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AgriNovus’ plans to align with those opportunities and be aAt the midpoint of 2026, there is a lot to reflect on across Indiana’s agbioscience economy and the sector at large. AgriNovus President and CEO, Christy Wright, joins today for an economic checkup. She highlights big wins for Indiana in 2026 – from hubs to headquarters – and looks ahead to AgriNovus’ moves to impact the state long-term. Highlights include: Corteva’s decision to double down on Indiana, choosing the state for its global headquarters, what factors ultimately helped drive that decision and what it signals to the rest of the state USDA’s pending relocation announcements and how welcoming missions to Indiana might reshape the region’s ecosystem The opportunities that exist to accelerate innovation and commercialization at the intersection of federal presence and global anchors as headquarters (both Elanco and Corteva) Secondary effects Christy expects from these decisions – from partnerships to venture and beyond – and how AgriNovus is working with industry to capture those Ecosystem engagement amid the pursuits of Corteva and USDA and how these decisions will ultimately impact all industry players Indiana’s robust university system and how they fit into attracting bigger companies and organizations to the state that are seeking to fill talent Investment, talent and innovation as proof points of momentum and the impetus behind the launch of BioHeartland – a shared economic identity for Indiana Why now for BioHeartland and what differentiates the region from other innovation hubs across the U.S. How Christy will view BioHeartland as a success Biggest gaps and opportunities to seize momentum over the next few years to unlock Indiana’s next chapter of agbioscience growth catalyst for growth What’s coming up for AgriNovus
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Convergence research: the idea of taking major agricultural themes and breaking them down into simple, digestible insights for various audiences. Necessary? Absolutely. And it’s the work that Dr. Trey Malone, Boehlje Chair in Managerial Economics for Agribusiness at Purdue University, has been doing with his team for awhile now. He brings his expertise in the studio today to dive into the intersection of entrepreneurship, policy and a massive agbioscience supply chain. Many highlights follow, including:
What the role of Boehlje Chair in Managerial Economics for Agribusiness has meant to Trey in his career and how it has scoped the work he is leading at Purdue today The realization behind convergence research and how they’ve seen it pay off in practice Pressure points Trey sees creating the most concern for the industry at large and what the economics say about how industry is responding to them The idea of “real options thinking” as less about predicting the future and more about preparing for it by placing small bets to widen your options rather than focusing on one path for success How real options thinking applies across the value chain How Trey has seen agbioscience businesses respond to the demands of the consumer and their shifting behavior over the last five years What moves the needle for consumers versus what’s mainly just perceived to be marketing The Health Halo effect, hard seltzer drinks and what they’ve taught industry about labeling, marketing and how they interact with the consumer The gap Trey sees that academic research needs to address for industry in agricultural economics Research that Trey wishes everyone had their hands on and used with regularity to drive insight and decision making What’s ahead for his time this year -
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From volatile markets to high input costs, farmers are facing a number of challenges that could be offset by additional markets and revenue streams. Today, we're joined by Fiber X CEO Dave Skibinski who's working to give producers exactly that: a new opportunity rooted in the growing demand for natural fiber. Fresh off of a big win at TechPoint’s Mira Awards, Dave shares how FiberX is helping farmers diversify their operations and how agricultural byproducts are enabling the future of the bioeconomy. Highlights include:
The work FiberX leads and who they serve through their work in a growing bioeconomy How their team chose the approach to leverage ag byproducts like corn stover to make bioindustrial resins and biocomposite plastics rather than other approaches FiberX’s differentiation from traditional petroleum-based plastics – both in terms of performance and sustainability Why they chose corn stover as the right feedstock for FiberX New applications or industries showing the strongest demand for biocomposite materials in this rapidly growing bioeconomy; and how these companies have evolved over time Performance metrics that industrial customers care most about and how FiberX is delivering on those benchmarks Barriers their team has faced getting manufacturers to adopt bio-based materials and how they tackle objection The FiberX // farmer relationship and how they execute that side; how their business model benefits them in terms of a new market unlock, additional revenue stream and more How the farmer relationship, alongside the manufacturer, creates a circular economy – and what that means The role of partnerships within the Indiana agbioscience ecosystem to grow and scale their technology Winning the Agbioscience Innovator Award at TechPoint’s Mira Awards and how that honor validated the company’s work and its trajectory Breakthroughs and milestones Dave believes will define the future of bioindustrial materials over the next decade -
From styrofoam to concrete, the Student Soybean Innovation Competition at Purdue University has transformed a renewable resource into several industrial products over the last three decades. More than products, though, it has turned students into aspiring creators and entrepreneurs. Elizabeth Heckaman and Jocelyn Erickson from this year’s winning competition join us in studio this week to recap SoySeal, ideating a product to market viability and the ultimate joy of holding a grand prize check.
