Ask new CEO of AgReliant Genetics about his career journey and you’ll get an interesting take from him: it’s not at all what he expected. But whether he’s been launching, fixing or changing products, systems and processes, agbioscience innovation has been the fabric of his story. This week, Brian Barker joins us to talk about making the leap into leadership of AgReliant’s longstanding reputable brands.
From global turbulence to urban sprawl and a growing population, how does AgReliant view their next wave of innovation to meet the demands that evolve globally? As Brian says, that corn kernel is more like a microchip than anything else and getting everything you can out of the plant will remain their focus. From gene editing to analytic tools, the new wave has just begun.
What’s ahead for AgReliant Genetics? Brian says it starts with AgReliant’s people and doubling down on what they do best.
Technology maintains diesel-like performance while delivering cost savings and lower carbon emissions for heavy-duty industry
ClearFlame Engine Technologies announced today that it has completed the first sale of its FuelAdaptive™ truck to Vander Haag’s Inc. The truck is the world’s first product to deliver diesel-like performance to the heavy-duty trucking industry with a reduction in fuel costs and carbon emissions using a nationally-distributed fuel.
Vander Haag’s, a leader in sustainable heavy-duty solutions, will use ClearFlame’s truck to deliver parts to its 11 locations in multiple states.
ClearFlame’s technology provides:
More than 40 percent lower fuel costs than diesel: ClearFlame’s FuelAdaptive™ engine is the only alternative fuel engine technology in the market that offers the same performance as a diesel engine with lower fuel costs.
Builds on existing infrastructure: ClearFlame’s technology capitalizes on the existing fuel infrastructure available today, making it faster and easier for customers to cut costs and carbon emissions immediately.
Easy integration: Minimal change to existing diesel engine platforms.
Supply-Chain Ready: Incorporates easily into existing maintenance networks and manufacturing supply chains with no need to retrain technicians.
“Vander Haag’s has been an enthusiastic development partner for ClearFlame because of their market readiness, cost savings and use of existing infrastructure. Many of our customers don’t have the capital, infrastructure, or light duty cycles needed for EV adoption, and we see a massive opportunity to increase our market share by bringing customers the sustainability they desire without increasing costs.” – John Vander Haag, CEO, Vander Haag’s Inc.
“Our trucks not only have 40 percent lower fuel costs than diesel, they offer a greater reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than a comparable EV truck. As the world continues to careen past climate goals like the 1.5°C temperature warming limit called for in the Paris Climate Accords, ClearFlame stands ready to bring cost-effective carbon reduction solutions to the market today.” – Dr. BJ Johnson, CEO, ClearFlame
ClearFlame is focused on turning the more than four million diesel trucks on the road today into the cleanest, most fuel-efficient fleets. In their first pilots, ClearFlame reduced carbon emissions by nearly 45 percent, with greater savings expected in the future.
ClearFlame trucks are built to operate on a range of decarbonized liquid fuels including ethanol, a locally grown biofuel that supports America’s agricultural economy and promotes energy independence. ClearFlame also expands customer choice and prepares for growth in the alternative fuel market by adapting to future e-fuels made from renewable energy, such as green methanol or green ammonia.
ClearFlame expects to announce additional sales in the first half of 2024. The company is finalizing lease agreements for limited production trucks, targeting 2-3 dozen units with select customers.
“These grants are critical to ensuring the security of our food supply,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Federal partners like USDA-AMS are a wonderful asset to Indiana and to agriculture. I am excited to see Hoosier businesses expand with these grants.”
The purpose of this program is to improve food supply resilience in the middle of the food chain through increasing distribution, aggregation, storage capacity, market expansion and facility updates/expansions. Following federal guidance, the project performance period will be June 2024 through May 2027. Applicants must demonstrate how this project will improve resilience in the middle of the food chain.
“Our Hoosier farmers, producers, agribusinesses and consumers need a steady food supply chain system. We are grateful that USDA recognized this need in Indiana and across the country and continue to work with us to enhance our middle of the food chain businesses,” said Don Lamb, Indiana State Department of Agriculture director. “These grants will go a long way in ensuring rural vitality and success for our small and mid-sized producers, processors as well as Hoosier consumers.”
WHO IS ELIGIBLE:
Indiana businesses and producers that work in the middle of the food chain sector, defined as “from the farm gate to the end retail market” or the processing and aggregation/distribution sector of the food chain. Eligible product ideas could include, but are not limited to, creating a produce packing line, value added dairy and egg products, establishing/expanding a co-packing facility or building a commercial kitchen.
