It’s time to rethink ag innovation from the ground up

Global competitors are pouring billions into agricultural research and emerging technologies, while American farmers are being asked to do more with less. The pressure on farmers is real: Net farm income for row crop producers remains persistently low, public investment in agricultural research has plummeted to 1970s levels, and the technologies that could reshape our industry too often stall before reaching the farm gate.At Land O’Lakes Inc., we believe there’s a better way forward rooted in cooperation, trust, and a ground up approach to innovation. We believe the cooperative mindset is what it will take to overcome the challenges ahead.It’s a mindset that shows up in how we invest, innovate, and grow. For example, our recent announcement of AgRogue Growth Partners shows how we aim to harness the strength of the cooperative model by working together with our local agricultural retail owners to fast-track the discovery, investment, and adoption of breakthrough technologies.This isn’t simply a funding initiative. It’s channeling deep, generations-old relationships and a mindset of continuous productivity improvements to better support the businesses, farmers, and communities that feed the world.REAL INNOVATION STARTS WITH SYSTEM-LEVEL THINKINGThe future of agriculture depends on our ability to bring stability and predictability to an industry that too often feels like a roller coaster. The pressures we’re facing—weather volatility, rising input costs, and international competition won’t be solved by any single tool or tactic. We need system-level thinking and long-term partnerships.Innovation shouldn’t be about chasing the next shiny object. It’s about helping farmers make smarter, lower-risk decisions, acre by acre, season by season. Whether that’s through precise application technologies, AI-powered insights or new business models that reduce exposure, our innovation-focused goals should be simple: Make farming more resilient and more profitable for those who feed the world.HOW TO CRACK THE CODE TO FARMGATE ADOPTIONThe problem isn’t a lack of ideas. Every year, new technologies emerge with the potential to transform how we farm, from AI-powered analytics to cutting-edge crop inputs. But the simple truth is that many promising solutions never scale, not because they don’t work but because they can’t break through the noise, earn trust, or integrate into the systems growers rely on.Bringing local agricultural retailers and producers together for pilot testing and performance discussions is central to finding practical and scalable solutions. Sitting at the kitchen table with farmers provides invaluable data and feedback—they know the land, the seasons, and the day-to-day pressures associated with the crop or livestock they raise.When innovation flows through this channel, it’s far more likely to be understood, adopted, and create lasting value. Ultimately, retailer partners provide the local support, operational know-how, and market access that startups crave as they look to scale innovation.We’ve seen it work time and again with the latest innovations in seed and crop protection; there’s no reason we can’t do it again with the most promising ag tech solutions. The last-mile connection between innovation and implementation is where a cooperative structure and retailer network will truly shine.A CALL TO COLLABORATEThe challenges facing agriculture and America’s farm families are not something any one business can solve alone. It will take cooperation and cross-sector partnerships to ensure U.S. agriculture remains globally competitive.So, the cooperative approach offers a blueprint worth considering—especially for industries wrestling with the same adoption gaps and trust barriers that agriculture faces. Capital alone isn’t enough. Relationships matter. Local connections matter. And innovation that ignores the end user is destined to stall.Our message is clear: If you’re building for the farm, you need to build with the farmer by tapping into the systems they already trust. True success in agriculture depends on solutions that work where it counts—in the hands of farmers.Brett Bruggeman is the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Land O’Lakes, Inc.