Ep 77: Can AI Grow Better Cotton? with Brendan Collins & Tricia Carey

For decades, developing new crop varieties has been slow, expensive, and full of trade-offs. Avalo believes better genetics, better data, and artificial intelligence can change that.In Episode 77, Andrew sits down with Brendan Collins, Co-Founder and CEO of Avalo, and Tricia Carey, Avalo’s Chief Commercial Officer and one of the textile industry’s most respected voices on fiber innovation and sustainable supply chains.Together, they look at how new approaches to crop development could create cotton that needs fewer inputs, gives farmers a better chance to make money, and holds up more reliably in a changing climate.The conversation starts with how new crop varieties have traditionally been developed by selecting for certain traits over many generations. Why bringing one new crop to market can take a decade and cost more than $100 million. And how better genetic data and computing tools can shorten that process dramatically.From there, they get into drought, irrigation, carbon reduction, regenerative agriculture, and why improving cotton begins long before it reaches a spinner or mill.They also talk about traceability, farmer partnerships, brand adoption, and the growing need for better information throughout the agricultural supply chain.Underneath it all is a larger idea: if crops can be developed to work better within the environments where they are grown, the future of sustainability may begin long before spinning, weaving, or manufacturing ever starts.Thank you to our sponsor Inside Denim.Brendan CollinsCo-Founder & CEO at AvaloAvalo, LinkedInTricia CareyChief Commercial Officer at AvaloAvalo, LinkedInPlease follow us on: Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.