WHO IS INELIGIBLE:
Products including meat, poultry, wild-caught seafood, dietary supplements and food for animal consumption do not qualify in this program. Businesses may have the above listed product lines, but grant funds cannot be used to benefit these products. All for profit businesses must qualify as a small business by the Small Business Administration standards.
ELIGIBLE EXPENSES MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
Purchase/upgrade of equipment, infrastructure and technology – including installation;
Construction of a new facility or expansion of current facilities;
Increasing storage space – including cold storage, addition of new product lines;
Increasing packaging and labeling capabilities; and
Facility upgrades for climate-smart equipment.
“This partnership between USDA and Indiana is allowing critical funding to reach areas of the supply chain that need it most,” said USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The projects funded through this program will create new opportunities for the region’s small and midsize producers to thrive, expand access to nutritious food options, and increase supply chain resiliency.”
Applications will open on Jan. 29, 2024 and will be due to ISDA on March 8, 2024 by 12:00 pm (noon) EST. Those interested in receiving a subaward should apply directly through ISDA by March 8, 2024. Links to technical assistance webinars, application materials and additional resources can all be found at ISDA.in.gov. AMS encourages applications that serve smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, female producers and underserved communities.
Through the program and in addition to the Infrastructure Grant funding, ISDA will support supply chain coordination and technical assistance to farmers and food businesses operating in processing, aggregation and distribution—all critical activities to support access to more and better markets for farmers.
For details about a virtual Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure grant overview on Jan. 24 from 3-4 p.m. or for more information, visit isda.in.gov.
Up to $15,000 available in professional services to support research and development, business operations improvement, or technology development and implementation projects
“INTAP is one of the Indiana SBDC’s most impactful programs,” said Indiana Economic Development Corporation Vice President of Small Business Andrew Carty. “It is laser-focused on supporting small businesses in taking the plunge on their next iterative stage of innovation. By helping qualified companies fund projects they might not otherwise be able to pursue, INTAP enables our small businesses to secure the necessary skillsets, technologies or technical expertise needed to get to the next level.”
Through INTAP, eligible small businesses may apply to receive up to $15,000 in professional services from a qualified vendor to complete growth and improvement projects that require specialized assistance or technical expertise. Such projects include app or technology development, inventory and point of sale tracking system updates or training, intellectual property legal assistance, grant writing assistance for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs, and more. The program is administered in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington’s Cook Center for Entrepreneurship, which houses the South Central Indiana SBDC regional office.
INTAP has assisted 250 businesses with completing projects since the program was launched in 2017, 80 of which were completed in 2023. To be eligible for INTAP, Indiana small businesses must meet the following criteria:
be or become an Indiana SBDC client by March 1,
have a physical presence in Indiana,
use a vendor physically located in Indiana,
be able to complete the project within five months and before Dec. 31, 2024,
be an eligible project type, and
be able to demonstrate a positive impact after completion, including but not limited to new job creation, increased production or sales or new market expansion.
Indiana companies are encouraged to learn more about eligibility requirements and submit applications online.
Success Story: AgTech startup partners with software developer to launch product
Indiana SBDC client Contango, a West Lafayette-based AgTech company, developed a software that optimizes the supply chain for physical commodities such as grain, fertilizer and energy. The company utilized INTAP in 2023 by working with Spiccato Software Solutions to develop their validated software design mockups into a functional product. This project helped Contango make the shift from selling a prototype to selling a product, increasing customer confidence and accelerating Contango’s growth. Contango has also participated in the 2022 gBETA AgBioScience Accelerator and was a featured startup at the 2023 gener8tor Agriculture Conference.
AUA Private Equity Partners, LLC (“AUA Private Equity”) is pleased to announce the acquisition of Weaver Holdings, LLC (“Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing” or the “Company”), a fourth-generation family-owned manufacturer of popcorn and snacking products. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing is the largest independent manufacturer of popcorn products in the United States. The Company is recognized for its scale, quality, and innovation by its blue-chip retail and branded customers. Alongside its investment in Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing, AUA Private Equity will bring the firm’s significant experience in professionalizing and improving family-owned food manufacturing businesses to help expand on the Weaver Family’s well-invested assets and passionate employee base.
“Our partnership with the Weaver Family and Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing is emblematic of what AUA Private Equity does best – partnering with family-owned businesses to take them to the next level,” said Andy Unanue, Managing Partner of AUA Private Equity. “We will proactively focus on operational upside by supporting the team with capital and resources while preserving Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing’s entrepreneurial and solution-oriented culture. We are eager to continue building upon the Company’s ongoing success.”
