Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/907666
26 WINES&VINES December 2017 WINEMAKING USB and charging ports for your laptop or iPad, so you can collect data and communicate with your home office from the vineyard. Plus, it looked easy to ride. 'Innovation moves at the speed of money' From my experience developing new technology, I know the importance of industry support to turn futuristic concepts into commercial prod- ucts. Twenty years ago, the development of syn- thetic wine corks was jumpstarted by the financial and technical support of visionaries like Michael Mondavi and Glenn O'Dell (then technical direc- tor at Sebastiani/Constellation Brands). Young Kim at Digital Harvest used the ex- pression: "Innovation moves at the speed of money." Like many who are developing cutting- edge farm technology, Digital Harvest is a startup filled with brilliant, creative people, but dependent on outside financial support. So where do we go from here? I see two possible directions, but only one that moves us forward. Wait around for someone else to figure it out: In the meantime, you can complain about not having enough workers, rising mini- mum wage and workers compensation insur- ance rates, not being able to spray until the soil dries out. Snicker at early prototypes and smugly explain why they'll never catch on. If an entrepreneur calls on you, don't answer. Get involved: Invest time and money in solutions. Support the startups and the innova- tors who need partners like you to make their inventions work. Help them to help you: Spend an hour with an entrepreneur to explain how your vineyard operates. Sign up to be a beta- test site. Invest a little money in a startup. Attend events like the Future Farm Expo. The cost and scarcity of vineyard labor is certain to increase, which means we all must support innovative solutions to advance our vines and our industry. Andy Starr, founder of StarrGreen (starr green.com), is an entrepreneur, marketing manager and winemaker who provides strategy, management and business develop- ment consulting services. A resident of Napa Valley, Calif., he holds a bachelor's degree in fermentation science from the University of California, Davis, and an MBA from UCLA. The Remote Operated Vineyard Robot from Digital Harvest pairs technology with offsite labor sources. Let us show you what we ' re made of You'll see why for over 30 years our industry's top wineries have chosen Western Square for the best in stackable barrel racks. Our superior, all-new construction maximizes product integrity and workplace safety. Our experienced welders are true craftsmen, and our expert advisory services are complemented by our excellent customer service. 1621 North Broadway Stockton, CA 95205 800-367-8383 • www.westernsquare.com