This weekly podcast dives into agbioscience, where agriculture, life sciences and cutting-edge technology converge. Agbioscience is an in-depth conversation with leaders and entrepreneurs across food, animal health, plant science and agtech. This one-of-a-kind podcast offers updates on the latest advancements and future trends from those at the forefront of agbioscience innovation.
This weekly podcast dives into agbioscience, where agriculture, life sciences and cutting-edge technology converge. Agbioscience is an in-depth conversation with leaders and entrepreneurs across food, animal health, plant science and agtech. This one-of-a-kind podcast offers updates on the latest advancements and future trends from those at the forefront of agbioscience innovation.
Everyone has a story of how they’ve come into their career and many times on this podcast we hear the phrase “I got here by accident.” This week, we are joined by Angel Vazquez, a Field Atlas Ambassador and Ball State University student, who is exploring his interest in agbioscience careers, sharing the industry story with his peers and what he hopes to accomplish after graduation. We get into:
October was a busy month and we spare none on today's update with AgriNovus CEO, Christy Wright, and VP Libby Fritz. Updates include:
Biochar is an effective and profitable way to manage organic waste – and there are innovators creating new platforms to enable producers, investors and equipment suppliers to grow and deploy waste-to-value projects faster and easier than ever before. This week, we are joined by Jason Dodier, Co-Founder and CCO of Grain Ecosystem, to talk decarbonization projects, the value of the American farmer and grain as a risk reduction partner. We get into:
From agbioscience innovation to defense, pharma, food and nutrition, and beyond – the bioeconomy is broad; and the intersection of innovation, research and policy generates a lot of questions when it comes to how we grow and scale to be a global leader right here in the United States. This week, we are joined by Sarah Glaven, Visiting Fellow at Princeton University’s Andlinger Center and a former biotechnologist representing The White House, The Pentagon and The Naval Research Laboratory. We get into:
The intersection of innovation and regulatory – specifically when it comes to food is health – is a growing conversation. This week, we are joined by Dave Riggs, Business Cluster Unit President for Eurofins SFA, to talk laboratory science, consulting food brands around the world and health emerging as a trend on their minds. We get into:
Developing and recruiting next generation talent is a critical topic for all industries and agbioscience leaders are no stranger to the conversation. This week, we are joined by National FFA CEO, Scott Stump, to examine how young leaders are developed, getting them engaged in agbioscience and looking ahead to the excitement that is October for National FFA in Indianapolis as their Convention and Expo looms near. We get into:
AgriNovus CEO, Christy Wright, and Vice President, Libby Fritz, recap September with Cayla Chiddister and discuss the month's news, including additions to our team via our Field Atlas Ambassador program, our participation in the One Health Summit in Indianapolis and several industry stories to share.
As consumers shift their preferences toward healthier food options, there is ripe opportunity for innovators in the CPG snack market. This week, we are joined by NutriPop co-founders Ujaswin Jain and Audrey Chung to talk food is health, student entrepreneurship and seizing the moment. We get into:
From innovation pipeline movement to Series B funding, leadership changes and so much more, BiomEdit is on the move. This week, CEO Aaron Schacht joins Agbioscience to talk scientific discovery, artificial intelligence, creating “and” solutions and how he approaches adding to his team in a meaningful way. Highlights include:
The global GMO testing market was valued at $3.9 billion in 2021, and is projected to reach $6.2 billion by 2031. With current processes costing time and money, there is a massive opportunity for innovation in genetic detection that benefits grain distributors, seed suppliers and ultimately – the farmer and consumer. Today we are joined by Ryan Skaar, COO of NanoBio Designs, to talk their platform technology and winning AgriNovus’ Velocity accelerator. We get into:
Indiana is now home to a commercially available renewable diesel fuel production facility after CountryMark cut the ribbon on its $100 million plus refinery upgrade in Mount Vernon. With new production capabilities and a new market for Indiana soybean farmers, we are joined by CountryMark CEO Matt Smorch to talk about the expansion and what lies ahead. We get into it:
Young leaders are born in the show rings of 4-H fairs and Cora Rodibaugh knows that story well. This week, the 10-year 4-H'er sits down with Indiana Farm Bureau’s Annie Romine to recap her career, talk about her love of pigs and the skills she’s acquired along the way that have her equipped her for the future. She also shares what’s ahead for her as she takes off for Purdue University to start the fall semester.