We get into:
SoySeal as an invention and how it came to be Why they chose an adhesive over other routes The formulation process – how does a soybean become an environmentally responsible adhesive? Its comparison to other tapes on the market, in terms of performance and sustainability Biggest challenges as they worked through the process of idea to market-ready product The role of the consumer in their creation process How they balanced team structure and skillsets across disciplines during development What this innovative pursuit taught them about their own professional development How they approached SoySeal from a business and commercialization perspective rather than just a technical and scientific idea The critical role of Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana farmers to help mentor and influence their process On-campus resources that enabled their team’s success Advice they have for student entrepreneurs Future plans for the team -
We joke at the end of this episode, but it feels very on par -- May was a photo finish! And what a year this month shaped up to be in Indiana's agbioscience economy. AgriNovus CEO Christy Wright and VP Libby Fritz join Cayla in the studio to recap the following:
Corteva chooses Indiana for its global HQDeputy Secretary of USDA Stephen Vaden visits Indiana following the decision to relocate SNAP to IndianapolisAgriNovus, alongside CICP, BioCrossroads and CIRDA, launched BioHeartland -- a shared identity designed to tell Indiana's distinct, unified story; the region's ability to invent, make and move bioscience solutions at global scale across human, animal and plant science like no other place in the world. Listen to the episode of Agbioscience that talks about the brand here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/428-introducing-bioheartland-a-unified-identity-to/id1412179095?i=1000768561869HHS, USDA and HATCH for Hunger announcing $7.5M dedicated to increasing protein access through cold chain infrastructureA NEW AGRINOVUS TEAM MEMBER! -
From agtech adoption to agronomy, inputs, animal health services and beyond, agricultural cooperatives exist under one common objective: to enable farmer success. For 100 years, Keystone Cooperative has delivered that effort to communities across Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois, employing more than 1,700 workers and differentiating themselves through service and relationships.
Vice President of Member Engagement and Public Affairs Drew Garretson joins this week to talk about the Keystone Cooperative journey, including their expanded footprint post-merger and the approach they take to ensure they are delivering best-in-class innovation and services to their farmer members.
Highlights include:
The work Drew leads at Keystone Cooperative – including his many titles over the years with the organization – and how they serve American farmers Conversations with members as they head into the spring planting season How Keystone helps farmers navigate decisions and navigating risk while operating under tight margins Emerging technologies that Drew believes are having the greatest impact on U.S. farming operations over the next five years Criteria Keystone follows to determine whether a potential technology or service is a good fit for their members How Drew and the team have approached partnerships and collaborations over the years – and what makes quality partnerships work for Keystone The generational transition for agriculture and how Keystone approaches the decision-making mindset on farms where thoughts on innovation and sustainability may differ How the current economic and regulatory environment shapes the cooperative landscape and the challenges and opportunities those headwinds present Areas of agriculture Drew believes we’ve just begun to scratch the surface on, our biggest opportunities that lie ahead for farmers to get more efficient and gain net farm income over the next five years What’s ahead for the Keystone Cooperative team that has Drew most excited -
Today we are proud to announce the launch of BioHeartland, a shared identity designed to amplify Indiana’s leading bioscience ecosystem at the convergence of human, animal and plant health.