David Benyaminy, Partner of AUA Private Equity commented, “We see tremendous opportunity to help Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing expand, and the Company possesses all of the necessary attributes to accelerate its success: an excellent management team, an engaged and aligned family-owner, and a flexible capital structure. Our plan is to make this a best-in-class partner for customers and all their snacking needs.”
Charlie DeVries, Vice President of AUA Private Equity added, “We are tapping into our bench of operating partners to enact meaningful change at the Company. We’ve added Mike Tracy, formerly the SVP of Supply Chain at Conagra, and Ted Schouten, formerly the President of TruFood Manufacturing to the board of directors. Both individuals will help oversee the investment and augment governance.”
Jason Kashman, CEO of Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing, said: “We are thrilled to partner with AUA Private Equity and its phenomenal team, who has a demonstrated history of success in food manufacturing and helping to propel the growth of family-owned businesses. By building on the foundation that the Weaver family put in place, AUA Private Equity will allow us to expand our capabilities operationally and increase the pace of product innovation. The resources that AUA Private Equity brings will ultimately benefit our customers and associates at Weaver. We are excited to join the AUA Private Equity family.”
Will Weaver, shareholder and fourth-generation owner added, “AUA Private Equity is the right partner to build on Ira Weaver’s original mission — to offer the world’s highest quality, best-tasting popcorn at the lowest possible price. We are very excited for what the future has to offer.“
The AUA Private Equity deal team was led by Partner David Benyaminy, Vice President Charlie DeVries, Senior Associate Nico Pflaum and Associate Luke Phillips. McDermott Will & Emery served as legal advisor for AUA Private Equity Partners and Proterra Investment Partners provided the debt financing. Grant Thornton and Boston Consulting Group also served as commercial and financial advisors for AUA Private Equity. Taft Stettinius & Hollister served as legal advisor for Weaver. Ernst & Young Capital Advisors, LLC served as the exclusive financial advisor to Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing in connection with the transaction.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has become synonymous with innovation and that was certainly the case in Las Vegas last week as agbioscience brands like John Deere, Kubota and more flooded the tradeshow floor. Kristen Owen, executive director of equity research at Oppenheimer and Co., joins us to talk about innovation’s ability to create impact in a tightening economy and what she sees ahead as major shifts in industry trends.
One of the big ones from CES? Artificial intelligence (AI). With the cost of capital still high, AI has a chance to move from hype to help. Kristen examines where it can impact productivity in agriculture – from equipment to the bio-economy – to reduce variability for farmers’ operations.
As we brace for economic turbulence, what does Kristen see ahead for the broader food and ag economy? She talks about the investment landscape that will impact the next wave of agbioscience innovation, austerity creating opportunity and the one big trend she sees for the industry in 2024.
AgroRenew’s story begins where most good ideas form: at the kitchen table. Founders Brian and Katie Southern join us to talk about a new transformation in agbioscience – unused watermelon byproduct (rinds) becoming eco-friendly bioplastics. Based in Knox County, Indiana, AgroRenew announced plans at the end of 2023 for an $83 million investment in the form of a processing facility, a business that will ultimately employ nearly 250 people.
All the right factors came together to make this new company possible. Knox County is known for specialty crop production (watermelons, cantaloupe, pumpkins) and the Southerns have worked closely with The Pantheon to bring this idea to life. Brian and Katie talk about the science behind the product, their long-term vision to blend with other crop waste streams and contributing to a circular economy that generates more sustainability in the agbiosciences.
So what comes next? Brian and Katie discuss their long-term objectives and potential, adding value to the farmer’s operation and the timeline of getting AgroRenew plastics in stores.
Proven Science and In-Field Performance Attracted Private Investment and Management Buyout
DPH Biologicals, a leading biological company formed in 2018 focused on bringing best in class biologicals to broad acre farms, today announced a management-led buyout with a private investment group.
The company will continue to market under the DPH Biologicals brand and provide customers with the same high-quality products and service they have come to expect.
“With proven science, robust field data, strong industry relationships and a focus on biologicals, we are proud of DPH Bio’s robust and profitable growth the past several years. As the biologicals market grows, we believe farmers and producers around the world will increasingly demand biological products that work within existing management practices and offer multiple bottom-line benefits, beyond yield,” said Mick Messman, DPH Bio president and CEO.
