Cargill plans Atlanta office to tap region’s growing tech talent

(Bloomberg) — Cargill Inc., the world’s largest agricultural products trader, is opening an office center in Atlanta, joining a wave of companies looking to tap the southern city’s growing tech talent.

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The company’s Digital Technology and Data group will be the primary occupant of the new facility, scheduled to open in the fall, Cargill said in a press release Tuesday. It will hire about 400 workers in data engineering, artificial intelligence and other high-tech areas over the next few years to work in the office.

Big companies like Microsoft Corp., Google and Visa Inc. are turning parts of Atlanta into hubs for tech workers. Jobs have migrated to the region in recent years, driven by a well-educated workforce that includes Georgia Institute of Technology graduates, sustained economic growth and a warm climate.

It’s true that Atlanta is not immune to fluctuations in the often volatile tech sector, with the city facing one of the highest office vacancy rates in the country.

Cargill sees expansion in the region as a fundamental strategy for the company’s growth. He stated that in addition to the leading schools and talented workforce, he was also attracted to Atlanta by the “growing presence of food and agricultural companies.”

“Atlanta’s rich pool of technical talent provides unparalleled access to the knowledge needed to drive our digital transformation,” said Jennifer Hartsock, chief information and digital officer at Cargill.

She said the new facilities will help create digital solutions for the global food supply chain, leverage analytics and AI to open new markets, and drive innovation to make food systems more sustainable.

–With assistance from Brett Pulley.

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