As Indiana competes globally for the next generation of bioscience jobs, companies and innovation, leaders across industry, academia and economic development are rallying around our unified story. Developed through a collaborative effort led by CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), AgriNovus and BioCrossroads, and in partnership with the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority (CIRDA), BioHeartland was created to give Indiana a more cohesive way to share Indiana’s story with investors, companies, researchers and talent around the world.
This episode is hosted by CICP CEO Melina Kennedy where she is joined by AgriNovus CEO Christy Wright, BioCrossroads CEO Vince Wong and Mayor of The City of Fishers Scott Fadness.
Learn more and join the story at INBioHeartland.com.
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The development and creation of startups and new companies is what allows an innovation ecosystem to thrive. Alloy Partners launched to co-create advantaged startups and venture studios in partnerships corporations and entrepreneurs, melding a future of collaboration between the two. This week, we are joined by One Health Studio Director Ben Lewis to talk market challenges, the studio model and what he sees ahead for the One Health opportunity. Highlights include:
The unique work Ben leads to enable company creation at Alloy Partners Ben’s personal story that led him to this point – tracing back to his time as an Olympic athlete Gaps identified in the market that led to the studio’s creation Alloy’s model and its differentiation from traditional corporate innovation programs How the process works: spinning a new coming with the Alloy One Health Studio Biggest challenges facing company creation in the One Health space Indiana as a breeding ground for quality partnerships and being structured to succeed when it comes to One Health innovation How Ben sees public-private partnerships evolving and the next steps in that process Balancing scientific depth with speed and urgency of startup life when working to create new companies How Ben’s past experience as an entrepreneur has prepared him well for this role One Health trends that are emerging that have Ben most excited for the next five to ten years What Alloy Partners is working on right now that has Ben most excited -
Food is health is a growing conversation across the agbioscience landscape and research is moving the conceptual to tangible solutions. Dr. Lavanya Reddivari from Purdue University joins this week to talk groundbreaking food science research, advancing discovery through the innovation pipeline and how her family roots are making something old new again.
Highlights include:
A high level overview of her research at Purdue and its impact on food is health How Lavanya views food is health from a modern, scientific research perspective Her team’s recent findings of a compound in blueberries that aids people with digestive diseases; the discovery process and how it informed follow up Nutrition as a support function for chronic illnesses that are critically impacting the U.S. population and her team’s “aha” moment where the gut microbiome was the foundation to overall health A grant Lavanya’s team received through the Heartland Children’s Nutrition Collaborative and what it has enabled their research to do How the right partnerships have enabled them to move through different stages of their exploration Lavanya’s family roots and how this story is personal for her Applying her team’s findings and putting them into practice How Lavanya wants to see this research make an impact on the world and the health of its people What she believes are our biggest opportunities to advance Food is Health, given our strengths in Indiana What’s ahead with her laboratory team that has her most excited -
Last week Governor Mike Braun today announced IN AI, a new statewide initiative focused on helping businesses grow, create jobs, and increase wages through the practical application of human-centered artificial intelligence. The initiative will be executed by the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) and will work directly with employers across the state to accelerate AI adoption in ways that strengthen businesses and expand opportunity for Hoosiers.
Joining us this week is Ting Gootee, CICP’s EVP of Digital Adoption and Managing Director of Crossroads Health Ventures. She talks agbioscience, AI adoption and finding the one thing businesses need to solve for – not the dire need to launch a full-blown digital strategy right out of the gate.