The full management team brings decades of experience in agricultural sales, marketing, research, product development, supply chain management and business strategy, both domestically and internationally, and led the company’s rapid scale up and product portfolio expansion, building upon its flagship product – TerraTrove® SP-1®. The DPH Bio management team includes Mick Messman, Alex Cochran, Chris Feiden, Trey Soud, Brad Holzworth, Roberto Werneck and Cliff Watrin, and Mario Tenerelli as Latin America advisor.
“Our team has demonstrated business success in the ag industry and a commitment to deliver value to farmers. We saw the need for a company focused on developing and scaling biological technologies and began the transformation of DPH Bio in mid-2021. When ownership discussions started last year, the existing management team decided the time was right and we were ready and willing to fully invest in the company ourselves,” Messman said.
Poised for Growth in 2024
2023 was DPH Bio’s most successful year to date, with multiple milestones accomplished leading to a clear growth plan, Messman said, including:
● Launched a regenerative technology platform for biological products, RegenAphex™, a proprietary plant-based humus extract, representing a more sustainable and effective alternative to humic acid and synthetic fertilizers.
● EPA-registration and OMRI approval of BellaTrove Companion Maxx ST®, a biofungicide seed treatment labelled on multiple crops.
● Expanded sales of TerraTrove Residuce®, a unique biodigester product that breaks down crop residue and recycles nutrients, which is now used on over 1 million acres.
● Secured sales and distribution agreements with leading channel partners in the US and abroad and added more than 30 new retail partners in the US ag market.
● Advanced a pipeline of five novel biologicals, with initial sales beginning in 2024.
● Entered a multi-year research collaboration with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Crop Physiology lab run by Dr. Fred Below.
● Re-organized the T&O and International businesses with national distribution agreements and an asset light fertilizer model.
With highly experienced scientists, agronomists and cross-functional teams based in Indianapolis, Ind. and Princeton, Ill., and territory managers located in key markets, DPH Bio will continue bringing its diverse and growing product line to customers around the world, including planned expansion into Brazil.
Indiana-based agriculture & energy cooperatives Ceres Solutions Cooperative, Inc. and Co-Alliance Cooperative, Inc., announce today that both boards and memberships have overwhelmingly approved the merger. The effective date of the merger is March 1, 2024, and the company will be named Keystone Cooperative, Inc. This merger creates a farmer-owned cooperative focused on delivering an unmatched customer experience, with the resources needed to support farmer-owners as they grow into the future.
Keystone Cooperative will serve customers in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois. It will have four core divisions, including Energy, Agronomy, Grain, and Swine & Animal Nutrition. Keystone will employ over 1,700 dedicated team members throughout the states served, with expected annual revenue of $3 billion.
The boards have chosen Kevin Still, current President & CEO of Co-Alliance, to be the President & CEO of Keystone Cooperative. Ceres Solutions current CEO Jeff Troike will become the Executive Vice President of Keystone Cooperative, Inc. alongside Co-Alliance’s current Executive Vice President, Scott Logue.
“Keystone Cooperative brings together two financially strong, legacy-rich and highly successful cooperatives. This historic merger creates a cooperative that is equipped to navigate the ever-changing markets of today’s agriculture and energy industries,” said Kevin Still. “This powerful combination will build a cooperative that maximizes efficiencies, capitalizes on technology, and has the resources to enhance our customer experience while preparing for the needs of our future stakeholders,” concluded Still.
“Our membership has recognized the value of this combination, and we are looking forward to achieving our promise of a cooperative that is focused on the success of our members, the vitality of our rural communities, and providing an unparallelled return for our farmer-owners,” Jeff Troike added.
This merger announcement comes after a thorough due diligence process and the collaborative joint venture, Endeavor Ag & Energy, which serves Central Michigan in agronomy, propane and feed.
Rick Brubaker, Chairman of Ceres Board of Directors underscored the value of the merger, saying, “Our successful partnership with the Endeavor business in Michigan helped exhibit the collaborative capacity of our organizations. We look forward to seeing this team find even more synergies with our broader businesses.”
Tim Burke, Chairman of Co-Alliance Board of Directors affirmed the merger opportunity, stating, “This merger is a testament to our shared vision and unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional value to our customers. Together we will create a stronger, more resilient cooperative that will remain successful for our future generations.”
