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

(Bloomberg) — Cargill Inc., the world’s largest crop trader, is opening an office center in Atlanta, joining a wave of companies seeking to take advantage of 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 news release Tuesday. It will hire about 400 workers in data engineering, artificial intelligence and other high-tech fields over the next few years to work in the office.

Big companies such as Microsoft Corp., Google and Visa Inc. are transforming parts of Atlanta into hubs for tech workers. Jobs have migrated to the region in recent years, thanks to a well-educated workforce including graduates from the Georgia Institute of Technology, sustained economic growth and a warm climate.

To be sure, Atlanta is not immune to the fluctuations of the often-volatile tech sector, with the city facing one of the highest office vacancy rates in the country.

Cargill views expansion in the region as a key strategy for the company’s growth. He said that in addition to top-ranked schools and a talented workforce, Atlanta was also attracted by the “growing presence of food and agricultural businesses.”

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

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

–With help from Brett Pulley.

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