Highlights include:
How CICP defines digital adoption in the context of its mission The work Ting is leading and what the organization aims to accomplish through its branded initiatives like AgriNovus Biggest headwinds businesses and organizations face when trying to adopt digital solutions, particularly in what are traditionally offline industries How Indiana is positioning itself to build a more AI-ready economy and the role of digital adoption within that transformation Striking a balance between short-term innovation wins and establishing sustainable, long-term impact across industries statewide to create real impact How digital adoption is changing the skills and education needed for the state’s future workforce The role of partnerships among business, academia and government in maintaining talent pipelines to keep pace with tech advancement (and where we sit in that journey today) How Ting views our opportunity to be a differentiated hub for technology advancement in Indiana Emerging trends and technologies that have Ting most excited What Indiana ideally looks like from a digital adoption standpoint over the next five-ten years Where to get more information on this initiative: https://www.cicpindiana.com/ai/ -
April was a news-filled month with business announcements, student innovators and AgriNovus programs off and running! AgriNovus CEO Christy Wright and Vice President Libby Fritz join Cayla in the studio to recap the month. Highlights include:
Corteva Unveiling New Leadership for New Corteva and SpinCoBiomEdit Secures Foundational Patents for Engineered Probiotic Platform Positioned to Redefine Animal Health, Multispecies PotentialSoySeal Takes Home Top Prize at Purdue University's Student Soybean Innovation CompetitionAgriNovus Velocity to Focus on Priority Areas for Indiana’s Agbioscience FutureQuadrant Returns on May 13 Focused on $1B in One Health Investment in Indiana; Register here: https://agrinovusindiana.com/quadrant/ -
From industry trailblazers to academic leaders, policymakers to journalists, AgrIInstitute has served as a platform for leadership development in Indiana’s agbioscience ecosystem for over 40 years. Executive Director Beth Archer joins us this week and provides tremendous perspective on how you build an ecosystem of strong leaders: by convening and facilitating communication among a diverse group of interests and specialties across a vast, but collaborative industry.
Highlights include:
The work Beth leads at AgrIInstitute and how the organization serves the agbioscience ecosystem What gaps were identified by Indiana state leaders that led to its founding and how the organization has evolved to meet the needs of today’s industry Wrapping up Agricultural Leadership Program (ALP) Class 21 and how Beth’s differentiated approach to the program has kept it so successful over the years The balancing act of delivering consistent leadership development when industry is in a state of constant change What challenges and headwinds business leaders in the industry are facing as they look to the future and how organizations like AgrIInstitute enable relief in those areas Leadership skills Beth thinks will be most critical over the next decade and how ALP is cultivating those skills inside of its programming Beth’s incoming Class 22 for ALP and what set these individuals apart as they went through the application and interview process Agbioscience’s biggest opportunity right now when it comes to growing and developing young leaders What’s ahead for AgrIInstitute in 2026 that has Beth most excitedA special congratulations to all of the newly announced ALP members and especially AgriNovus’ very own Karis Witte, who was accepted into Class 22!
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Enabling startup success is what grows innovative ecosystems to their full potential. From perfecting pitches to finding mentors and understanding product/market fit, a great accelerator sets itself apart from a good one in big and differentiated ways. This week, we are joined by gener8tor Program Director Davide Dantonio to talk Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, agbioscience growth and helping founders find their footing.
Highlights include:
Gener8tor's work with startups and founders and how they serve the entpreneurial ecosystem The organization’s widespread reach – both geographically and in terms of industry verticals – and how that creates their approach to working with early-stage innovators The gBETA Agbioscience that Davide’s team leads in Indiana and how it’s evolved over the years to meet the needs of a changing industry Some of the cohort’s success stories and how Indiana is producing differentiated, impactful work for the agbiosciences on a global scale Emerging trends in agbisocience that Davide sees and how early-stage innovators are jumping in to solve challenges through market opportunity The upcoming gBETA Winter Cohort and its applicant set, growing interest in the program and where the startup winds are taking the accelerator this year How Indiana’s university system has contributed to a base of startup innovators for gener8tor Where Davide sees untapped potential or room for growth when it comes to connectivity between university research and startup development What’s ahead for gener8tor in 2026gBETA is hosting an Indiana Showcase on the Future of Mobility, Agbioscience and much more at Tinker House Events on April 30 from 4:30 – 7:00 PM. Register here to attend: https://luma.com/fl0erwho
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From the land to the animals, Dave Fischer has taken a committed approach to the family business. He joins us this week to talk Southern Indiana’s Fischer Farms, his rapid growing natural meat delivery business, the criticality of consumer voice, soil health and beyond.
