Grain Ecosystems, a climate-tech company building digital and financial infrastructure for biochar and renewable energy projects, and ElectraTherm Inc. announce the integration of ElectraTherm’s Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology into Grain’s flagship equipment selection software. This enhancement enables project developers to evaluate and incorporate the value of waste heat-to-power solutions directly within their system design planning.
The integration represents a major step forward for the biochar and pyrolysis industry, allowing accurate modeling of the financial and environmental benefits of electricity generation from waste heat recovery—including potential investment tax credit advantages. ElectraTherm’s ORC systems convert low-temperature waste heat into usable power, making them ideally suited for coupling with pyrolysis operations to transform previously lost energy into a valuable resource.
“With the addition of ElectraTherm’s ORC technology, developers using the Grain Ecosystems platform can now model electrical generation outputs, assess revenue potential, and quantify low-carbon energy contributions from waste heat recovery,” said Ryan Letourneau, CEO and Co-Founder of Grain Ecosystems. “This feature brings vital transparency to project financials and helps accelerate investment in clean technology infrastructure.”
The new software functionality aligns with U.S. tax incentives for Waste Energy Recovery Property (WERP), carbon credit generation, and energy offtake monetization. It empowers developers to explore more project configurations and make data-driven decisions that maximize both climate impact and economic return.
“ElectraTherm is proud to partner with Grain Ecosystems to enable smarter, more sustainable biochar projects,” said Natalie Van Dyke, Director of Sales at ElectraTherm. “This integration makes it easier for developers to capture pyrolysis waste heat and convert it into reliable, renewable energy.”
The Grain–ElectraTherm collaboration is already progressing from concept to implementation, with multiple live projects underway and set to go online soon. The enhanced platform is now available to all Grain Ecosystems subscribers. To learn more or request a demo, visit www.grainecosystems.com and select JOIN ECOSYSTEM.
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:
Indiana agriculture took center stage today as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins visited Everett Farms and Seed LLC in Lebanon ahead of her keynote address to the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. The visit, hosted by U.S. Rep. Jim Baird (R-Dist. 4), State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle), the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) and the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA), highlighted how trade and biofuels policy shape the success of Indiana’s farm economy.
Tyler Everett, Board treasurer of ICGA and owner of Everett Farms and Seed, along with his family, welcomed Rollins to his multigenerational family farm and shared the importance of market consistency for corn growers.
“With over 43 percent of Indiana’s corn going into ethanol, what happens in the biofuels space directly impacts not only my farm and my neighbor’s farm, but our entire state’s economy,” Everett said. “We encourage USDA to continue working with EPA to finalize nationwide, year-round E15 sales and ensure the program has the regulatory clarity it needs.”
During the visit, Rollins toured the farm, harvested a few rows of a cornfield in Everett’s combine, and participated in a roundtable discussion with Indiana farmers and agricultural leaders. The conversation focused on the role of trade in keeping rural economies strong and the impact of new international agreements.
Rollins shared breaking news of a recent trade development with China that includes significant soybean purchase commitments.
“Until this week, China had purchased zero, which was devastating to our soybean farmers, especially when we rely on them for 62 percent of our market,” Rollins said. “The agreement includes 12 million metric tons of soybean purchases over the next two months and at least 25 million tons annually in the coming years, plus commitments on sorghum, hardwood and the removal of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. ag products.”
Denise Scarborough, chair of ISA and a farmer from LaCrosse, emphasized how global trade directly impacts local farm profitability.
“We’re like a well-oiled machine as long as global markets are open and stable,” Scarborough said. “But uncertainty, whether from tariffs, politics or shifting regulations, hits our farms fast. We want free trade, not aid. Open markets are what keep our rural economies thriving.”
Scarborough, who also represents Indiana on the American Soybean Association Board and works as an agricultural lender, added that farmers are facing tight margins and increased volatility.
“Whether it’s a good plan or a bad plan, we just need a plan so we can move forward with confidence,” she said.
In addition to Rollins, the event drew participation from Indiana’s agricultural, state and federal leadership. U.S. Rep. Baird and members of Indiana’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-Dist. 2), U.S. Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.); U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Dist. 5), U.S. Rep. Mark Messmer (R-Dist. 8) and U.S. Rep. Jefferson Shreve (R-Dist. 6) attended, along with Dr. Scott Hutchins, USDA undersecretary for research, education and economics and retired District 8 U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon.
Representatives from the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, the Indiana General Assembly and major farm organizations including ISA, ICGA, the Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Indiana Farm Bureau, Indiana Pork, Indiana Poultry Association and Beck’s Hybrids also participated.
The visit showcased Indiana’s leadership in agriculture and reinforced the importance of continued federal engagement on trade and energy policy to sustain farm profitability.
