About the event

Topics of discussion

• What does agrotech stand for?
• What is the targeted technology to solve agricultural challenges?
• The adoption of agrotech in Romania: where are we?
• What are the main challenges of local agricultures and how can we solve them using technology?
• Can Romania be a launchpad for disruptive innovation in agriculture?
• Romanian agrotech startups: examples & top financing / distribution / marketing issues
• How can we use Romania’s agriculture potential? Local initiatives, agrotech programs, investment opportunities.

Guests

Octavian Chihaia – Regional Business Director CEE Monsanto

Octavian is the Regional Business Director for Central East Europe at Monsanto. Only recently Monsanto Growth Ventures, the venture capital arm of Monsanto Co. has led a Series A investment of $6.5 million in a Canadian startup called FarmLead, which has developed an online grain marketplace. Octavian will be able to give us a broader view of Romania’s potential to become an outstanding agrotech player in the region, what would be the challenges in this respect and how digitalised is the industry at the moment.

Stefan Stanescu – Co-founder AgriSo Romania

Stefan is the co-founder of AgriSo Romania, a modern mobile application for farmers through which they can access accurate real-time info about fuel monitorization, machines location, land productivity and APIA measurements.

Stefan will be able to speak from an entrepreneur’s point of view who is building a tech product for the agriculture industry and what are the opportunities that lie ahead for entrepreneurs.

Cezar Nourescu – Co-founder & CEO SiloMeter

Cezar Nourescu is the co-founder & CEO of SiloMeter, a tech company producing a hardware device that connects to the temperature and humidity sensors installed inside an agricultural silo, and prevents the problems that can appear due to fluctuations.

Cezar will be able to speak about the issues of building a hardware product, sales challenges and growth opportunities for Romanian agrotech startups.

Emil Dumitru – Farmer and the President of PROAGRO (Romanian National Federation Pro Agriculture)

Emil is a Romanian farmer and entrepreneur, based in Calarasi, with a keen passion for agriculture and entrepreneurship. He is one of the agricultures that is using technology on a daily basis and in his farms as well. Since June 2015, Emil Dumitru is leading the Romanian National Federation Pro Agriculture working towards a better legislation in the agriculture field. He will share with us insights about the process of using current technology on his farm, what are the costs and the limitations, and what results he has seen since using tech products in his activity.

Alexandru Spinciu – Farmer & Owner Spicons Impex

Alexandru is a local farmer based in Ialomita and he has been involved in the agriculture field since this is the main occupation of his family. Passionate about technology and machines, Alexandru managed to automate many of the activities in his farm, using technology at its best. He will be able to speak about the real benefits of applying precision agriculture in a farm and what role plays big data in growing its productivity.

Event agenda

18:30 – 19:00 Registration

19:00 – 19:10 Introduction

19:10 – 19:30 Fireside chat: How technology is transforming farming practices

Guest: Octavian Chihaia @Regional Business Director CEE Monsanto

Moderated by Gabriela Bejan

19:30 – 19:50 Panel discussion: Precision Agriculture – benefits and challenges

Panelists:

Emil Dumitru – Farmer & President of PROAGRO

Alexandru Spinciu – Farmer and entrepreneur

Moderated by Bogdan Iordache

19:50 – 20:10 Panel discussion: Entrepreneur in AgroTech – obstacles and growth opportunities

Panelists:

Stefan Stanescu – Co-founder AgriSo Romania

Cezar Nourescu – Co-founder & CEO SiloMeter

Moderated by Gabriela Bejan

20:10 – 21:00 Closing remarks & Networking

Registration