but a year and a half ago I was fortunate enough to be involved in a
fortunate enough to be involved in a
fortunate enough to be involved in a startup
startup
startup known as aerial agriculture you know an
known as aerial agriculture you know an
known as aerial agriculture you know an agriculture drone service company and
agriculture drone service company and
agriculture drone service company and through this experience I had multiple
through this experience I had multiple
through this experience I had multiple opportunities to sit down with directors
opportunities to sit down with directors
opportunities to sit down with directors of large agriculture service companies
of large agriculture service companies
of large agriculture service companies as well as extremely technologically
as well as extremely technologically
as well as extremely technologically savvy individuals who know far more
savvy individuals who know far more
savvy individuals who know far more about drones in IR code and through
about drones in IR code and through
about drones in IR code and through these conversations I’ve been able to
these conversations I’ve been able to
these conversations I’ve been able to develop a vision of why I see the drone
develop a vision of why I see the drone
develop a vision of why I see the drone market in particular within the
market in particular within the
market in particular within the agriculture industry and why I see that
agriculture industry and why I see that
agriculture industry and why I see that going but today I challenge you to
going but today I challenge you to
going but today I challenge you to expand upon my vision where I see it
expand upon my vision where I see it
expand upon my vision where I see it going and challenge yourself and come to
going and challenge yourself and come to
going and challenge yourself and come to your own conclusions
your own conclusions
your own conclusions so unmanned aerial vehicles unmanned
so unmanned aerial vehicles unmanned
so unmanned aerial vehicles unmanned aerial systems commonly known as drones
aerial systems commonly known as drones
aerial systems commonly known as drones have with a serious amount of untapped
have with a serious amount of untapped
have with a serious amount of untapped and not fully realized potential for
and not fully realized potential for
and not fully realized potential for recreational consumer as well as
recreational consumer as well as
recreational consumer as well as commercial applications and although
commercial applications and although
commercial applications and although there are a plethora of opportunities
there are a plethora of opportunities
there are a plethora of opportunities for their applications today there is
for their applications today there is
for their applications today there is still multiple applications that are
still multiple applications that are
still multiple applications that are coming out on a monthly weekly and
coming out on a monthly weekly and
coming out on a monthly weekly and almost even daily basis and although
almost even daily basis and although
almost even daily basis and although there are substantial opportunities
there are substantial opportunities
there are substantial opportunities today I’m going to be focusing in the
today I’m going to be focusing in the
today I’m going to be focusing in the air culture industry so it’s pretty
air culture industry so it’s pretty
air culture industry so it’s pretty interesting because the agriculture
interesting because the agriculture
interesting because the agriculture market is one of the oldest markets in
market is one of the oldest markets in
market is one of the oldest markets in the United States the average age of a
the United States the average age of a
the United States the average age of a farmer who’s between the ages of 58 60
farmer who’s between the ages of 58 60
farmer who’s between the ages of 58 60 years old and it’s been pretty stagnant
years old and it’s been pretty stagnant
years old and it’s been pretty stagnant over the last 40 years that being said
over the last 40 years that being said
over the last 40 years that being said we still see this revolution within
we still see this revolution within
we still see this revolution within technology autonomous and drone
technology autonomous and drone
technology autonomous and drone applications in the agriculture industry
applications in the agriculture industry
applications in the agriculture industry and the thing that’s great about this is
and the thing that’s great about this is
and the thing that’s great about this is it provides a push back because people
it provides a push back because people
it provides a push back because people are very set in their ways they’re like
are very set in their ways they’re like
are very set in their ways they’re like doing the things you know the way
doing the things you know the way
doing the things you know the way they’ve always done it I’ve had older
they’ve always done it I’ve had older
they’ve always done it I’ve had older individuals who come up to me and tell
individuals who come up to me and tell
individuals who come up to me and tell me these AG fairs that they would shoot
me these AG fairs that they would shoot
me these AG fairs that they would shoot my drone out of the sky if they saw
my drone out of the sky if they saw
my drone out of the sky if they saw flying over their crop field and through
flying over their crop field and through
flying over their crop field and through this you know every revolution requires
this you know every revolution requires
this you know every revolution requires pushback you know when Apple first
pushback you know when Apple first
pushback you know when Apple first really
really
really the iPod it wasn’t commonplace we didn’t
the iPod it wasn’t commonplace we didn’t