The Applied Research Institute (ARI) has unveiled plans for the Heartland BioWorks headquarters at 1200 Indiana Avenue in the 16 Tech Innovation District, a pivotal investment that will advance America’s biomanufacturing leadership and further position Indianapolis as a national hub for biomanufacturing innovation and workforce development.
The 20,000 square foot, two-story facility, funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) as part of its Regional Tech Hubs Program, will serve as both a workforce training and innovation center and the headquarters of the Heartland BioWorks Consortium, a national collaboration of industry, academia, and government partners.
The Heartland BioWorks headquarters will house state-of-the-art classroom, benchtop, and pilot scale infrastructure to provide first-in-class hands-on training and upskilling opportunities to rapidly grow Indiana’s biomanufacturing workforce. Beyond training, the facility will serve as a collaboration hub, uniting innovators across sectors to strengthen the Midwest’s role in America’s bioeconomy.
“Indiana is a place where innovation and industry meet, and the Heartland BioWorks headquarters embodies that,” said Indiana Governor Mike Braun. “This investment will help grow good-paying jobs, strengthen our life sciences sector, and ensure Indiana remains at the forefront of America’s effort to build and manufacture critical technologies right here at home.”
With funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and an additional $6 million investment from Eli Lilly and Company, the headquarters will serve as an interactive gateway to the 16 Tech Innovation District, complementing Indiana University’s IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences and uniting the efforts of Purdue University, Ivy Tech Community College, EmployIndy, BioCrossroads, and others to expand opportunities within Indiana’s growing biomanufacturing industry.
“The Heartland BioWorks headquarters represents a national commitment to uniting human capital, research capabilities, and industrial capacity across the life sciences to secure America’s leadership in biotechnology and biomanufacturing,” said Andrew Kossack, CEO of the Applied Research Institute. “ARI is proud to lead this effort to ensure Indiana’s unique assets strengthen our nation’s competitive edge in this critical field.”
“When I helped author and pass the CHIPS and Science Act, this is the kind of national impact I envisioned,” said U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN). “Heartland BioWorks is proving that the Midwest can lead the next generation of American innovation, by developing the talent, technology, and partnerships needed to secure our nation’s economic and biosciences future.”
The headquarters aligns with the 16 Tech Innovation District master plan and has been approved by the 16 Tech Design Standards Committee and the Indianapolis Regional Center. Designed by RATIO, the facility is expected to become operational in mid-2027.
“This headquarters will be a national benchmark for innovation, talent, and opportunity” said Michelle Dennis, Regional Innovation Officer for Heartland BioWorks.
In an era defined by global competition and rapid technological change, Heartland BioWorks is demonstrating how regional collaboration can serve a national mission. By aligning local strengths with national priorities, ARI and its partners are building a model for how America can accelerate security through innovation and collaboration.-term growth.
BioBond Adhesives, Inc. (“BioBond”), a leader in innovative biobased adhesives and coatings, today announced a major breakthrough in school adhesives with the launch of its BioBond School Adhesive. Positioning itself as a superior, healthier alternative to traditional glues, BioBond is accelerating the industry’s transition to high-performance, USDA BioPreferred certified products that are Made In The USA.
BioBond School Adhesive is available for purchase at https://biobond.myshopify.com.
“The BioBond School adhesive is the first in a line of everyday adhesive products that essentially have no odors and microplastics, and are PFAS free,” said Greg Piche, Vice President of Products at BioBond. “We are introducing a game-changer that will have an immediate and significant impact on the industry, offering excellent performance and very competitive pricing,” added Marc McConnaughey, BioBond’s CEO.
Dr. Clayton Westerman, BioBond’s Chief Science Officer, emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainability and performance. “The development of high-performing, cost-effective, and sustainable biobased products that are safer and healthier is challenging. BioBond School Adhesive was the first of five plant-water based adhesives developed in our Indiana Technology Labs that we are introducing to the market, demonstrating that superior performance doesn’t have to come at the expense of health or the environment.”
Commitment to Rural America
BioBond is the second portfolio company launched by Big Idea Ventures’ Generation Food Rural Partners I, LP (GFRP) Fund. Based in Lafayette, Indiana, the company is dedicated to fostering economic growth in rural communities, with 70% of its funding spent in rural areas of America, creating living wage jobs.
About BioBond
BioBond Adhesives, Inc. is a material technology company developing new adhesive materials, coatings, and applications that makes our environment a healthier and safer place to live and work. We specialize in the development of biopolymer compounds to displace traditional petroleum-based adhesives and coatings. As the second company formed within BIV’s
Generation Food Rural Partners (GFRP) Fund, BioBond licenses intellectual property from multiple universities collaborating to develop novel materials to reduce the amount of plastic waste and VOCs such as formaldehydes entering the environment. BioBond headquarters is located in Lafayette, Indiana. For more information, visit https://biobond.com.
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:
