Accelerating Agriculture with AI

Europe imports millions of tons of soybeans every year. But what if the future of farming could change that completely?In this episode, Simon Leich sits down with Benjamin Laga, founder and CEO of Protealis, to explore how AI, genetics, and next-generation breeding could help Europe grow more of its own protein and reduce its dependence on imported soy.Benjamin shares his journey from biotech startups to global corporations like BASF, and explains why he left the corporate world to build a company focused on sustainable agriculture and food security.In this conversation, you’ll learn:Why Europe depends so heavily on imported soybeansHow protein crops could reshape the future of farmingHow AI is accelerating crop breeding and genetic selectionWhy sustainable farming starts with better crop systemsThe challenge of turning scientific innovation into real-world impactThis episode is a fascinating look at the future of agriculture, food independence, and the technology changing how crops are developed.Watch now and discover how one startup is trying to transform Europe’s food system.Tune in on…Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726…to listen to the latest episodes!Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:36 Meet Benjamin Laga01:32 From Startup Life to Big Corporations05:18 How Benjamin Started Protealis07:52 Building a Company with Purpose09:25 Starting a Business During Covid10:23 Why Europe Imports So Much Protein12:09 Soybeans & Europe’s Nitrogen Problem14:51 Using AI to Improve Crop Breeding18:16 How AI Predicts Better Crops22:44 Why Soybeans Struggle in Europe25:54 Developing High Protein Crops27:10 Growing Soybeans Across Europe28:19 Turning Research Into a Real Business30:00 Building the Right Company Culture32:12 Hiring People for Startup Life34:09 Belgium’s Growing AgTech Scene35:34 The Future Vision for PrUseful links:Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/