the iPod it wasn’t commonplace we didn’t initially accept it and now looking back
initially accept it and now looking back
initially accept it and now looking back on it we couldn’t see it as any other
on it we couldn’t see it as any other
on it we couldn’t see it as any other way and the same thing goes with them
way and the same thing goes with them
way and the same thing goes with them releasing the iPhone 7 without a
releasing the iPhone 7 without a
releasing the iPhone 7 without a headphone jack while very confused
headphone jack while very confused
headphone jack while very confused pushing back on it but they may have
pushing back on it but they may have
pushing back on it but they may have just predicted oh no so within the
just predicted oh no so within the
just predicted oh no so within the agriculture drone market there is a
agriculture drone market there is a
agriculture drone market there is a niche that is currently the most
niche that is currently the most
niche that is currently the most occupied and that is with the
occupied and that is with the
occupied and that is with the implementation of precision agriculture
implementation of precision agriculture
implementation of precision agriculture strategies and what I’m showing you here
strategies and what I’m showing you here
strategies and what I’m showing you here is what’s known as a normalized
is what’s known as a normalized
is what’s known as a normalized difference vegetation index map which is
difference vegetation index map which is
difference vegetation index map which is basically a fancy word for crop health
basically a fancy word for crop health
basically a fancy word for crop health and green it’s a red green spectrum the
and green it’s a red green spectrum the
and green it’s a red green spectrum the green representing crops which are
green representing crops which are
green representing crops which are generally much better in health and the
generally much better in health and the
generally much better in health and the red are crops that are poor health and
red are crops that are poor health and
red are crops that are poor health and although you see some issues with this
although you see some issues with this
although you see some issues with this map it’s about a year and a half old
map it’s about a year and a half old
map it’s about a year and a half old this can be utilized to reduce info cost
this can be utilized to reduce info cost
this can be utilized to reduce info cost through applying 70% of fertilizer and
through applying 70% of fertilizer and
through applying 70% of fertilizer and nitrogen and areas that have much better
nitrogen and areas that have much better
nitrogen and areas that have much better crop out there 120 percent in areas that
crop out there 120 percent in areas that
crop out there 120 percent in areas that need more attention and implementing
need more attention and implementing
need more attention and implementing this strategy from the beginning of
this strategy from the beginning of
this strategy from the beginning of Hartmut era from the beginning of
Hartmut era from the beginning of
Hartmut era from the beginning of planting crops and their initial growth
planting crops and their initial growth
planting crops and their initial growth stages can drastically reduce team on an
stages can drastically reduce team on an
stages can drastically reduce team on an input costs that you will be using as
input costs that you will be using as
input costs that you will be using as well as increase the overall production
well as increase the overall production
well as increase the overall production so now the question is why drones
so now the question is why drones
so now the question is why drones because satellite have the same
because satellite have the same
because satellite have the same capabilities this is a great normalized
capabilities this is a great normalized
capabilities this is a great normalized difference vegetation index map of the
difference vegetation index map of the
difference vegetation index map of the entire United States and it was taken by
entire United States and it was taken by
entire United States and it was taken by a satellite and the problem is if you
a satellite and the problem is if you
a satellite and the problem is if you want a pinpoint an area on this map
want a pinpoint an area on this map
want a pinpoint an area on this map that’s about 200 or even 2,000 acres
that’s about 200 or even 2,000 acres
that’s about 200 or even 2,000 acres which is a substantially size farm you
which is a substantially size farm you
which is a substantially size farm you have to basically zoom in like it’s like
have to basically zoom in like it’s like
have to basically zoom in like it’s like it’s a microscope and you lose a lot of
it’s a microscope and you lose a lot of
it’s a microscope and you lose a lot of that accuracy
that accuracy
that accuracy you’ll be looking at a problem that you
you’ll be looking at a problem that you
you’ll be looking at a problem that you think is right here but in actuality the
think is right here but in actuality the
think is right here but in actuality the pose all the way over here and with this
pose all the way over here and with this
pose all the way over here and with this it doesn’t seem like a big deal at first
it doesn’t seem like a big deal at first
it doesn’t seem like a big deal at first and then you apply it across the entire
and then you apply it across the entire
and then you apply it across the entire field and you lose that efficiency and
field and you lose that efficiency and
field and you lose that efficiency and you
you
you lose the micromanaging that you can
lose the micromanaging that you can
lose the micromanaging that you can apply to your cops so this is a more
apply to your cops so this is a more
