The Business of Agriculture Podcast 419 - Commercializing Ag Products: From R&D to Farm Gate | Damian Mason Podcast
Oct 13, 2025
Randy Barker, CEO of INTENT, specializes in driving crop input products from R&D to farm adoption. He discusses the rapid influx of biological products and the importance of rigorous testing in the field. Farmers are still eager to experiment but seek tangible ROI. Barker highlights the risks of chasing broad claims while urging for data-driven innovations. He also emphasizes the need to prove both environmental benefits and economic viability. With advancements in analytics and precision agriculture, the future of AgTech appears promising!
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Regulatory Speed Isn't Proof Of Farm Value
- Biologicals reached market faster due to lower regulatory burden but are not guaranteed to work on farms.
- Randy Barker warns registration speed doesn't equal proven efficacy in real farm systems.
Test Early With Farmer Data
- Start commercialization by testing with farmers using their precision tools and real field data.
- Use yield monitor and geospatial data to identify where a product actually shows effect before broad rollouts.
Products Fit Zones, Not Whole Farms
- Most products will fit only specific fields or zones rather than entire acreage.
- Characterize responsive environments to target sales and avoid widespread failures and poor retention.