“Innovation is not a solo act…(it) rarely happens in isolation.” These words from Aman Anand, a senior leader of Nutrien Ag Solutions, at the Cultivate Conference 2025 perfectly captured the spirit of AgTech Week in Fargo. Over five days, the Fargo-Moorhead community became a hub of ideas and collaborations that spanned from Grand Farm’s Innovation Campus near Casselton to the Fargo Civic Center in Downtown Fargo.
As AgTech Week 2025 comes to a close, we’re walking away feeling inspired, energized, and especially grateful. The bold ideas and conversations shared this week were a powerful reminder of what happens when innovators, growers, and industry leaders come together.
AgTech Week at Large
This year’s AgTech Week felt like a true milestone, maybe even resulting in our biggest one yet! With over 30 events hosted across the region and more than 4,000 attendees engaged, the momentum was undeniable. Delegates from 7+ countries including Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Spain, and Greece joined us, bringing an international perspective to the future of agriculture. At Cultivate alone, we welcomed attendees from 26 U.S. states and 3 Canadian provinces, and over at the Butler Arena the Midwest Ag Summit reached 9,394 virtual viewers and 200+ in-person attendees. Over 20 AgTech investors visited our region, opening doors for deeper startup engagement and future partnerships. Another major highlight was the first-ever AgriPhotonics Industry Summit, hosted by Optica at Grand Farm, which showcased advancements at the interface of photonics and agriculture.
The week was also officially recognized via proclamation by the mayors of Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, and Casselton, emphasizing the community-wide support backing the ever-growing AgTech movement.
Cultivate isn’t just a conference; it’s a catalyst. A place where agricultural tech becomes real and the future of food and farming starts to take shape. This year, hundreds of attendees from multiple states and countries gathered in Fargo under the banner: The Conference Where Technology and Agriculture Collide. Keynotes from notable AgTech leaders, such as Brian Hefty (Hefty Seed Company), Pete Nelson (AgLaunch), Aman Anand (Nutrien Ag Solutions), and Hiro Iwanaga (Talus Ag) helped lead bigger conversations that led to workshops and networking opportunities, closing the day out with fresh new ideas. The announcement of the Regional Agriculture Pain Point Report (RAPPR), was another highlight of the day. Created in collaboration with FARMS, the RAPPR is packed with data from 14+ commodity groups and associations to help growers and ag leaders in our region focus on the most pressing challenges they face. Cultivate 2025 is proof of the progress made when strong partnerships work side by side.
StartupBREW’s Cultivate Takeover | Hosted by Emerging Prairie
With speakers from Canadian startups Picketa Systems, Upside Robotics, and SulTech Global, this event energized local entrepreneurs and spotlighted the next wave of AgTech trailblazers for the region. Through the networking efforts at StartupBREW and the momentum of AgTech Week, Picketa Systems acquired three new interns at the end of the week!
Field Days at the Innovation Campus | Hosted by Grand Farm
Partners, startups, researchers, growers, and curious minds experienced tech demos from Naio Technologies, John Deere (via RDO Equipment Co.), and Picketa Systems. Attendees could receive shop tours and view live exhibitions of crop nutrient scanners, weeding robots, sensors, and more!
Midwest Agriculture Summit | Hosted by the FMWF Chamber of Commerce
The event united leaders from across the region to explore the current trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of agriculture. Geared towards agribusiness professionals, and community decision-makers, the summit delivered insights on ag policy, workforce development, global markets, and industry innovation. With hundreds of attendees from across North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and other neighboring states joining the event, they fostered critical conversations that will fuel the longevity of growth and resilience of the Midwest ag economy.
Bushel Buddy Seat Conference | Hosted by Bushel
The discussion-driven event brought together agribusiness leaders, growers, and ag innovators to tackle real-world challenges, ranging from supply chain transparency to digital adoption systems on the farm. The conference featured keynotes from Bushel CEO Jake Joraanstad, communications strategist Vance Crowe, and other Bushel executives, setting the tone for solutions-focused dialogue in a relaxed, casual setting.
Looking Ahead
AgTech Week 2025 fortified that progress in agriculture doesn’t happen in silos. Change happens when people show up, share ideas, and build something together. We’re grateful to every attendee, speaker, and sponsor for contributing something special to AgTech Week 2025! And the momentum doesn’t stop here; join us this summer for Elevate: An AI in Agriculture Summit on July 22, and Autonomous Nation on September 11, both taking place at the Grand Farm Innovation Campus, where we’ll continue exploring the newest technologies and ideas shaping the future of agriculture.