apply to your cops so this is a more updated version of a normalized
updated version of a normalized
updated version of a normalized difference vegetation in the next map
difference vegetation in the next map
difference vegetation in the next map and this was taken by drone and I love
and this was taken by drone and I love
and this was taken by drone and I love this image personally because you can
this image personally because you can
this image personally because you can see the individual lines of the crops
see the individual lines of the crops
see the individual lines of the crops that are imaged here and this can be
that are imaged here and this can be
that are imaged here and this can be utilize for multiple implementation
utilize for multiple implementation
utilize for multiple implementation strategies such as timeline deciding
strategies such as timeline deciding
strategies such as timeline deciding where your timelines going to go
where your timelines going to go
where your timelines going to go irrigation strategies you’ll estimation
irrigation strategies you’ll estimation
irrigation strategies you’ll estimation as well as estimating profit so beyond
as well as estimating profit so beyond
as well as estimating profit so beyond the precision agriculture strategies
the precision agriculture strategies
the precision agriculture strategies there is a niche within the agriculture
there is a niche within the agriculture
there is a niche within the agriculture market known as high-value crops and
market known as high-value crops and
market known as high-value crops and this is a cherry orchard up in northern
this is a cherry orchard up in northern
this is a cherry orchard up in northern Michigan and over on the right you can
Michigan and over on the right you can
Michigan and over on the right you can see a vineyard and this high-value crops
see a vineyard and this high-value crops
see a vineyard and this high-value crops consist of cherries grapes apples
consist of cherries grapes apples
consist of cherries grapes apples peaches things of the sort and every
peaches things of the sort and every
peaches things of the sort and every single year this needs the market had a
single year this needs the market had a
single year this needs the market had a substantial issues with pests in
substantial issues with pests in
substantial issues with pests in particular birds and they will lose
particular birds and they will lose
particular birds and they will lose upwards of 10 to 15 percent of their
upwards of 10 to 15 percent of their
upwards of 10 to 15 percent of their entire yields every single year which
entire yields every single year which
entire yields every single year which basically renders their entire operation
basically renders their entire operation
basically renders their entire operation not profitable and where I feel drones
not profitable and where I feel drones
not profitable and where I feel drones come into play is through using their
come into play is through using their
come into play is through using their technology in tandem with machine
technology in tandem with machine
technology in tandem with machine learning technology which we were
learning technology which we were
learning technology which we were fortunate enough to hear about earlier
fortunate enough to hear about earlier
fortunate enough to hear about earlier where you can recognize pests and other
where you can recognize pests and other
where you can recognize pests and other birds while they’re coming into your
birds while they’re coming into your
birds while they’re coming into your field and you can use drones it’s a
field and you can use drones it’s a
field and you can use drones it’s a real-time scarecrow to chase and ward
real-time scarecrow to chase and ward
real-time scarecrow to chase and ward off birds which consists save a
off birds which consists save a
off birds which consists save a substantial amount of property so
substantial amount of property so
substantial amount of property so although drones have a lot of potential
although drones have a lot of potential
although drones have a lot of potential and there is a lot of they can go very
and there is a lot of they can go very
and there is a lot of they can go very far there are still some products that I
far there are still some products that I
far there are still some products that I see two main bottlenecks the first of
see two main bottlenecks the first of
see two main bottlenecks the first of which is being technology but we were
which is being technology but we were
which is being technology but we were fortunate enough to live in the 21st
fortunate enough to live in the 21st
fortunate enough to live in the 21st century where that I don’t like is just
century where that I don’t like is just
century where that I don’t like is just going to be pushed further we’re going
going to be pushed further we’re going
going to be pushed further we’re going to be keep pushing the boundaries we’re
to be keep pushing the boundaries we’re
to be keep pushing the boundaries we’re going to keep realizing new
going to keep realizing new
going to keep realizing new opportunities the second icing is much
opportunities the second icing is much
opportunities the second icing is much larger and that is through
larger and that is through
larger and that is through least within this country regulations
least within this country regulations
least within this country regulations and currently there are multiple
and currently there are multiple
and currently there are multiple regulations for both residential I’m
regulations for both residential I’m
regulations for both residential I’m sorry recreational as well as commercial
sorry recreational as well as commercial
sorry recreational as well as commercial applications of drones you currently
applications of drones you currently
