b'Sakatas David Armstrong Brings Leadership and Vision to ASTAHe says the industry needs to focus on the consumer and diversity in the industry. Aimee NielsonJAPANESE-FOUNDED SAKATA than a century: Sakata has survivedHe also highlighted the evolving is etching significant mark in U.S.world wars, economic crises and natu- landscape of agricultural work, with soils. David Armstrong is at the helm ofral disasters to continuously create newincreasing automation playing a pivotal its American operations. He is a vision- standards in global vegetable and orna- role. "Agriculture has been suffering ary leader whose insights and strategiesmental markets, he stated on the site. Infrom acute labor shortages, and I think have propelled the company in areas ofa marketplace characterized by intensivethat is really what\'s been driving the innovation and success. Armstrong saidconsolidation, Sakata stands as a symbolautomation," Armstrong says. "Dramatic hes proud that Sakatas rich history ofof independence, innovation and reliabil- advances are going on in agricultural endurance and perseverance is helpingity. It matters to our customers, who haveautomation at the field level."the industry solve todays challenges. become partnersrealizing value in theirAs other industries thrive, they pull "Sakatas parent company in Japanbusinesses from our innovation. experienced workers away from agricul-was founded 110 years ago," ArmstrongThat statement guides the way heture. says. "In 1977, Sakata made their first stepinteracts with his colleagues and partnersAgriculture is often considered the outside of Japan, setting up a productionacross the seed industry. first rung on the labor ladder, Armstrong company in California."says. I wish it werent the case, but its He says the expansion was more thanLabor Issues Prevail reality. I would love to be able to upgrade geographical; it represented a strategicAmid all the success and innovation,the image of agricultural work; its difficult shift toward global market engagement.Armstrong says one of the biggestwork, but its also very necessary work. "The idea was to produce mainly broc- challenges for anyone in the flower andWhen the economy is growing in other coli seed for Japan," Armstrong recalls.vegetable arena is labor. Horticulturalareas, workers leave ag as soon as they "They had limited business outside ofwork is seasonal and often very physical.can get into something else.Japan at that time." The agricultural sector has experienced aHe says the labor shortage is a driving Armstrong says Sakata\'s growth in thesignificant labor shortage that has beenfactor in agricultural automation, even U.S. is a tale of adaptation and foresight.compounded by stricter immigration pol- calling it a revolution."We are focused in vegetables andicies and enforcement. These issues haveThey [laborers] can generate pretty flowers," Armstrong explains. "Sakatareduced the influx of migrant workers,good compensation when the alterna-was founded mainly as a flower breedingwhich traditionally make up a significanttive for growers is leaving crops in the company, back in the day. However, U.S.part of the agricultural workforce.field and not harvesting, he says. The operations have largely veered towardsArmstrong speaks candidly about thegrowers are willing to pay a premium to vegetable breeding and production,challenges of agricultural labor, especiallyget the labor. Thats leading to dramatic which is a testament to the company\'sin California.advances in agricultural automation at the ability to respond to market demands and"Labor in agriculture is a huge, diffi- field level. We can\'t completely replace trends. cult issue," he says. "A significant portionpeople with automation. But we can get a On Sakatas website, Armstrongsof workers are undocumented, whichlot further along than we are now. There statement about the company mentionspresents its own challenges in today\'sare various initiatives underway in differ-the value of being in business for morecharged political environment."ent crop sectors; some tasks are easier FEBRUARY 2024SEEDWORLD.COM /7'