Nathan Dorn joins as director of industry relations

Nathan Dorn was announced Aug. 24 as F3 Innovate’s director of industry relations. Dorn will accelerate the adoption of agricultural technologies through education, competition, training, funding, and partnerships between farmers and technologists. This will help advance the $30 billion agricultural economy of California’s Central Valley, supporting the people who provide America’s fruits, vegetables, wines, nuts, fiber, dairy, and beef.

Dorn previously served as the business development lead at Farm-ng, taking the company from zero to 200 robotic systems in market during its first two years, and as CEO of Food Origins, a data science and capture startup in specialty crops. Earlier roles include director of knowledge and innovation at Reiter Berry Farms, technical manager for Gallo Coastal Vineyards and Wineries, engineering positions at Pepsi Cola Bottling and Etamic Movomatic, and five years of service in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear machinist mate aboard the USS Omaha (SSN 692). Raised on a Nebraska farm, he also spent his early years as a custom wheat harvest crewmember.

Dorn is active in the agtech community through IoT4Ag, ASABE, Monterey County Farm Bureau, California Ag Leadership, and has represented U.S. agriculture in delegations to the Netherlands, Japan, and Argentina. Dorn has also spoken at leading forums including World Ag Expo, EcoFarm, Forbes AgTech Summit, RoboUniverse, and the Unified Winegrape Symposium.