MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AgPR) — Bringing new farm technology to market is tough. Many startup tools work well in a lab, but fail when tested in real farm dirt. At the same time, agribusiness executives want solid proof that a tool works before they invest money or sign a deal.
To help solve this problem, AgLaunch Initiative has appointed four new members to its Board of Directors. The new members are Allan Daisley, Hubert Hamer, Teresa Lynch, and Loston Rowe. These additions expand the board from five to nine directors. Together, they bring decades of experience in corporate agriculture, public data, startup coaching, and economic growth.
This expansion comes as AgLaunch grows its national farmer-led platform. AgLaunch connects farmers, tech founders, research groups, and business partners. Working together, they test and refine new farm tools on real commercial farms.
“AgLaunch is entering an important period of growth,” said Pete Nelson, President and CEO of AgLaunch Initiative. “We are growing our farmer network, building our business platform, and adding partners across the country. Allan, Hubert, Teresa, and Loston bring great experience to our mission. They know that good ideas only succeed when technology connects with the people and communities that use it.”
Four Key Areas of Leadership
Each new director brings a clear set of skills to help AgLaunch and the ag sector grow:
Allan Daisley: Helping Startups Build Solid Businesses
Allan Daisley is an entrepreneur and business builder who helps early startups grow into lasting companies. He helped create ZeroTo510, a Memphis medical device program that served as a model for AgLaunch’s early accelerator work.
His career includes work at IBM, tech consulting at Accenture, work with software firms, and running a health tech program in Miami. Daisley holds an MBA from Duke University and an engineering degree from Georgia Tech. He gives startups the business structure they need to reach the commercial market.
Hubert Hamer: Protecting Farm Data and Grower Trust
Hubert Hamer served as head of the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) from 2016 until 2024. His career in federal service spanned more than 44 years. At NASS, Hamer ran the Census of Agriculture and many of the country’s most watched crop, livestock, and price reports.
Throughout his career, Hamer stood up for data accuracy, farmer privacy, and modern data tools. Raised on farms in Mississippi and Tennessee, he holds a degree in agricultural science from Tennessee State University. His experience will help guide AgLaunch in field trials and farmer-owned data rules.
Teresa Lynch: Building Regional Innovation Hubs
Teresa Lynch founded Mass Economics, a firm that advises cities, states, colleges, and foundations on economic planning. She is well known for her work on regional business clusters, tech growth, and local economies.
Lynch previously served as Senior Vice President and Research Director at the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her insights will help AgLaunch build strong regional ag innovation hubs across the country.
Loston Rowe: Connecting Field Science with Agribusiness
Loston Rowe brings more than 35 years of experience in crop science, product testing, and commercial sales strategy. During his career, he held leadership roles at DuPont Crop Protection, FMC, and Indigo Ag.
Rowe now runs his own farm and consulting firm, AgRowe, LLC. He has also worked as a mentor to startups in the AgLaunch program. Rowe earned a doctorate in weed science from Michigan State University and degrees from Mississippi State University. He bridges the gap between field agronomy and large corporate ag sales.
Preparing AgLaunch for National Scale
The new board members join five current board members:
- Marcus A. Coleman, Ph.D., Professor of Practice at Tulane University
- Fayre Crossley, Nonprofit Executive
- Schuyler Dalton, Manager of Impact Investing at World Wildlife Fund
- Corinne Gould, Senior Director of Communications at Tennessee Municipal League
- Arielle Moinester, Senior Impact Lead at Women’s Earth Alliance
By growing from five to nine directors, AgLaunch can support more startups, enter new farming regions, and partner more closely with industry leaders.
“AgLaunch was built on a simple idea: farmers should help decide which tools move forward, and they should share in the value when those tools succeed,” Nelson said. “As we scale this model across the country, we need leaders who understand business growth, farm data, local economies, and large ag markets. These four leaders bring that exact mix of skills.”
Partner with AgLaunch: Enterprise Opportunities
AgLaunch invites agribusiness leaders, corporate venture funds, and product teams to connect:
- De-Risk New Innovations: Learn how on-farm trials test and prove tools in robotics, artificial intelligence, diagnostics, and biological products.
- Leverage Working Fields: Work with the Farmer Innovation Network to evaluate new tools on commercial acreage before full commercial release.
- Explore Strategic Partnerships: Contact the AgLaunch leadership team to discuss corporate venture deals, distribution trials, and joint innovation initiatives.
About AgLaunch Initiative
AgLaunch Initiative is a nonprofit group building a farmer-centered agricultural innovation network. By bringing together farmers, founders, researchers, and corporate partners, AgLaunch helps move new tools from early ideas into the market. Through on-farm trials and equity sharing, farmers play an active role and share in the financial rewards of successful products.
To explore on-farm trial partnerships, evaluate portfolio technologies, or connect with the farmer network, visit aglaunch.com or contact the leadership team below.
AgLaunch Leadership Partner Contacts:
Tom Womack, AgLaunch Initiative Email: twomack@aglaunch.com | Phone: +1-615-606-1678
Pete Nelson, President & CEO, AgLaunch Initiative Email: pnelson@aglaunch.com
Web: aglaunch.com
– AgPR
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