Nice to meet you (online that is)! My name is Andrew Saunders and I am a rising junior from Connecticut studying for a B.S. in chemical engineering and a minor in marketing at Washington University in St. Louis. This summer I have been working as an intern at the AgTech think tank named The Yield Lab Institute which is a non-profit extension of The Yield Lab AgTech venture capital firm. The Yield Lab Institute conducts research white papers, creates market linkages for startups and investors, and helps provide mentorship to small agricultural technology firms through consulting and acquisition of capital.
In addition, The Yield Lab Institute hosts a group of innovation challenges and work alongside government and international agencies and business in hosting these challenges. For example, the lab recently hosted The Manure Challenge with the help of organizations such as Cargill and the World Wildlife Fund. AgTech startups apply to receive training and mentorship as well as compete for non-dilutive funding in an idea pitching competition. Other challenges and events are the Soy Innovation Challenge with the United Soybean Board and The Aquaculture Challenge which focuses on market linkages in the industry.
One of the projects that The Yield Lab Institute had asked me to jump onboard in these few first weeks of the Skandalaris Internship Program is researching the digital preparedness of African countries, specifically in the scope of the agricultural ecosystem. The research is focused on the ideas of key frameworks to evaluate different countries based on their physical infrastructure, human capital, financial accessibility, market potential, among other parameters. I help conduct the primary source research in conducting interviews, transcribing, and analyzing information and data. Being brought on the ecosystem mapping team has helped me better understand how to conduct primary research as well as understand many of the challenges and potential solutions that challenge farmers and food security in Africa. Being able to understand some of the underlying issues to many problems that prevent food accessibility in Africa has absorbed me into wanting to find ways I can possibly help. There is simply so much untapped potential for the African AgTech market and ecosystem.
“More than 60 percent of the population of sub-Saharan Africa is smallholder farmers, and about 23 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP comes from agriculture.”
McKinsey & Company, 2019.
Although my internship with The Yield Lab is no longer taking place in St. Louis and has been completely transformed to a virtual program, I am still so excited to be able to work for my venture. One of the greatest things about The Yield Lab is I can really see the light at the end of the tunnel and the impact that this work can have on the betterment of the agricultural sector in Africa. AgTech think tanks like Yield Lab can have a great impact and lead to sustainable solutions for feeding the future in places which need the support such as Africa.
