2021
2021 has been a very busy, and many times an exhausting year.
- Wrote and published 48 newsletters
- Conducted and published 11 interviews with experts like Sarah Mock, Eli Pollak, XinYi Lin, Mark Young, and many others.
- Recorded and published four podcasts about writing with guests like Shane Thomas, Janette Barnard, Arnab Ray, and Sarah Mock.
- 86% of you are in North America, 24% are women (needs to be higher), 47% are in tech or R&D.
- More than tripled the subscriber count, in 2021. The open rate for the newsletter went from 53% to 50%, and the NPS score from 90 to 70.
The best part of “Software is Feeding the World” was the hundreds of new connections I made with highly motivated, passionate, and smart people around the world. Tim Hammerich was recently interviewed by Wallace Currie, and Tim made an interesting point about his podcast. He focuses less on the size of his audience and more on,
“Making connections, learning a lot, and finding your own interesting problems you want to talk about and solve.”
Tim captured the essence of Software is Feeding the World, so succinctly, even though he was talking about his own work.
Feedback
One of the best parts of 2021 was the continuous and honest feedback from readers.
- 58% of you expressed a willingness-to-pay at least $ 40 per year for the newsletter.
- 60% of you want to know more about AI & ML, 70% of you want to see me do more interviews, podcasts, & deep dives.
Positive feedback
“You offer a very original perspective on all the topics you cover, and in the ocean of plagiarism that plagues online content, it’s refreshing. Well done!”
“Best content ever & very timely as we chase the carbon smoke.”
Constructive criticism
“More analysis please!”
“I didn't realize it would be so long.”
Brutal beatdown
“That was garbage.”
Didn’t I say that 2021 was an exhausting year? But I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
I plan to take it up a few notches in 2022. But why?
Day 1
Jeff Bezos said in his 1997 letter to shareholders “This is Day 1 for the internet.”
I want to borrow this line, and tweak it to say “This is Day 1 for AgTech.”
Bezos outlined certain principles for success in his 1997 letter.
- Focus relentlessly on customers
- Create long term value over short-term profits
- Make many bold bets
The same applies for the agtech industry.
We are just getting started on drawing insights from data using tools like artificial intelligence and machine learning, to help make better decisions.
We are just getting started on autonomy & robotics, to resolve human problems of labor, equity, and efficiency.
We are just getting started on new business models like farming-as-a-service models, to deliver products and services in new and innovative ways.
We are just getting started on agri-fintech models for the developing world, to help millions of farmers realize their full potential, and be on a path to prosperity.
We are just getting started to explore if technology like crypto, can solve a variety of problems around organization, access and agency, value accrual, and incentives.
We are just getting started on full value chain visibility, to find new value pools, identify & eliminate bottlenecks to deliver better products to end consumers they deserve.
We are just getting started on climate change mitigation, to reduce the risk to ALL of us.
We haven’t even started on many ideas we don’t know about
It is still Day 1 for Agtech
It is important to note that tech for the sake of tech will fail.
Any technology will be adapted, if and only if it solves human and systems problems. Agriculture and food systems are complicated. You need to understand the economics, history, culture, and policy to understand how to best apply technology to the given context.
When I asked Shane Thomas (creator of Upstream AgInsights) for his advice to newsletter writers, he said,
“Tie it to the person you want to be in the future, but 10 years out. Extend your time horizon, and it is a serious motivator for anyone.”
Frankly, his advice applies to any person, or organization which wants to make an impact.
Futurist Roy Amara said,
“We tend to overestimate the effect of technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run.”
PackyM of NotBoring said in his last newsletter for 2021,
“Formulate a decade-long view of where everything is heading, where you want it to head, and what role you’re best-suited to play in making that happen.”
Let us take a long view, understand nuances, and think how best can we bend the arc of our future in the right direction.
I want to wish you and the entire planet the best of health.
I wish that all of us get to work on interesting projects. Wish you happy holidays, a very happy new year and see you in 2022!