AgriNovus Indiana announced today its selection of a new vice chair and the addition of three new directors to its board of directors.
AgriNovus Indiana, a nonprofit coalition focused on growing Indiana’s agbioscience economy, announced today its selection of a new vice chair and the addition of three new directors to its board of directors.
The board unanimously approved Dr. Karen Plaut, dean of Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, as its vice chair through 2023. In addition, the board approved Jenni Browning, CEO of American Dairy Association of Indiana, Jim Wispinski, vice president of Global Portfolios at Corteva Agriscience, and Steve Witges, senior vice president of Agricultural Lending at Farm Credit Mid-America.
“Indiana’s $52 billion agbioscience economy continues to record growth and strength thanks to the direction and support of the AgriNovus board of directors,” said Mitch Frazier, president and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana. “The selection of Dr. Plaut as our vice chair and the addition of executives from American Dairy Association Indiana, Corteva Agriscience and Farm Credit Mid-America provide even more strength and support as we work to achieve our bold ambition of adding $4 billion of revenue growth to Indiana’s agbioscience economy by 2024.”
Plaut is the dean of Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, overseeing academic programs within the college, the Indiana Agricultural Experiment Station, the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service and several state regulatory services. She is also a professor of Animal Sciences and has active research in mammary gland biology. Plaut was previously the senior associate dean for Research and Faculty Affairs in Purdue’s College of Agriculture and held faculty positions at the University of Vermont and Michigan State University, serving as the chair of the Department of Animal Sciences at both institutions. Plaut also spent a few years working with NASA as lead scientist for the Space Station Biological Research Project for the International Space Station. She holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Vermont, a master’s degree in animal nutrition from Penn State University and a doctorate in animal science from Cornell University. Her postdoctoral studies were completed at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institute of Health. Plaut was named a Fellow of the American Dairy Science Association in 2020.
Browning serves as the CEO of the American Dairy Association of Indiana, which works on behalf of the state’s 700 dairy farm families to educate consumers on the benefits of dairy. Also a registered dietician, she is passionate about convening organizations to empower agricultural education and communication with the public, directly connecting them with where their food is produced. Browning is a graduate of Ball State University and has received their Outstanding Alumnus Award along with the Indiana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics of Outstanding Dietician Award.
Wispinski is the vice president of Global Portfolios at Corteva Agriscience, leading all Crop Protection portfolios focused on asset management and growth from product development through commercial launch stages. He previously held the role of vice president, Cereal and Broadleaf Crop Herbicide Portfolio, residing in Switzerland, and served as president and CEO of Dow AgroSciences Canada. He was recognized with the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal for work in the agriculture industry on recommendation from Grain Growers of Canada. Wispinski received his bachelor’s of science in agricultural engineering from the University of Alberta.
Witges is the senior vice president of Agricultural Lending for Farm Credit Mid-America, overseeing retail operations across Indiana. He started his career in the Farm Credit System, earning numerous sales and services awards for his outstanding performance. Witges has served multiple roles since then, including regional vice president of Agricultural Lending for Farm Credit Illinois. He hold a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
The AgriNovus Indiana board of directors is comprised of 33 leaders from industry, academia, economic development and government.
She’s the 19th president of Indiana University and the institution’s first female leader. Today we welcome Dr. Pamela Whitten to the podcast to get her take on IU’s strength at the intersection of tech and health, the university’s deep interest and application in agbioscience and creating a seven-year strategic framework during a time where higher education is facing enrollment decline. She also talks about collaborating alongside Purdue University president, Mitch Daniels, to split IUPUI into two world-class establishments in the heart of Indianapolis and what that means for the future of our state.
How are coffee and cryptocurrency related? In the case of this week’s guest, the more you consume, the greater your investment portfolio. Andre Ramsey, Co-Founder of CoinCoffee, joins us to talk about rewarding members through java coins that are redeemed for cryptocurrency, going to market and the consumer reaction and the massive validation he felt from Starbucks launching a similar program.
State has maintained or increased growth in key areas since 2018
The State of Indiana, as well as seven Hoosier cities, have once again been recognized for their national life science strengths, according to Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and TEConomy Partners’ biennial survey of the U.S. life sciences industry. The report, The U.S. Bioscience Industry: Fostering Innovation and Driving America’s Economy Forward, measures growth in the biosciences sector* from 2018 to 2021 for the entire country and each of the fifty states.
Indiana continued its top 10 employment ranking in the life sciences, with a sizeable workforce and industry concentration in the areas of agriculture feedstock and chemicals, drugs and pharmaceuticals, and medical devices and equipment. The state is also one of only eight states with employment specializations in three of five bioscience sectors. In addition, Indiana is ranked third for academic biosciences research and development (R&D) investment growth, increasing 23 percent from 2018 to 2021. Bloomington, Columbus, Evansville, Indianapolis, Lafayette, South Bend and Terre Haute are identified in the report as having significant life sciences activity. Bloomington and Lafayette were called out specifically for their diverse set of bioscience strengths – they are two of only nineteen cities in the U.S. to have employment specializations in three of the five industry subsectors.
“Indiana’s life sciences industry continues to drive innovation and rank in the top quintile nationwide,” said Patty Martin, president and CEO of BioCrossroads. “Our employment numbers have increased by 8 percent over the last three years; our venture capital investments have grown; and we have maintained our status as a leader in the pharmaceutical, medical device and agriculture sectors.”
For large metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) (employment greater than 250,000):
Indianapolisis 5thnationally for the number of Drugs and Pharmaceuticals jobs. It ranks 9thin the U.S. for Agricultural Feedstock and Chemicals jobs, and it is 25th for Bioscience-related distribution jobs.
For Medium MSAs (employment between 75,000 and 250,000):
Evansville ranks 11thfor Agricultural Feedstock and Chemicals. Lafayette has four subsectors with specialized employment concentration and has improved its standing significantly in two areas since the last report in 2020. It is now number 1 in Agricultural Feedstock and Chemicals and 6th nationally, moving up from 18th in 2020. In the Drugs and Pharmaceuticals category, Lafayette vaulted its position to 3rd from 13th. South Bend-Mishawaka catapulted six positions from 2020 and is now 8th in Medical Devices.
For Small MSAs (employment less than 75,000):
Bloomington has been the number 1in the Medical Devices and Equipment category for specialized employment concentration for the last eight years. It is also the second highest region for Pharmaceuticals and is ranked 17th nationally for Medical Devices and Equipment, up from 20th in 2020. The region is also 13th in Bioscience-Related Distribution. Columbus made its debut on the list of cities with high activity this year ranking 15thfor Pharmaceuticals. Terre Haute moved up two places and is now 12th in the Drugs and Pharmaceuticals category.
“It’s impressive that seven Hoosier cities from North to South and East to West are being recognized for strong life sciences activity, spreading out the economic impact across the state,” said Kristen Jones, president of the Indiana Health Industry Forum. “It’s critical that we keep investing in this sector that provides jobs, tax revenue, and most importantly, life-saving products, to Hoosiers.”
Indiana is home to the global headquarters of Elevance, Inc., Cook Medical, Eli Lilly and Company, and Zimmer Biomet and the North American headquarters of Roche Diagnostics. Beckman Coulter, Boston Scientific, Catalent Biologics, Corteva Agriscience, Covance, DePuy Orthopaedics, Express Scripts, Medtronic, and Reckitt Benckiser all host major operations in the state.
According to the report, 2.1 million people work in the U.S. bioscience industry, which has seen employment growth of 11 percent since 2018. In addition, the sector contributes more than $2.9 trillion to the U.S. economy.
Sec. Chambers, IEDC announce new initiatives to honor, support and power state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
Governor Eric J. Holcomb proclaimed this week (Nov. 14-20, 2022) Global Entrepreneurship Week in Indiana, recognizing the many contributions that entrepreneurs and innovators have made to Indiana’s economy and communities. As part of the state’s celebrations this week, Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) announced new entrepreneurial ecosystem assets, launching Entrepreneurship Indiana, an annual publication honoring the entrepreneurial journey, and announcing a new website to help entrepreneurs start and grow their business.
“Entrepreneurship has been and continues to be an essential driver of Indiana’s economic future,” said Sec. Chambers. “Our innovation ecosystem has unlimited potential and deserves continued cultivation and resource allocation. This week, we honor and thank our entrepreneurs – the risk takers, dreamers and innovators who are fundamental to our state’s economy.”
Entrepreneurship Indiana 2022 is an entrepreneurial yearbook published in partnership with PATTERN to honor the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and inspire future founders and innovators. The inaugural edition, which is available online, features 100 entrepreneurial success stories, highlighting the ambition, commitment and resilience of entrepreneurs of all backgrounds and industries across the state.
The new website, currently in beta testing with organizations that support Indiana’s entrepreneurs, is a tool for current and future entrepreneurs, designed to connect founders with the right resource at the right time in their journey to start and grow their business. It is the first of its kind statewide listing of resources, programs and services for entrepreneurs, providing visitors curated connections to Indiana’s robust network of support organizations, mentors, accelerators, capital opportunities and more.
Sec. Chambers and the IEDC will celebrate these new initiatives and Indiana’s entrepreneurs at three regional Global Entrepreneurship Week events this week, hosting founders, aspiring entrepreneurs and industry mentors. The state will also host Cecilia Wessinger, director for global community at the Global Entrepreneurship Network, who will be visiting the Hoosier State to celebrate Indiana as an emerging global entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“One week a year, for the past 15 years, the world comes together in commemoration of entrepreneurship. We celebrate ingenuity, resilience and passion, the life blood of courage, sustainability and prosperity. In recognition of efforts and inviting more people to explore opportunities and dreams of their own making,” said Wessinger. “At the crossroads of America, Indiana has a rich history in all these aspects. I am excited to join the festivities and honor the founders and ecosystem builders in the heart of the Heartland.”
The events* will be held as follows:
Central Region: Tuesday, Nov. 15, 4-6 p.m.
The Center – Heritage Group | 6320 Intech Way, Indianapolis, IN 46278
North Region: Wednesday, Nov. 16, 4:45-6:30 p.m.
Lerner Theater | 410 S. Main St., Elkhart, IN 46516
South Region: Thursday, Nov. 17, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
The Mill | 642 N. Madison St., Bloomington, IN 47404
The state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has a significant impact on the state’s economy and its communities. Indiana’s youngest companies (under five years of age) account for the majority of net new job growth in the state, creating more than 36,000 new jobs in 2019 alone. In 2021, Hoosier companies under five years of age contributed an estimated $11.5 billion to Indiana’s GDP. At the local level, one successful new company increases the median household income of surrounding households, driving community wellbeing.
*Media interested in attending the Global Entrepreneurship Week events must RSVP to Erin Sweitzer at [email protected].
Brad Chambers’ career is rich in entrepreneurial ventures – from launching and selling a landscaping business, investing in his first rental property as a sophomore at Indiana University (he owned 31 properties by the time he graduated) and ultimately founding Buckingham Properties. This week, the Indiana Secretary of Commerce joins us to talk about joining Governor Holcomb’s cabinet, industries that will power our state’s economy for years to come and his passion growing entrepreneurship in Indiana. He also talks about this exciting time for Indiana’s agbiosciences, uniting its community and its integral role in building the economy of the future.
Milestone acquisition adds extensive operations management functionality to farm-specific accounting and financial analysis
Traction Ag Inc., the first cloud-based accounting software delivering solutions to growers across the Midwest, today announced its acquisition of Granular Business, a Corteva Agriscience™ product. Granular Business is farm financial management software focused on helping farmers become more profitable and efficient.
The acquisition adds Corteva’s industry-leading farm management technology to the Traction Ag accounting system. This will allow for a seamless experience with best-in-class farm operations and industry-leading farm accounting to see practical and actionable insights while reducing the administrative burden on farmers and their employees.
“Growers look for value in all they do. We help growers find this value through financial and operational management tools that allow more control over their farm by delivering the information needed to make decisions,” said Ian Harley, co-founder and CEO of Traction Ag Inc. “The addition of Corteva’s best-in-class technology with Traction Ag’s unique accounting solution equips farmers with industry-leading digital tools enabling them to continually find efficiencies that help them grow.”
As farm consolidation creates large managerial complexities, the need for advanced, farm-specific accounting, payroll and operational management tools has increased. Through this transaction, Traction Enterprise Operations will provide industry-leading growers with the functionality they need to improve the accuracy and presentation of information needed to make critical decisions on the farm.
“This acquisition will provide farmers with the tools they need to make quicker, more accurate and easier decisions that will improve their farm and lay the foundation for future generations,” said Shane Hageman, president of Hageman Group. “Customers will benefit from having access to information about their farms that puts them at an advantage over other growers in the industry.”
Granular Business is Traction Ag’s first acquisition since its founding in 2020. The announcement comes during a time of rapid growth for the Midwest-based company, including a recent funding round. The acquisition will further accelerate the company’s single focus and commitment to providing the best farm management tools in the industry.
What came first, the chicken or the pizza? This week, they come together. We are joined by founder of Zero Carb LYFE, Omar Atia, to talk all about his chicken-based protein pizza’s fast-growing success. He also talks food science, diets and creating innovative food products that people want – and need. Ever hear about a chicken-based chocolate chip cookie? Listen here.
The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) and its five talent and industry sector initiatives, in collaboration with the 16 Tech Innovation District, will host the IN ADVANCE Summit on Tuesday, December 13, 2022. This free conference is aimed at young talent and will include discussions on Indiana’s advanced industry sectors (agbiosciences, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and logistics, and technology), represented by CICP’s initiatives (AgriNovus Indiana, Ascend Indiana, BioCrossroads, Conexus Indiana and TechPoint).
The content-rich day will include industry leaders discussing the types of jobs they see as critical for the future of the advanced industries. CICP initiatives will also have specific break-out sessions to engage early-in-career professionals in their various sectors. Additional discussions will include how young people can engage in their community and their companies. The Summit will feature Derrick Feldmann, researcher and author of The Corporate Social Mind: How Companies Lead Social Change from the Inside Out.
“Talent is the most critical factor for the future of Indiana’s economy, particularly in the advanced industries,” said Lori LeRoy, executive vice president of communications for the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership. “Bringing young people from different sectors together and having them interact with and learn from corporate and civic leaders provides them with a unique opportunity. CICP, our talent and industry sector initiatives, and 16 Tech understand the importance of engaging with the next generation of leaders in our community, and we believe this is a great new platform to do so.”
The sessions are appropriate for college students and those who have been in the workforce for less than 10 years.
To learn more about the IN ADVANCE Summit and to register, visit https://www.cicpindiana.com/in-advance/. Registration is limited and the deadline to sign up is Dec. 7, 2022.
In a time where hunger is still a critical issue in the United States, Elevance Health is stepping up to connect consumers to better nutrition and, subsequently, better health outcomes. This week we are joined by Elevance Health’s Chief Health Officer, Shantanu Agrawal, to talk about the company’s approach to whole health, the role of innovation in connecting health food to the consumer and participating in AgriNovus’ HungerTech Challenge.
