UN-CONVENTIONAL APPROACHES TO REPLACING SYNTHETIC INPUTS AND SUPPORTING REGENERATIVE PRACTICES
The cracks in the industrial agriculture model are widening and the unsustainability of this approach is becoming more apparent. As the conventional synthetic inputs that have been used for decades grow more costly, less effective, and increasingly tied to environmental and health concerns, many farmers are switching to alternatives. Experts will share what they view are the emerging practices and technologies that can replace conventional approaches and the potential organic and regenerative agriculture production has in improving the existing paradigms.
Clint Brauer
Founder & Chief Innovation Officer, Greenfield Robotics
A third-generation Kansas farmer and former tech executive, Clint Brauer founded Greenfield Robotics after returning home to run his family farm. Inspired in part by his father’s battle with Parkinson’s, Clint set out to reduce agriculture’s dependence on toxic herbicides. His team has since developed autonomous robots that clear weeds and foliar feed, helping farmers protect soil health and profitability. Backed by investors including Chipotle, ILS, and MKC, Greenfield Robotics is scaling its BOTONY fleet and advancing new capabilities in regenerative agriculture.
Ingrid Fung
Vice President of Enterprise Ops & Strategy, GreenLight Biosciences
Ingrid Fung is Vice President of Enterprise Operations and Strategy at GreenLight Biosciences, a Boston-based biotechnology company developing effective, easy to use and sustainable crop protection using ribonucleic acid. At GreenLight, Ingrid leads strategic initiatives and oversees Investor Relations, bridging science and business to fuel sustainable growth.
She has broad experience across innovation and investment in agriculture and food. Prior to joining GreenLight Bio, she was with Finistere Ventures, where she oversaw investment and portfolio management at the intersection of life sciences and agriculture (including crop inputs, animal health, and cellular ag/alternative proteins). Ingrid is passionate about the application of life sciences-based technologies to improve health and environmental outcomes; she currently sits on the board of Life Sciences Ontario where she advocates for policies that enable innovation and technology access.
Ingrid holds an MSc in Molecular Biology from the University of Western Ontario an HBSc in Developmental Biology from the University of Toronto.