Hi. I’m Alissa. I have experience working in fast-growing agtech startups, helping out on farms, communicating with farmers, and innovating to create a more regenerative future. I have diverse work experience, as a full-time employee and through consulting contracts. If you are looking for additional expertise on your technology/product/ideas in the food & agriculture space - Email agwelker1 (at) gmail.com to learn more about my commercial project portfolio. 

What is Cultivate Conversation?

The idea for Cultivate Conversation was born 8+ years ago as I began to uncover the disconnect between farmers vs. eaters, commodity agriculture vs. small diversified operations and rural communities vs. urban cities. Growing up in the Corn-Belt, studying on the East Coast and then working in Silicon Valley was a path that highlighted the polarized viewpoints that make up our agri-food system. This polarization pushed me to be a connector working across different stakeholders to build a more regenerative future.

All of my industry knowledge and expertise has only been possible through cultivating conversation, through talking to farmers, eaters, innovators and everyone that plays a role in our food system.

This website is about sharing my learnings and work through stories in the hopes of Cultivating Conversation to ultimately help build a food system that is better for people and the planet.