U.S.–Japan Innovation in Agri-Tech and AI: California’s Environmental Challenges, from Drought to Data

​*Please note that we may cancel your registration without prior notice in case we consider the registration incomplete, such as not filling in your full first/last name, company domain email and affiliation information.

​Join us for the special program, held in conjunction with the World Agri-Tech Summit in San Francisco, highlights collaborative solutions to today’s agricultural challenges.

Discover how innovation at the crossroads of water, climate, agriculture, and artificial intelligence is reshaping global food systems.  Let’s learn how California’s environmental and agricultural challenges are creating new business opportunities, and how the growing role of AI is scaling agritech and biotech innovations while strengthening cross-border partnerships.

The event will also feature a special Japan AgriTech Startup Pitch Showcase, highlighting emerging technologies and opportunities for cross-border collaboration.

​Date & Time:
March 16 2026, 2:00 pm – 5:00pm
(1:30 pm Doors Open & Registration)

​Venue:
Venue details will be provided upon registration.

​Registration may require approval to attend.

​Agenda:
1:30-2:00 PM Doors Open & Registration
2:00-2:05 PM Opening Remarks, Deputy Consul General Takeshi Ishihara | Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco

​Part 1. Turning California’s Water, Environmental, and Agritech Challenges into Business Opportunities (2:05 - 2:50)

​2:05-2:10 PM SVG Ventures | John Hartnett, Founder and CEO
2:10-2:15 PM NEC X | Nobu Morita, Director of Innovations
2:15-2:20 PM Verdi | Arthur Chen, CEO
2:20-2:25 PM ClimateAi | Will Kletter, COO
2:25-2:45 PM Panel Discussion SVG Ventures | John Hartnett, Founder and CEO – Moderator
2:45-2:55 PM Q&A

​Japan AgriTech Startup Pitch Showcase

​2:55-3:00 PM AGRIST Inc. | Junichi Saito, Founder & CEO
3:00-3:05 PM Milk. Inc. | Daiki Nakaya, CEO
3:05-3:25 PM Break

​Part 2  AI-Driven Biology: Unlocking Scalable AgriTech and Biotech Innovation (3:25-4:15)

​3:25-3:30 PM Pangaea Ventures | Janelle Goulard Pangaea, Partner
3:30-3:35 PM Norinchukin Bank | Kenichi Katsuhara, Senior Manager
3:35-3:40 PM Terrana Biosciences | Ryan Rapp, Co-Founder and CEO
3:40-3:45 PM Kanvas | Matt Cheng, CEO
3:45-4:05 PM Panel Discussion – Pangaea Ventures | Janelle Goulard Pangaea, Partner
4:05-4:15 PM Q&A
4:15-4:17 PM Biotech Valley – California State University, Fresno | Christopher Meyer, Dean, College of Science and Mathematics
4:17-5:00 PM Networking