This week, Green sat down with Ali William Palmer, CEO at Royal Technology and Agriculture, a company focused on regenerative farm consulting and agritech. Ali was named as Green.Org’s Person of the Week due to his focus on creating a better world through the confluence of culture, science, technology, and education.
Healing the planet through Royal AgriCULTURE
Tell us a little bit about you and your background:
I’m a tech CEO who runs Royal Tech and Ag. We build dynamic QR Codes for agriculture – providing an engaging platform for education, science and the quality of product and process. I am a 17-year Veteran of the US Army – West Point and Harvard Business School graduate. Also, an Airborne Ranger with combat service in IRAQ. Originally from Florida, my parents were jazz musicians and instilled education, values and a strong focus on entrepreneurial spirit in me. I currently live in Atlanta, GA with my wife and two boys. A third son is out of the house — an Infantry Officer and Survival School Instructor in Enterprise, AL.
What is a fun fact about you?
I speak three languages because my parents were musicians. The intense time and focus on sounds and melodies allowed me to hear languages well…so I picked up Spanish and German very quickly and very fluently (living in Germany for 3 years also helped)!
Why do you think climate change and sustainability is such an important topic today?
Our world is deteriorating (like the human body). It is NOT an appreciable asset…. (ironic that real estate is…since the land that it’s on top of continues to get tilled, refilled, poorly irrigated, etc). So, in general, if we do not advocated for renewables, sustainable practices and regenerative ecosystems and agriculture (like cannabis/Hemp), we are going to see continued negative effects of climate change. It doesn’t just affect the FUTURE … it affects the NOW. There are environmental and atmospheric signs all around us that our land/soil, our water and our air need rejuvenation. My company drives at the heart and soul of this concept by pushing sustainability in the process and product we highlight and use for educational and engagement purposes.
What do you envision your industry looking like 10 years from now?
EVOLVED Agrihealth is our grand vision. This includes advanced data transparency, more open sharing of information integrity through analytics and smart sharing, and of course an ecosystem of shared resources, ideas, contributions and profit. Through responsible, courageous innovation and leadership, we can make this happen!
What can the average person do to make a difference?
Educate themselves! Do not keep your head in the sand about your own preconceived ideas and ideology. Challenge your views; listen to opposing ideas …and push your own intelligence and knowledge to new bounds. Embrace naysayers who tell you your ideas are stupid. Once you open up your heart and mind to other possibilities, then dialogue opens up and we’re better able to listen, learn and collaborate on these pressing issues of the day.
Green.Org is a television show, podcast, social media, and news platform, hosted by Dylan Welch, that highlights climate change scientists, renewable energy experts, and clean tech entrepreneurs by giving them a voice in the mainstream media. The Green podcast highlights leading experts in cleantech, sustainability, media, finance, and real estate. Tune in and subscribe to the podcast on Apple or Spotify to listen to interviews with leading cleantech and sustainable experts. If you are interested in being featured on Green, click HERE.