Robert Saik, CEO of The Agri-Trend Group of Companies, is a Professional Agrologist and a Certified Agricultural Consultant. As founder of The Agri-Trend Group, Robert has been involved in the development of many new business processes and concepts.
The changing world of agricultural
Rob Saik tracks agricultural trends that affect the economy and investors’ portfolios. Greg Powell connected with Rob via Skype for an interview concerning these trends and how they impacts investors. The world is changing dramatically in many areas and agricultural change is increasing at a high right. While the average person may assume that agriculture is behind the times, Rob knows this is not true. In fact, most of the growth in agriculture is because of technology and the data being collected.
Agricultural investment opportunities
North America is one of the few regions that produces more food than it consumes. This is providing unique opportunities for investors because of the use of technology. Traditional farming has implemented so much technology that much of it is automated. For this reason farmers are sitting in their air conditioned tractor cabs engaging in agricultural conversations on Twitter and surfing the internet.
As Rob Saik travels the world researching farmers he has discovered that if the technology is there, farmers adopt it very fast. To Rob, this answer the question of whether agriculture can feed the world. With the way farmers are embracing and using technology, Rob is convinced agriculture will be able to tackle the world food supply needs.
The agricultural threat
Currently there is a cultural push to use locally grown food. While that works on a local level, that food supply model will not feed an entire city or the world. The anti- GMO (Genetically Manipulated Organisms) mindset threatens our ability to feed the world. This movement is fueled by emotion and is not based on science. This movement causes panic policies to be made on these emotions. The farming industry represents only 2% of the US population and they don’t really have a voice for how agriculture really works. This is one of the biggest dangers facing agriculture. There is a lot of great science happening in the agricultural industry and that information is not being presented to the masses.
Overcoming the threat to agricultural
Educating the general public will help overcome this threat. Technology and science are bringing enormous positive strides in agriculture and if people could understand it, it could help keep improving agriculture and set us up for a brighter future.
More information on agriculture trends:
The AgAdvance Journal: a free publication covering how biotech, robotics, data, drone technology, and other industries are changing agriculture. Visit agadvance.com
The Agriculture Manifest: book by Rob Saik on Amazon.com
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Agri-Trend has been nominated one of Canada’s 2012 Top 50 Best Managed Companies and was recognized by Venture Magazine as one of Alberta’s 2013 top 25 Most Innovative Organizations.
Rob Saik is a Director of Westerner Park, 2014-2015 Chairman of Agri-Trade Show, past Director of the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce, and serves on The Red Deer Chamber of Commerce Ag Policy Committee as well as Advisor to The Canadian Management Council, The Farm Progress Show and The Red Deer College Donald School of Business.
He is a passionate keynote speaker addressing audiences on the importance of modern agriculture. He is also the author of, “The Agriculture Manifesto” – 10 Key Drivers That Will Shape Agriculture in the next Decade.
In 2006 Rob Saik was recognized as Distinguished Agrologist of the Year by the Alberta Institute of Agrology. He is passionate about pursuing business opportunities in the Agricultural Sector.
Rob Saik and Agri-Trend are not affiliated with LPL Financial.
Greg Powell is President and CEO of Fi Plan Partners, an independent investment firm in Birmingham, AL, serving clients across the nation through financial planning, wealth management and business consulting. Fi Plan Partners creates strategies in the best interest of their clients using both fee based investing and transactional investing.
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