Highlights include:
The history of Fischer Farms, Dave’s approach to leading the family operation and their scope of service today Regenerative agriculture, soil health and creating an environment where cows are a net positive for sustainability What innovation looks like in practice at Fischer Farms and their differentiated approach across the portfolio Fischer Farms’ growth story and how Dave has balanced scaling while maintaining innovative and sustainable practices The consumer voice and what Dave believes to be the role of the farmer and food brands in this space when it comes to food’s impact on health Fischer Farms’ retail business, focus on tight supply chain and direct to consumer approach How they’ve designed their retail operation for efficiency to guarantee quality products – while also maintaining their commitment to sustainability What technologies – from AI to automation – are transforming how Fischer Farms is operating their processing and packaging business The pursuit to innovate and find the next opportunity, finding great partners along the way and which organizations make sense for their collaborative approach Fischer Farms’ participation in the Beef Research Project with USDA and what they are aiming to accomplish What is happening this year – and it’s a big facility that cranks out a lot of burgers – and beyond -
From tightening margins to shifts in the regulatory landscape, growers face a series of headwinds that challenge the success of their operations every year. One constant? Data on the farm. This week, American Autonomy CEO Mariah Scott joins us to talk data as a differentiator and unlocking access in a new American market for drones.
Highlights include:
The work American Autonomy is leading to bring drone software to dealers and farmers that sets their businesses apart AcreConnect as the company’s first software platform designed to assist during the spray season, the gaps in the market that led to its creation and how it enables farmer success What’s happening with drones in the current market landscape and how Mariah sees the future changing Regulatory shifts and their impact on technological adoption on farms right now How American Autonomy defines success in this environment and how this evolution in the industry has created new opportunities Leveraging farmer relationships to refine and improve technologies; and the farmer’s role in defining the future of innovation in this space What innovations Mariah sees playing the biggest role in drone imagery and spraying in the future — from AI to automation, sensing technologies and regulatory advancements — and how might they reshape both farm operations and the broader agtech landscape Momentum for the American Autonomy team over the last year and how that’s enabled them to grow and scale in new ways Integrations as a critical driver for the American Autonomy team’s success and how partnerships have created high-quality tech adoption in the field Mariah’s non-traditional ag background and how that’s positioned her to lead in the space thus far How she sees talent evolving and reshaping the agbioscience industry over the next decade What’s ahead for the American Autonomy team in 2026 -
Our March recap is here and it's a busy one! Highlights include:
The launch of AgriNovus research and 2026 Velocity. Apply to participate in this year's cohort here: https://agrinovusindiana.com/velocity/Indiana's announcement of a $1B investment in agriculture and bioscience to position the state as a global leader in One Health innovationCICP's launch of the Catalyst Scholars fund focused on advanced chemistry talent, research and commercialization in IndianaCal-Maine Foods' acquisition of Creighton BrothersCorteva Catalysts's investment in gene editing company TropicJoin us for Quadrant on 5/13 in Indianapolis! Register here: https://agrinovusindiana.com/quadrant/
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AgriNovus will release new research today identifying critical challenges ripe for innovation that will serve as the foundation for the 2026 Velocity Accelerator, a six-month program that awards entrepreneurs three separate $25,000 cash prizes for their technology solutions in bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food is health. Joining us on the podcast is Tayo Sanders from Arrowpoint Labs, authors of the study that shape the foundation for this year’s accelerator.
Are you interested in participating in this year's Velocity? Ten teams will be accepted for each track, so space is limited! Apply to participate today: https://agrinovusindiana.com/velocity/
Highlights include:
Tayo’s work at Arrowpoint Labs and who they serve through insights and research The report that his team did for AgriNovus tied to 2026 Velocity, its findings and how it shaped this year’s challenge statements Indiana’s “right to win” across the agricultural value chain, the state’s strongest advantage right now and biggest opportunities to grow A theme in the report that emerges – bridging the gap in innovation among farmer-focused innovation, bioinnovation and food is health Engaging with local, state and national stakeholders to gain insights for this study and how their input provided support or opposition to what had been gathered as existing research The challenges that exist within the food is health space and gaps they identified in the report that could serve as opportunities for startups to innovate for in this year’s accelerator Priorities that were shaped through insights and research on a growing bioeconomy and how entrepreneurs can tackle the challenge being presented in that track for Velocity The value of connecting innovators at the farmgate to create new technologies that impact ROI and help develop new companies that can grow and scale through a program like Velocity What excites Tayo the most about this report and its potential to inform and inspire new innovation -
The demand for biobased materials is growing on a global scale, with no signals of that pace slowing any time soon. One startup has leveraged the power of synthetic biology to turn industrial byproducts into biomaterials. This week, Ourobio CEO Alec Brewer joins us to talk the company’s founding, contributing to a circular economy and their innovation process – end-to-end.