Keystone Cooperative will be headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Project will assess how antioxidant carotenoids in NutraMaize Orange Corn can mitigate negative health effects associated with heat-induced oxidative stress
NutraMaize, an agriculture company, has received a three-year, $460,455 grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The grant will study how a class of antioxidants called xanthophyll carotenoids affect egg-laying hens that experience heat stress. The project builds on previous studies conducted by NutraMaize and Purdue University collaborators funded by USDA Small Business Innovation Research grants. These studies demonstrated the ability of NutraMaize Orange Corn to reduce the incidence and severity of foot pad dermatitis in broiler chickens and significantly enhance yolk pigmentation in laying hens. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Poultry Science.
NutraMaize was founded by CEO Evan Rocheford and his father, Torbert Rocheford, the Dr. Fred L. Patterson Endowed Chair in Translational Genomics for Crop Improvement and a professor of agronomy in Purdue University’s College of Agriculture. The company’s nutritionally enhanced orange corn is currently available through a line of premium milled products under the brand Professor Torbert’s Orange Corn.
Heat stress and its effects on laying hens
Evan Rocheford said heat stress is a major health and productivity challenge for egg-laying hens. Due to climate change, heat stress events are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, leading to physiological changes in laying hens. These changes result in reductions in productivity that equate to millions of dollars of lost revenue for egg producers every year.
“One of the major consequences is oxidative stress, which is caused by the production of excess free radicals, or unstable atoms that damage cells,” Rocheford said. “Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and prevent damage. Therefore, increasing the antioxidant intake of birds has been proposed as a mitigation strategy for heat stress.”
Several antioxidant compounds have demonstrated beneficial effects against heat stress, but no studies have been conducted on the effect of xanthophyll carotenoids.
“Xanthophylls are potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that have high physiological activity within laying hens,” Rocheford said. “Xanthophylls are involved in yolk pigmentation and they bioaccumulate throughout laying hens’ bodies. They provide the color of the birds’ distinctive yellow fat, beaks, shanks and feet.”
Goals of the NutraMaize project
Rocheford said the research project has three goals:
Investigate the role xanthophyll carotenoids play in the physiological response of egg-laying hens during a heat stress event.
Determine if increasing carotenoid intake can be used as a strategy to help mitigate the negative health and production effects of heat stress.
Evaluate NutraMaize’s high-carotenoid Orange Corn as an alternative feed ingredient to deliver the potential benefits to egg-laying hens.
“NutraMaize Orange Corn has significantly higher xanthophyll carotenoid levels compared to yellow corn,” Rocheford said. “The carotenoids in orange corn also appear to be more bioavailable than commercial carotenoid supplements, making it an attractive alternative for delivering higher levels of carotenoids into the diets of laying hens.”
Rocheford said the project will test the hypothesis that the NutraMaize Orange Corn will deliver more carotenoids into the blood and tissues of egg-laying hens and increase their total antioxidant capacity. It is hypothesized that, in turn, this will reduce oxidative stress, stabilizing egg-laying hen health and performance during a heat stress event.
“This project will make a meaningful contribution to poultry science and the laying hen industry for a number of reasons,” Rocheford said. “First, there is a need for more investigation into the effects of heat stress on laying hens as most heat stress research is conducted on broiler chickens. Second, there is a need to investigate how heat stress affects laying hens across their lifetime, not just during an acute challenge period. Third, there have been no previous investigations into the role of xanthophyll carotenoids in the laying hens’ response to heat stress. Finally, if successful, this project would offer the laying hen industry a practical nutritional approach for addressing heat stress that also enhances yolk pigmentation and the nutritional quality of the table egg, one of America’s most important sources of protein.”
Research approach of the NutraMaize project
NutraMaize will collaborate with researchers at Purdue’s College of Agriculture and Egg Innovations, a leading producer of humanely raised eggs based in Warsaw, Indiana.
Purdue co-principal investigators Darrin Karcher, associate professor of animal sciences and poultry extension specialist, and Gregory Fraley, associate professor of animal sciences and the Terry and Sandra Tucker Endowed Chair in Poultry Science, will oversee a 90-week controlled environment heat stress study at Purdue’s Animal Sciences Research and Education Center. The NutraMaize and Purdue team will also work closely with Egg Innovations to conduct an 84-week field study on three 20,000-bird barns located across the Midwest.
Egg Innovations CEO John Brunnquell said, “As a leading producer of humanely raised eggs with an active research program, we are very excited to partner with NutraMaize and Purdue on this project. Heat stress is becoming an increasingly serious problem for producers like us, so there is an urgent need to identify practical and effective solutions to help mitigate its negative effects on both animal welfare and producer profitability.”
