On Feb.  28, 2018 the Institute for Innovation and Economic Development (iiED) at Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB), will host a half day symposium  featuring women in agriculture, technology, and agtech. Speakers include women well-known in the region’s agriculture industry including Lorri Koster the CEO and chair of Mann Packing and Margaret D’Arrigo-Martin the head of community development at Taylor Farms.

The Institute  is focused on economic development that supports entrepreneurs and innovators on the West Coast, by connecting students, and the community in leading the global marketplace. 

This particular event involves about a dozen women involved in agriculture, technology, or a combination of both via agtech Moderated by female journalists.   

The symposium’s agriculture panel will be moderated by  Amy Wu, journalist and founder and director of From Farms to Incubators, who will launch a discussion about opportunities and challenges in the sector with a focus on what kinds of skills are needed for knowledge-based jobs in farming in the 21st century. 

She hopes it will give young people a chance to learn about the many new opportunities in agriculture and agtech. 

 Wu came up with the idea for the symposium about a year ago and was inspired by interest in women in agtech she received after the release of her documentary “From Farms to Incubators,” which profiles minority women entrepreneurs in agtech. She approached CSUMB and said the collaboration has been excellent. 

The symposium is also sponsored by the City of Salinas, Pisoni Vineyards, Santa Cruz Tech Beat and From Farms to Incubators. It is free and open to the community. 

Click on  this link to register  for the event.