Using AI and Satellite Data to Transform Agriculture: A Conversation with Alyssa Whitcraft
- 18 DEC 2024
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- Climate Rising
Dr. Alyssa Whitcraft is a professor at University of Maryland and a leading expert
in agricultural remote sensing and climate adaptation. Dr. Whitcraft discusses her
journey from co-founding NASA Harvest, a global program addressing food security with
satellite data, to leading NASA Acres, which focuses on U.S. agriculture. She explains
how AI and satellite technology are changing the agricultural sector, offering solutions
ranging from crop yield prediction to regenerative farming practices. Alyssa also
shares insights into Harvest SARA, a nonprofit she founded to foster collaboration
between public and private sectors in advancing sustainable agriculture. Finally,
she provides career advice for aspiring scientists and professionals interested in
the intersection of AI, climate, and agriculture.
Dr. Alyssa Whitcraft is a professor at University of Maryland and a leading expert
in agricultural remote sensing and climate adaptation. Dr. Whitcraft discusses her
journey from co-founding NASA Harvest, a global program addressing food security with
satellite data, to leading NASA Acres, which focuses on U.S. agriculture. She explains
how AI and satellite technology are changing the agricultural sector, offering solutions
ranging from crop yield prediction to regenerative farming practices. Alyssa also
shares insights into Harvest SARA, a nonprofit she founded to foster collaboration
between public and private sectors in advancing sustainable agriculture. Finally,
she provides career advice for aspiring scientists and professionals interested in
the intersection of AI, climate, and agriculture.
Coordinating the Energy Transition: Electrifying Transportation in California and Germany
- DECEMBER 2024
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- Energy Policy
California and Germany share ambitious emission reduction targets. Yet California is ahead of Germany in electrifying transportation by several metrics, including the number of public charging stations. We show that variation in the politics of coordination in California and Germany explains the different outcomes. Transforming energy systems requires coordination across various complementary technologies and infrastructures—here between the supply of electric vehicles and the buildout of charging stations. In California, a strong electrification coalition emerged across automakers selling electric vehicles as well as utilities and third-party firms providing charging infrastructure. Power market rules made capital investments for charging infrastructure instantly profitable for California monopoly utilities. By contrast, in Germany's liberalized power market, investing in capital-intensive charging infrastructure was not profitable for electric utilities. As a result, utilities did not emerge as a political force in the electrification coalition. Instead, utilities and automakers were in gridlock, failing to coordinate electric vehicle rollout and public charging station buildout. Our findings highlight the limits of business-led coordination, raising the question which institutions help address coordination failures in clean energy transitions.
How Robust Is Your Climate Governance?
- NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2024
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- Harvard Business Review
During the past few years, as evidence of climate change and its effects has mounted, many corporate boards have added climate governance to their agendas. But the maturity of boards’ climate-oversight processes and activities varies widely. To better understand how climate issues are being handled in the boardroom and to determine what good climate governance looks like in practice, the authors interviewed 20 directors who hold leadership positions on the boards of S&P 500 companies. Drawing from those interviews and other research, they identify eight hallmarks of meaningful climate oversight. For example, “the board is knowledgeable about the company’s climate profile,” “the board has the expertise needed for effective climate oversight,” and “the board can articulate the company’s climate positioning and strategy.” The authors also offer their perspective on the set of issues associated with each hallmark that corporate leaders must grapple with as they decide how to incorporate climate issues into their company’s governance. Climate concerns are here to stay, and climate governance will increasingly be seen as a core element of good governance.
Polish Agro: Where Do We Grow From Here?
- NOVEMBER 2024
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- Case
By July 2024, Polish Agro had grown into one of Poland’s fastest-growing agribusinesses, with 230 million in revenue, 82 employees, and operations across Northern Poland. The company supported farmers with essential agricultural inputs like fertilizers and seeds, while purchasing, aggregating, and reselling their outputs. Led by CEO Mathias Eisert, Polish Agro had also ventured into biofertilizers, aligning with new EU sustainability regulations and aiming to differentiate itself in a highly competitive market. These innovative products offered a buffer against commoditization, yet scaling them posed challenges due to Polish Agro’s highly consultative business model and limited sales force. This case study examines Polish Agro’s growth journey amidst disruptions like COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine and evaluates strategic options for sustaining and expanding its market position, including enhancing trading capabilities, investing in brand development, and digitalizing sales channels.
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