Industrial Edge Ep 20: AI & Automation in Tree Nut Processing with Zach Shields

Welcome to Industrial Edge! In this episode, we’re live from the 2025 American Pistachio Growers Conference in Monterey, California, with special guest Zach Shields, Head of Sales and Customer Success at Borde AI. We discuss the future of factory automation, AI-powered grading and inspection, and the evolving landscape of the tree nut industry.00:00 – Introduction & Conference Setting00:21 – Meet Zach Shields: Background & Role at Borde00:41 – What is AI Grading & Inspection for Tree Nuts?01:03 – USDA Standards & Sampling Limitations01:56 – Critical Foreign Material Detection (Glass, Metal, Allergens)02:37 – What Can’t the Cameras See? (Rancidity)05:09 – Overcoming Price Sensitivity & Industry Inertia06:14 – Labor Savings, Traceability, and Visibility07:13 – Zach’s Career Journey: From Insurance to AgTech07:49 – Market Cycles in Tree Nuts: Pistachio, Almond, Walnut09:23 – AI in Ag: Beyond Sci-Fi, Real-World Computer Vision09:41 – Real-Time Alerts & The Human-AI Balance11:05 – Real-Time Data Feedback to Sorting Machines13:58 – AI Model Training & Network Effects14:16 – Operating Without Internet: Offline Capabilities14:38 – The Future: Disrupting 60-Year-Old Standards17:18 – Closing Thoughts & Thanks