Scott Hennen speaks with David Black CHS INC CIO
WDAY RADIO — A nationwide Agribusiness is putting roots into North Dakota as a week long Ag Tech event is labeling the region key to innovation in the industry.
David Black is the Chief Information Officer of CHS Inc., and is a speaker at the Cultivate conference today as part of Ag Tech week in North Dakota. He visited the Cultivate conference as part of North Dakota’s Ag Tech week. CHS recently became a Sky Tier member partner with Grand Farm, which further establishes cooperation between the cooperative and Grand Farm.
One way the partnership is being expressed is through the utilization of driverless trucks on North Dakota roadways. Also announced this week is the plan to use automated trucks, with human operators present, in a route between Fargo and Minot. Black says this will allow deliveries to be more efficient due to the capability to be utilized 24/7. He also discussed the need to fill open work positions, which he believes automatic vehicles could solve.
“At CHS, we invest in research and technologies that have an opportunity to provide value to our customers and owners,” said Black in a statement . “Our partnership with Grand Farm supports our commitment to developing and testing the next generation of innovation that farmers and agribusinesses will use to feed the world well into the future.”
Black also discussed opportunities for corn and ethanol producers about the potential of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which he claimed Delta is seeking to utilize for upwards of 50% of their air fleet by 2030. Black says this can come from ethanol produced by corn in North Dakota, if renewable fuels and the production of them meet the carbon intensity scores needed in order to be branded as SAF. He emphasized his support for a series of potential CO2 pipeline to sequester the greenhouse gas, which is currently being proposed in North Dakota, as one way this could be achieved.
The event is part of Ag Tech Week, which kicked off from the announcement of “The Ag Innovation Corridor” moniker on Friday. Representatives say the region is synonymous with agriculture and innovation in the industry, similar to how the Silicon Valley is globally known for its investment in technology. The Ag Innovation Corridor is the next step, which members say is a both a brand and a promise to the future of agriculture.