Highlights include:
The company’s origin story out of the University of Virginia and how it has evolved Ourobio’s innovation process, end-to-end, that produces bio-based materials Pivoting as an entrepreneur and knowing when they needed to tilt their business model to capture and offer value The Ourobio differentiation, which includes safety, color of pigmentation of polymer and affordability Alec’s perspective on the regulatory environment, what needs to be defined and how this conversation should evolve as this market continues to grow Biggest headwinds Ourobio has faced as a startup and how they’ve navigated their challenges in the early stage Feedback from companies that are moving to more bio-based materials Where Alec sees the biggest opportunity for bioinnovation reshape traditional industries in the coming decade Tools and technologies that have had the greatest impact on accelerating innovation for Ourobio’s scale and precision How partnerships and collaboration have paved the way for Alec and the Ourobio team’s entrepreneurial success What success looks like at this stage for the company and what’s ahead for Ourobio that has Alec most excited -
From seed selection to input purchases and beyond, farmers are responsible for a litany of data points that require decisions on their operations each season. Having tools to enable confident, informed decisions isn’t just a “nice to have” in modern production agriculture, it’s imperative. We are joined by Beck’s Hybrids’ Jim Schwartz, Director of Research, Agronomy and Practical Farm Research, to talk about the launch of their new platform – SeedIQ – its capabilities and the dealer, and farmer, mindset heading into a growing season.
Highlights include:
What PFR (Practical Farm Research) does to help farmers grow their operations and how it’s different than other research projects within companies Conversations with growers heading into the planting season; what those entail, how they are preparing and their sentiment given the current headwinds being faced The power of certainty being tied to decision-making and how Jim has seen expectations shift over the years when it comes to seed performance, agronomic support and digital tools The balance of innovation adoption and risk management “Innovation that matters” and what that means to the Beck’s team, their definition of innovation and its implications beyond ROI Launching SeedIQ, what the platform does and how it better serves dealers and farmers The gaps Jim and the team identified that led them to develop the SeedIQ platform Dealer and grower response to the launch of the tool heading into a growing season What’s ahead for Beck’s this planting season that has Jim excited -
The future of the agbioscience workforce will look different than it does today – as it does than it did ten years ago. At the heart of its change and evolution are college students and young professionals pursuing new fields of studying, from business to biology, and asking themselves one critical question: how do I apply what I’m learning today to my future in the working world? This week we are joined by AgriNovus’ Career Success Manager, Karis Witte, to dive into the organization’s career exploration platform, Field Atlas, exposing young talent to the agbioscience industry and connecting their hearts and minds to a future that matters.
Highlights include:
The story of Field Atlas and who it aims to serve Biggest headwinds agbioscience companies are facing when it comes to finding talent and buildling a workforce of the future Who Field Atlas is designed for and what makes it different than other talent programs and platforms The brand’s growth into experiential programming and how exposure has created a new dimension of industry recruitment for agbioscience companies Field Atlas as a brand “for students, by students” that is enabled by a network of campus Ambassadors The feedback Karis gets about the impact of Field Atlas – from students, colleges, universities and companies The Company Tours available to students and how that program has created new impact on students with no prior background in agbioscience Launching the Agbioscience Mentorship Program (AMP) and creating new, meaningful connection for late college students and young professionals that are looking to advance their careers How Karis sees Field Atlas evolving as it grows in the coming years What’s ahead in 2026 - Visa fler