Indiana Farm Bureau is dedicated to supporting youth in agriculture. There are several opportunities for youth to be involved in INFB, with scholarships for graduating seniors and college students; Collegiate Farm Bureau chapters at Purdue, Huntington and Vincennes universities; FFA advocacy days and trainings; grants for FFA chapters and 4-H clubs; and leadership development events, competitions, awards and conferences. INFB also serves as presenting sponsor of the Exhibitor Experience for livestock exhibitors and all showmanship contests at the Indiana State Fair. You can learn more at infb.org/YFAP.
For the first time on Agbioscience (except that one time when she was a guest), we are joined by our new President and CEO, Christy Wright! She talks her first week on the job, connecting with industry leaders and stakeholders and hosting her first Quadrant on day three at AgriNovus. You can also read her feature with Elaine Watson in AgFunder News and on Hoosier Ag Today. Christy, Libby and Cayla get into:
Consumer education and connectivity to agbioscience innovation and their food’s origin story is a growing conversation. To see is to believe; but to experience the farm? That’s a whole different story. Purdue University’s Megan Kuhn guest hosts Hannah Vorsilak, Indiana Soybean Alliance’s Marketing and Communications Manager, this week to talk about the organization’s ultimate commitment to consumer experience in Indiana agriculture: The Glass Barn – located on the Indiana State Fairgrounds. We get into:
For the first time in Agbioscience video history, we have taken the show on the road; and not to just any venue...but to the iconic Indiana State Fair. Spanning 15 days that welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors, those consumers and small businesses help to generate millions for the regional economy in its two weeks run. Today our guest host Kenda Resler Friend from KRF Public Relations is joined by Indiana State Fair Executive Director, Cindy Hoye, to talk the impact of consumer experience, agbioscience innovation and the fairgrounds beyond these two weeks. We get into:
According to Purdue University’s Ag Economy Barometer survey in July, high input costs and lower crop and livestock prices are the top two concerns on farmers mind at the moment. For agbioscience innovators, it’s a critical more than ever to consider moves that can deliver maximum value to the farmer. Dave Pugh, CFO of AgReliant Genetics, joins us as GDM recently announced its agreement to acquire the company. We get into:
The following conversation discusses the recent announcement that GDM is seeking to acquire AgReliant Genetics. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals in the United States and other customary closing conditions and approvals. Until the necessary approvals and closing conditions are obtained and satisfied and the transaction has closed, GDM and AgReliant Genetics will continue to operate as independent entities, maintaining their current business routines and commercial structures.
From the early days of biotechnology to the growing voice of today’s consumer, a desire exists for knowledge and understanding of the work being done by scientists, farmers and agbioscience innovators to bring food to our tables. Today we are joined by Michele Payn, author and founder of Cause Matters Corp., who has made it her mission to bridge this gap, to make agriculture less defensive and to put emotion and heart at the center of the work happening across the industry. We get into:
This is perhaps the most epic news recap we have ever encountered on Agbioscience! So much so, we had to go back and record audio after we thought we were done. We get into the USDA's announcement on re-organization and Indiana's inclusion as a regional hub as part of that, AgReliant Genetics' acquisition by GDM, BiomEdit's product pipeline milestones, Series B funding and new leadership additions, and a big partnership announcement and honor for Corteva Agriscience. We also provide an update on the AgriNovus CEO search and when you can expect to learn more information.
Don't forget! AgriNovus Quadrant is August 20 -- Register here: https://agrinovusindiana.com/quadrant/
The USDA estimates that each year in the U.S., poor nutrition causes roughly $1.1 trillion in preventable health care spending and lost productivity from diet-attributable diseases. As farmers continue their work of producing food for a growing population, agbioscience companies are also seeking new ways to innovate and optimize for human, animal and planetary health. This week, we are joined by Corteva Agriscience’s first Chief Health Officer, Dr. Claudia Coplein, to examine the breadth of her new role with the company and what they aim to achieve. We get into:
The words talent and shortage come packaged together in nearly every sentence across almost every industry these days. It's a widespread challenge that raises a bigger question for agbioscience companies. Do our hurdles look like the same as other industries? If not, what do we do next? This week, we are joined by Vivayic’s Agriculture Practice Lead, Blaze Currie. We get into: