Carlo Mondavi’s Autonomous Electric Tractors for Sustainable, Affordable Farming - Part 1

The Future Car: A Siemens Podcast

If you eat today, thank a farmer!

Farming is one of the most important aspects of human life as we know it. It’s also one of the biggest contributors to environmental pollution which is causing climate change that threatens our lives as we know it. Simply put, we can’t live without farming - but how can we live with it!

This is where sustainable farming comes in, and one of the ways to promote it is by using eco-friendly, cost effective farming machines. For instance, an electric tractor which reduces a farm’s carbon footprint while also autonomous to reduce operating costs.

In this episode, the first part out of two, Ed Bernardon interviews Carlo Mondavi, grandson of Napa Valley icon Robert Mondavi, and founder/Chief Farming Officer of Monarch Tractor. Carlo is also a farmer and one of the owners of RAEN Winery. We’ll talk about the use of autonomous electric tractors in implementing cost-effective and sustainable farming as well as learn a bit about what it takes to manage a vineyard and turn grapes into a fine wine.

Some Questions I Ask:

• How did the idea of the Monarch Tractor come about? (02:24)
• What’s the meaning of the farmer-first mentality? (12:42)
• Do you have a lot of competitors? (21:43)
• How did your grandfather’s influence help you get to where you are today? (24:28)
• Where did the name RAEN come from? (35:01)

What You’ll Learn in this Episode:

• The origin of the name ‘Monarch Challenge’ (03:27)
• The problems that the Monarch Tractor is meant to solve (14:39)
• How the autonomous tractor is able to save on cost and time (18:47)
• The impact that stainless steel has on the taste of the wine (30:24)
• What prompted the idea of skincare products made from grapes (33:32)

Connect with Carlo Mondavi:

• LinkedIn
• Monarch Tractor
• RAEN Winery

Connect with Ed Bernardon:

• LinkedIn
• Future Car: Driving a Lifestyle Revolution
• Motorsports is speeding the way to safer urban mobility
• Siemens Digital Industries Software

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