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Amid the verdant rolling hills of central Kentucky, in the heart of Appalachian coal country, you\u2019ll find 60 acres of a massive, glass-encased structure. Inside, you\u2019ll find row after row of tomatoes. The bounty -- sold in grocery retailers like Kroger, Publix, and Walmart -- is grown and harvested to precision using data, AI, and robotics by an AgTech company called AppHarvest. But this isn\u2019t your garden-variety greenhouse. It\u2019s essentially a 60-acre robot \u2014 a high-tech, data-driven indoor farm. Inside is a tightly controlled environment that uses 90% less water than open-field agriculture and only rainwater to produce crop yields up to 30 times that of traditional farming. \u201cThe facility itself is really living while the plants are living,\u201d explains Jonathan Webb, AppHarvest\u2019s CEO. \u201cWe're collecting data all through the facility to optimize for the plant.\u201d Webb joins the podcast to talk about the environmental consequences of what we eat and what\u2019s at stake for the future of agriculture, as the current system depletes our soil and climate change threatens our global food supply. He also takes us inside how AppHarvest is harnessing the best of nature supported with technology to create sustainable agriculture and working to increase food security -- one data-driven tomato at a time \u2013 and soon to include salad greens and berries.\n \nListen to this episode to learn:\n\n\u2022 The story behind AppHarvest and its mission to redefine agriculture for a more sustainable, equitable, and healthy future for all\n\n\u2022 How traditional farming often exploits farm workers across the world, and why we all should demand these essential workers get paid a living wage\n\n\u2022 Why the environmental and tech communities should be investing in the economic potential of Appalachian coal country and reskilling its workforce\n\n\u2022 The role of consumer demand and activism in helping to make AppHarvest a more mainstream, recognized brand in the produce aisle \n\n\u2022 From LED lights that automatically turn on when it\u2019s cloudy to ensuring that the perfect amount of water gets directly into the roots, how AppHarvest harnesses data and technology to optimize plant growth -- 365 days a year\n\n\u2022 What\u2019s on the horizon for AppHarvest in the years ahead