A Live Panel on Tech, Trust & Transformation in Ag
In a world dominated by noise, conflict, and fast-moving headlines, it’s easy to miss the quiet revolution happening around us. But make no mistake—AI is transforming everything, especially agriculture.
That was the focus of a special live podcast panel I hosted at Tech Hub Live 2025 in Des Moines, where I sat down with four remarkable leaders from across the AgTech space for an unfiltered conversation on the intersection of AI, ethics, risk, and humanity.
This wasn’t your typical panel. This was real talk—from the field to the future.
Meet the Panel
Anand – Founder of Metal Dog Labs, AgriFood tech advisor, and author of Software Is Feeding the World
Arthur – Senior Manager of Digital Transformation at MKC with global experience bridging tech and farming
Tammy Craig Shilling – VP at Bayer Crop Science, retiring after 35 years, entering the next chapter of AgTech innovation
Chris Dolan – Environmental and regulatory attorney at Faegre Drinker law firm, advising clients on AI and risk management
Are We Talking About AI Enough?
We kicked things off with a provocative question:
Why isn’t AI leading every political conversation, given its massive implications?
Anand offered perspective from the California tech scene—where AI is the conversation. While it might not dominate nightly news, it’s woven into conversations around chips, energy, immigration policy, and infrastructure.
Chris added that historically, governments don’t lead tech innovation—they follow it. That’s not necessarily bad. Innovation needs room to breathe before regulation steps in.
The Real Risks: Accuracy, Bias & Trust
Tammy delivered one of the most important points of the day:
“If I ask AI what to make for dinner and it gets it wrong, no big deal.
But if a farmer asks for product advice and gets wrong information—
that’s their livelihood. That’s everything.”
In agriculture, accuracy isn’t optional. Mislabeling a product recommendation or mistiming an application can lead to crop loss, legal issues, or worse.
It’s not just about what the model says, but how much we can trust it.
Chris echoed this, warning that AI doesn’t come with ethics baked in. It’s up to us to build that into the systems and set standards around responsible use.
Fear Is Natural—but Avoidance Is Not the Answer
Arthur brought a powerful perspective as both a tech leader and a new father. His concern?
“What do I teach my 1-year-old daughter?
What job will she have 15 years from now—and how do I prepare her for it?”
With tech evolving faster than ever, traditional education paths may soon be outdated. The six-year journey to becoming an engineer might be replaced by a six-month AI upskilling bootcamp—or less.
But ignoring AI out of fear only guarantees you’ll fall behind. Instead, Arthur recommends engaging with it head-on, learning how it works, and teaching others to do the same.
AI Can’t Replace Human Connection
And then… we got real.
I asked the panel what AI could never replace. The answers hit home:
Family dinners.
Time with grandkids.
Cooking with friends.
Embarrassing your teenage daughter.
Legacy. Love. Purpose.
“No large language model can love like a parent can,” I said—and everyone nodded.
AI might streamline operations, generate insights, and increase productivity—but it can’t feel. It can’t care. That’s still our job.
As Tammy put it:
“We depend on farmers. We depend on each other. And no technology should ever compromise that trust.”
What This Means for Agriculture
The ag industry has always been at the intersection of grit, innovation, and stewardship. From horses to tractors, from plows to precision tech—we’ve evolved.
Now, we face a new revolution.
But here’s the thing: AI isn’t a replacement. It’s a tool.
And the people who adopt it thoughtfully will lead.
We need to:
Use it responsibly
Train it accurately
Share what we learn
Hold each other accountable
Keep talking—especially across generations
And most importantly:
Use the time it saves us to reconnect with what matters most.
Final Thoughts: AI Should Make Us More Human, Not Less
As the panel wrapped, something became clear:
We’re not just shaping the future of ag. We’re shaping the future of how we live, work, and relate to each other.
AI gives us a choice. We can use it to do more—or we can use it to do better.
Let’s choose better. Let’s choose connection. Let’s choose time.
Because no algorithm will ever replace what happens around a dinner table, at a county fair, or in a quiet moment with your kid or grandkid.
Thanks again to Anand, Arthur, Tammy, and Chris for sharing your time, your wisdom, and your hearts. And thank you to the Tech Hub Live community for giving these conversations a home.
Until next time—
Keep growing, keep innovating, and keep germinating success.
– Joe
Join the Conversation
🔁 What excites you about AI? What scares you? Are you already using it on your farm or in your business?
Drop a comment below or connect with me on LinkedIn.
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