Industrial Edge Ep 20: AI & Automation in Tree Nut Processing with Zach Shields

Welcome to Industrial Edge! In this episode, we’re live from the 2025 American Pistachio Growers Conference in Monterey, California, with special guest Zach Shields, Head of Sales and Customer Success at Borde AI. We discuss the future of factory automation, AI-powered grading and inspection, and the evolving landscape of the tree nut industry.

00:00 – Introduction & Conference Setting
00:21 – Meet Zach Shields: Background & Role at Borde
00:41 – What is AI Grading & Inspection for Tree Nuts?
01:03 – USDA Standards & Sampling Limitations
01:56 – Critical Foreign Material Detection (Glass, Metal, Allergens)
02:37 – What Can’t the Cameras See? (Rancidity)
05:09 – Overcoming Price Sensitivity & Industry Inertia
06:14 – Labor Savings, Traceability, and Visibility
07:13 – Zach’s Career Journey: From Insurance to AgTech
07:49 – Market Cycles in Tree Nuts: Pistachio, Almond, Walnut
09:23 – AI in Ag: Beyond Sci-Fi, Real-World Computer Vision
09:41 – Real-Time Alerts & The Human-AI Balance
11:05 – Real-Time Data Feedback to Sorting Machines
13:58 – AI Model Training & Network Effects
14:16 – Operating Without Internet: Offline Capabilities
14:38 – The Future: Disrupting 60-Year-Old Standards
17:18 – Closing Thoughts & Thanks

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction & Conference Setting
• 0:20 Meet Zach Shields: Background & Role at Bordea
• 0:40 What is AI Grading & Inspection for Tree Nuts?
• 1:02 USDA Standards & Sampling Limitations
• 1:55 Critical Foreign Material Detection (Glass, Metal, Allergens)
• 2:36 What Can’t the Cameras See? (Rancidity)
• 5:08 Overcoming Price Sensitivity & Industry Inertia
• 6:13 Labor Savings, Traceability, and Visibility
• 7:12 Zach’s Career Journey: From Insurance to AgTech
• 7:48 Market Cycles in Tree Nuts: Pistachio, Almond, Walnut
• 9:22 AI in Ag: Beyond Sci-Fi, Real-World Computer Vision
• 9:40 Real-Time Alerts & The Human-AI Balance
• 11:04 Real-Time Data Feedback to Sorting Machines
• 13:57 AI Model Training & Network Effects
• 14:15 Operating Without Internet: Offline Capabilities
• 14:37 The Future: Disrupting 60-Year-Old Standards
• 17:17 Closing Thoughts & Thanks