Introduction & Contents

Introduction...

Here at New Ag International, we are on a mission to make a difference! With our connections, network and platforms, we want to help the agricultural industry thrive as much as we can.

We realized there are a whole host of areas that can be further developed for the agri community. Attracting more women into this space, helping recruit a younger generation, shining the spotlight on diversity and inclusion, and helping agri companies seek out untapped resources when it comes to people and talent.

One untapped talent resource is the veteran and military-affiliated community. With the support of the Project Opportunity Alliance, AGD Consulting and others, we aim to shine a light on it in this ebook. We hope you find this resource beneficial and that it opens doors, opens minds and creates a forum for thinking and discussion.

Naomi Brooker | Portfolio Director | New Ag International

Much of this eBook was created with the help of the Project Opportunity Alliance and Mike DeSa, Founder and Managing Director at AGD Consulting, who hosted the two panel discussions. He explains why he was eager to be involved:

"Over the 10+ years encompassing my involvement in agriculture and the military, I have become increasingly aware of the similarities between the two environments – fluid circumstances, unpredictability, multi-factor influence, regionality, and decentralization of execution. While the pathway and benefits for veterans into production agriculture is increasingly well-known and paved, we realized those roads did not always lead to other parts of agriculture. Our goal for this eBook and partnership with New Ag International was to shed light on the unique skills sets veterans can being to the broader agricultural space including technology, agribusiness, and agripreneurship. We could not be more excited about bringing this vision to life in the hopes that it helps veterans everywhere."

Mike DeSa | Founder and Managing Director | AGD Consulting

Jump to any article using the contents on the following page, or at any time using the Contents menu in the top left. There you can also download this eBook as a PDF.

1. PANEL DISCUSSION: Veterans in Ag: Transitioning to Entrepreneurship: An in-depth video discussion with a panel of industry leaders on military veterans’ transition to entrepreneurship within ag.

2. How the Project Opportunity Alliance is expanding opportunities for the military community - interview with Elizabeth Guevara, Diversity & Inclusion Manager at Nestlé USA: Discover how Nestlé are future-proofing the workforce with skill-building and career opportunities through their Project Opportunity Alliance.

3. PANEL DISCUSSION: Untapped Skills of Military Veterans in Agribusiness: A panel discuss how to create opportunities for military veterans in agribusiness, exploring the transition from the military to agribusiness and the cultural shock that often follows.

4. DATA REPORT: Outreach schemes and investment programs to encourage veterans to the workforce: We explore the study data from the recent New Ag International Agriculture Community Report 2020.

5. Veterans in Agriculture: Tools to a Different Trade: Michael DeSa, Founder and MD of AGD Consulting, and former Marine looks at the pathway for military veterans into production agriculture, with unique skill sets, innovation, and entrepreneurship.