Published

May 05, 2017

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Chamber Technology Engagement Center (C_TEC) today kicked off its TecExec Series with “Farm to Table: A Tech Story,” an event discussing the role of technology in agriculture, retail, and the grocery industry. It also released the results of a Morning Consult poll, which shows that voters overwhelmingly say technology is beneficial to food production. According to the survey, nearly 8 in 10 voters say technology plays an important role in the grocery industry.

“Advanced technology – from data and predictive analytics to precision agriculture and autonomous tractors – facilitates each step of the food production process. It can help food taste better, cost less, and deliver higher quality for consumers,” said Tim Day, senior vice president of C_TEC. “But agriculture is just one example. By harnessing the potential of new technologies, we can enable all industries and improve the everyday world around us.”

At the event, discussion focused on topics such as data, logistics, predictive analytics, food safety, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications in the food and agriculture industry. Speakers included U.S. Chamber Senior Executive Vice President Suzanne Clark, C_TEC Senior Vice President Tim Day, Kroger Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer Chris Hjelm, 84.51° Chief Executive Officer Stuart Aitken, Measure Chief Pilot Chris Courtney, Zebra Corporation Director Retail Vertical Market Strategy Ravi Kanniganti, and Bison Investments Chief Executive Officer C. Birge Sigety.

"The U.S. Chamber's inaugural TecExec event was a powerful platform to share Kroger's unique history of innovation," said Jessica Adelman, Kroger's group vice president of corporate affairs. "As Kroger is building personalized and digital experiences for our customers, we believe it is increasingly important for policy makers to understand how data and technology are changing the food system, from the farm to the grocery store to the table."

“Farm to Table: A Tech Story” was the first event in the TecExecs series, which brings together public and private sector leaders to discuss the future of technology and its role across business sectors.

C_TEC was established to advance technology’s role in the U.S. economy. Our members are excited about the future of technology to drive growth, jobs, and life-changing advances in transportation, medicine, consumer experiences, and business operations. C_TEC promotes policies that foster innovation and creativity and sponsors research to inform policymakers and the public.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

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