applications of drones you currently have to operate within the visual line
have to operate within the visual line
have to operate within the visual line of sight so you have to be able to see
of sight so you have to be able to see
of sight so you have to be able to see it and you have to have a principal
it and you have to have a principal
it and you have to have a principal operator at all times and I don’t know
operator at all times and I don’t know
operator at all times and I don’t know if you guys have ever flown a drone
if you guys have ever flown a drone
if you guys have ever flown a drone I’ve hold them for a long time now and
I’ve hold them for a long time now and
I’ve hold them for a long time now and computers still a lot better than I am
computers still a lot better than I am
computers still a lot better than I am applying these things they’re really
applying these things they’re really
applying these things they’re really easy to drop out of the sky
easy to drop out of the sky
easy to drop out of the sky so unfortunately the FAA does not
so unfortunately the FAA does not
so unfortunately the FAA does not recognize this and companies like
recognize this and companies like
recognize this and companies like Facebook Google and Amazon are providing
Facebook Google and Amazon are providing
Facebook Google and Amazon are providing a lot of pushback towards these
a lot of pushback towards these
a lot of pushback towards these regulations so they can expand further
regulations so they can expand further
regulations so they can expand further in the industry so now the question is
in the industry so now the question is
in the industry so now the question is you know who cares why do you guys care
you know who cares why do you guys care
you know who cares why do you guys care drones are cool agriculture is kind of
drones are cool agriculture is kind of
drones are cool agriculture is kind of cool you know why why does this matter
cool you know why why does this matter
cool you know why why does this matter and it’s pretty interesting because in
and it’s pretty interesting because in
and it’s pretty interesting because in 2014 the North American corn market so
2014 the North American corn market so
2014 the North American corn market so just in North America and just corn
just in North America and just corn
just in North America and just corn alone lost sixteen point six percent of
alone lost sixteen point six percent of
alone lost sixteen point six percent of their crops to inefficient strategies
their crops to inefficient strategies
their crops to inefficient strategies which resulted in over five billion
which resulted in over five billion
which resulted in over five billion dollars of revenue lost so this isn’t
dollars of revenue lost so this isn’t
dollars of revenue lost so this isn’t even recognized there’s nothing you can
even recognized there’s nothing you can
even recognized there’s nothing you can see a bird gone up and just take your
see a bird gone up and just take your
see a bird gone up and just take your crops this is just due to mismanaging
crops this is just due to mismanaging
crops this is just due to mismanaging your crops and furthermore by the year
your crops and furthermore by the year
your crops and furthermore by the year 2050 United Nations projects F food
2050 United Nations projects F food
2050 United Nations projects F food production has to increase 70% in order
production has to increase 70% in order
production has to increase 70% in order to account for population growth which
to account for population growth which
to account for population growth which is supposed to expand beyond 9 billion
is supposed to expand beyond 9 billion
is supposed to expand beyond 9 billion and although drones may not be able to
and although drones may not be able to
and although drones may not be able to fully capitalize on the 16.6% and that
fully capitalize on the 16.6% and that
fully capitalize on the 16.6% and that 16.6% may not be able to fully make up
16.6% may not be able to fully make up
16.6% may not be able to fully make up for that 70% we need to accomplish it’s
for that 70% we need to accomplish it’s
for that 70% we need to accomplish it’s a step in the right direction we have 34
a step in the right direction we have 34
a step in the right direction we have 34 33 34 years in which we can move forward
33 34 years in which we can move forward
33 34 years in which we can move forward and we can make up for this lost and we
and we can make up for this lost and we
and we can make up for this lost and we can feed people in our country as well
can feed people in our country as well
can feed people in our country as well as across the entire world and while we
as across the entire world and while we
as across the entire world and while we as an individual might not feel this
as an individual might not feel this
as an individual might not feel this impact the person next to you might and
impact the person next to you might and
impact the person next to you might and we as a country certainly will so the
we as a country certainly will so the
we as a country certainly will so the one thing I would like to stress is just
one thing I would like to stress is just
one thing I would like to stress is just utilizing these great great vehicles for
utilizing these great great vehicles for
utilizing these great great vehicles for the benefits that they can provide and
the benefits that they can provide and
the benefits that they can provide and the positive impact that they
the positive impact that they
the positive impact that they have on billions and billions of people
have on billions and billions of people
have on billions and billions of people thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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