelerate technology transfer and build promising businesses that address the local agricultural economy.

The idea is to use Vermont farms as a testing ground for innovations, then cultivate them for the commercial market. Financial help comes in the form of seed grants to help faculty and university people develop business plans and prototypes.

Other projects supported by University of Vermont Ag Innovations include an effort to develop a patented technology that can remove phosphorous from wastewater. The startup company is called PhosphoReduc. It has a prototype and has drawn investor interest.

Innovation for farms is also of great interest to China. In a recent report from the Chinese news agency Xinhua, Chinese government officials said at the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences that it is of importance to make strides in building innovative agricultural applications to help fuel economic growth in rural areas of China.

Which makes it all the more likely that innovations such as those from the University of Vermont will catch the interest of the many investors looking at green tech. –Lee Bruno