FROM THE VAULT: Mark Ferguson on science, sheep, and the tech-enabled future of genetics

Originally released: 20 February, 2020
We’ll be back with new episodes in January 2022, but for the holidays we thought we’d bring back a favorite episode from the vault!
Mark Ferguson or “Ferg,” is a sheep geneticist who’s paying attention to how both consumer demands and emerging technologies are impacting growers. He’s the co-founder and Director of neXtgen Agri, an online livestock consultancy, and Genesmith, a startup applying facial recognition and machine learning to the global livestock industry.
Drawing on his experience with dozens of clients around Australia and New Zealand, Ferg shares his insights on:

• How to build relationships in a digital world.
• What the future of extension and consulting in livestock holds.
• The role of cutting edge technologies in the sheep industry (facial recognition for sheep!)
• His vision for a future where consumer expectations are met and growers are profitable.