PODCAST: Using Data to Drive Change on the Farm
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA mathematician at heart is the new chief executive officer of Indianapolis-based Advanced Agrilytics, an agriculture-based technology company. Kay Kuenker joined the company in March after having spent about 30 years with Michigan-based Dow Chemical in a variety of roles, including analytics, research & development, and government affairs.
“When you work for a company for so long, and on those 24-7 all-consuming jobs, it takes a while to rediscover what brings you joy,” said Kuenker in this week’s Ag+Bio+Science podcast presented by AgriNovus Indiana.
That rediscovery process included time at the Purdue Foundry helping start-up companies. She also taught MBA students at Butler University, started a consulting firm and developed leadership courses.
Then a headhunter came calling.
“Telling me about Advanced Agrilytics story and the opportunity to be a part of this strong team, to grow a company and bring the founder’s vision to life.”
Kuenker says the company relies heavily on data to help farmers with agronomic challenges.
“Our robust database, which is a collection across years of diverse environmental conditions, has enabled us to develop, validate and continuously refine our mathematical models to accurately predict what will happen under various field conditions,” Kuenker told Inside INdiana Business host Gerry Dick.
She said innovation in the agbiosciences ultimately enables producers to make the best decisions for their operations based on the findings that technology provides them.
“And thus, we can anticipate and manage rather than react to seasonal conditions and get the best out of every sub acre,” said Kuenker.
Under Kuenker’s leadership, she wants the company to help create a fundamental shift in how farming is conducted, including the use of pesticides and herbicides.
“Our precision agronomists are farm-physicians,” explained Kuenker. “We look to understand individual characteristics at the sub-acre level and prescribe individual dosing for optimal efficacy.”
In this week’s podcast, Kuenker talks about the company’s unique approach to innovation, finding great talent as the company grows and taking on a leadership role at Advanced Agrilytics at the very start of COVID-19.
The full podcast will be available Monday morning. Click here for more information on how you can listen.