The second Forbes AgTech Summit recently drew more than 600 people from agriculture and technology circles to downtown Salinas. The event sought to gather agricultural and high-tech leaders to ultimately connect farmers around the globe with the technology needed to improve efficiencies and reduce production costs.

Salinas Mayor Joe Gunter says his city is well-positioned to bring farmers and high-tech entrepreneurs together because of its proximity to technology firms of the Silicon Valley. Like this valley, there is value in the rich, dark soils of the Salinas Valley.

Last year Monterey County – home to the Salinas Valley – grossed more than $4.8 billion in direct agricultural sales, according to the county agricultural department.

Topics of discussion

Labor issues remain a key concern for growers and food processors, according to Tom Nassif, president and chief executive officer for Western Growers Association (WGA), an agricultural trade association that represents about half of the nation’s fruit, vegetable and tree nut production in Arizona, California, and Colorado.

“Our labor supply is at a critical stage right now, as is our water supply,” Nassif said.

Addressing labor and on-farm efficiencies were largely what encouraged WGA leadership to develop the Western Growers Association Center for Innovation and Technology, a high-tech incubator that mentors start-up companies. It provides the necessary introductions into the agricultural sector that could ultimately help growers address ongoing challenges.

The center opened in the last year in downtown Salinas and is currently home to over 20 start-up companies.

Nassif moderated a discussion at the Forbes AgTech Summit that included Samuel Duda and Harold McClarty. Duda is vice president of western vegetable operations with Duda Farms, a U.S.-based company with agricultural operations in seven states, including California and Arizona.

McClarty is owner and co-founder of HMC Farms in Kingsburg, Calif., a grower and processor of stone fruit and table grapes.

The trio shared how the lack of labor is affecting growing and packing operations that rely on people to hand pick fresh fruits and vegetables.