Spring-boarding off the success from its initial event in 2017, organizers of Davos on the Delta are shaping the agenda for one of the Mid-South’s most intimate events centered on the future of agriculture.

“This event is about bringing together cutting-edge, and in some cases, futuristic agricultural technologies and the conversations surrounding them,” says John D. Santi, who along with Carter Williams, CEO, iSelect Fund, St. Louis, Mo., are co-founders of Davos on the Delta. Other organizations supporting and helping to drive the event include the Memphis-based AgLaunch, Agricenter International, and Ducks Unlimited.

Last year’s event had farmers representing about a million acres of directly owned land, and included agricultural minds from as far away as Australia who recognize the Mid-South as an important agricultural epicenter.

Several group types are attracted to this event which takes its name from Davos, Switzerland, where the World Economic Forum was held earlier this year. “These groups influence the way startup companies come to the commercial market,” says Santi. “There are strategic investors experienced at bringing technologies to market, customers willing to take a chance on new technologies, and investors who selectively supply the capital.”

Topics like democratizing seed technology are discussed, allowing a farmer to differentiate his products in terms of having a seed that is specific to what a consumer wants. “It’s almost a paradigm shift to contract farming,” says Santi.

Davos is being branded as a secure forum where forward-thinking inventors feel comfortable enough to speak openly and share their current works or future ideas without fearing they will be stolen or copied.

Investors

“We also want Davos to be a platform for investors to hear about these technologies and increase their desire to supply early-stage capital — which is critical for launching new farming technologies into the world market.”

One of the companies bringing their own innovative research and technology information to the event is St. Louis-based Kultevat, which serves sustainable agricultural markets primarily by the production of rubber and mixed sugar feedstocks for biofuels markets.

“We have in-depth experience in the commercial utilization of plant materials to develop profitable, sustainable, and environmentally benign sources of rubber,” says Dan Swiger, president and CEO, Kultevat. “We’re working to build an integrated business based on cultivation of Russian Dandelion as a leading source of domestic rubber.”

Last year’s event was planned and implemented on a limited budget, but post-event attendee comments reflected interest if the event was held again.

“It’s important that we build a rapport with all of the existing synergistic organizations that have similar missions that are dove-tailing across agriculture,” says Traci Snowden, executive producer of Davos on the Delta, and founder and CEO of Apto Global, a Nashville, Tenn.-based global tech company.

Attendees limited

The event is limited to 200 attendees to encourage multi-faceted and open conversations.

Presentations topics may be reviewed at http://bit.ly/2uH48gR.

The group will also gather at Ducks Unlimited on Tuesday night, May 15, to gain an understanding of regional resources that make a global impact on food and agricultural technology. The next evening, attendees will enjoy a night of championship BBQ during the Memphis In May World Barbecue Festival.

To learn more about Davos on the Delta, visit www.davosonthedelta.org.

Delta Farm Press readers interested in attending may receive a 25 percent discount while attendee slots remain. Contact [email protected] to obtain your discount code.