Some far western Kentucky farmers will gain access to improved and innovative technologies through a new agreement with a Tennessee agriculture nonprofit.
The Memphis-based nonprofit AG Launch signed an agreement in October with the West Kentucky Alliance for a Vibrant Economy (WAVE) – a development group focused on bringing economic opportunities to Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton and Hickman counties. The two groups hope their partnership fosters technical innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship.
WAVE will serve as AG Launch’s “boots on the ground,” recruiting a diverse set of local farmers into the program and training them to be able to work with agritech startups. The partnership will work with farmers in historically underserved communities and give them access to “cutting-edge” technology and innovative agricultural techniques.
“This partnership will allow us to expand AgLaunch’s farmer-led, open innovation model in a way that leverages the unique attributes of food and ag production in Kentucky,” said AgLaunch president Pete Nelson.
WAVE regional facilitator Tony Brannon said the partnership will help push innovation by bringing some of the country’s best farmers together.
“This is a very productive area of the state,” Brannon said. “This is something where you take your best farmers and you engage them with these companies and you see what comes out the bottom of the funnel.”
Source: wkms.org
Photo Credit: gettyimages-seregalsv
Categories: Kentucky, Business