AdeptAg Planning for Continued Growth and Grower Support in 2023
May 6, 2023 
Editor’s Note: Since AdeptAg acquired AgriNomix and Zwart Systems in early 2022, the company has continued to expand its presence in the horticulture market with the acquisitions of Bellpark Horticulture and Plantech Control Systems. Greenhouse Grower Senior Editor Brian Sparks recently caught up with Rick Parod, CEO at AdeptAg, to learn more about what 2023 has in store both for AdeptAg and for its grower customers.
Rick Parod: 2022 was a busy year for us. We had a lot of activity with AgriNomix and Zwart Systems coming together at the beginning of the year and working through how we could identify synergies and opportunities to work together with growers. Then we closed out the year with the acquisitions of Bellpark and Plantech, which helped us expand from a geographic standpoint and added in some different product lines to expand what we could offer to our customers. What we also have gotten with each of these acquisitions is a better percentage of customers that we’re reaching throughout North America. It’s really been beneficial from that standpoint, and we’re finding that there’s more opportunity in terms of working together.
We started this year with a sales meeting with all of the businesses coming together in one location to learn about each other and what each has to offer. Everybody came away from that meeting wanting to run fast, but we also knew we had to take a couple of steps back to make sure we could fulfill everything we were taking on and excel with customers at the same time. Our customers have been extremely receptive to that and they’ve found that with the expanded capabilities, they have their own new opportunities.
Brian Sparks: So with this approach that AdeptAg is taking, you would assume those collaborations are paying off not just for you, but for your end customer as well.
Rick Parod: It has really been a great entry into solving our customers’ problems in terms of automation, but it goes even further with the additional capabilities we can provide on the front end of the design of new facilities. We can provide a complete solution, from design to service to the equipment and other capabilities. The growers have seen that by involving us on the front end of the design, they can create an efficient system with a good return on investment.
Brian Sparks: Do you feel that that AdeptAg as a brand is starting to catch on within the industry, and how should growers reach out when it comes time to start a project?
“Growers have seen that by involving us on the front end of the design, they can create an efficient system with a good return on investment.” — Rick Parod
Rick Parod: Growers should continue to work with businesses like AgriNomix, Zwart, and others as they have in the past. But they will also have access to other types of equipment under the AdeptAg umbrella, which means we can be involved in the complete layout of the facility and come up with the most efficient solution for what they’re trying to accomplish.
Brian Sparks: Looking ahead into 2023, what do you have planned in terms of similar projects or endeavors?
Rick Parod: We’ve got a solid platform in place with AgriNomix, Zwart, Bellpark, and Plantech because they are unique in different ways. We’re always looking at product line expansion and continued geographic expansion, but I’d say moreso we’re also looking at technology expansion. So we would look at other technology solutions that can tie those pieces together better. That’s definitely something in our plans.
Brian Sparks: There are certainly broad external forces that can shape the direction of this market, from labor issues to supply chain and inflation concerns. How are these forces, along with the emergence of other crop segments, shaping your plans moving forward?
Rick Parod: It’s those macro trends that really drove AdeptAg to be created, because we view indoor plants and vegetables as being essential given environmental change, population growth, and other factors. It’s complicated for some growers to get into this space, and we wanted to simplify it to help the market grow faster. Higher interest rates can create some bumps in the road, but we view that as short term.
Brian Sparks: Are there any other goals for this year that you want to mention?
Rick Parod: I think the main thing is going to be raising the awareness of our capabilities. In terms of other long-term goals, we’ll continue to expand our reach as much as we can to growers in this space.
The other thing I’d say is that we’re representing many Dutch companies, and our main goal is to help this market grow faster. We believe that a rising tide will raise all boats, and we can help everyone grow if we simplify the process and work with growers in a positive way.
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