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:
We are proud to announce that Intelinair has been named the 2025 IoT AgTech Advancement Award winner by IoThinkTank for its innovative AGMRI platform.
The IoT AgTech Advancement Award honors solutions that are transforming how we grow, manage, and sustain agricultural systems. In a time when growers face unpredictable weather and rising input costs, this recognition highlights technology that delivers real, measurable impact at the field level.
“AGMRI is a category-defining, data-rich platform that clearly demonstrates how IoT and AI can drive better, faster, and more sustainable decisions in agriculture,” Jordan Hayes, IoThinkTank Awards Coordinator. “Intelinair has delivered a solution that brings true operational clarity to the farm, and we’re proud to recognize them as the 2025 IoT AgTech Advancement Award winner.”
We’re honored to receive this recognition and remain committed to helping growers make informed decisions that protect yields and optimize resources.
IoThinkTank is the premier hub for recognizing excellence in the Internet of Things (IoT) industry. They are dedicated to celebrating innovation, applauding groundbreaking solutions, and honoring individuals and businesses shaping the future of connected technologies. Discover, celebrate, and connect with IoThinkTank – where IoT excellence takes center stage.
AgriNovus Indiana, a non-profit coalition focused on growing Indiana’s agbioscience economy, announced today that Christy Wright will be its next president and CEO, effective August 18.
Wright brings 15 years of leadership in food and agriculture, having most recently served as the director of Global Food Systems at Corteva Agriscience.
“Christy has a focus and commitment to accelerating impact at AgriNovus and driving this critical agbioscience economy forward,” said Karen Plaut, former executive vice president for research at Purdue University and chair of the AgriNovus Indiana Board of Directors. “The AgriNovus Board welcomes her to the team, and we look forward to supporting her leadership to make Indiana a global leader in agbioscience innovation.”
In her tenure at Corteva Agriscience, Wright led efforts as director of Global Food Systems, partnering with food and agriculture stakeholders to create a more resilient, customer-centric food system. She also held leadership roles on the company’s global food chain crop protection and advocacy teams. Wright joined Dow AgroSciences, one of Corteva’s preceding companies, and held roles in U.S. and global brand management, communications and public policy. She began her career in public affairs, working for advertising and communications firms Young and Laramore and Hetrick Communications.
“Indiana has a unique opportunity to lead at every stage of the value chain, bringing innovation to market that solves some of our most pressing challenges,” said Christy Wright, president and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana. “I am ready to get to work alongside our partners, emerging innovators and a talented AgriNovus team to drive continued success and collaboration that addresses the needs of the farmer, the climate, the consumer and beyond.”
Wright graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor of science and a master of science degree in Public Affairs. She is a graduate of the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series and Indiana AgriInstitute’s Agriculture Leadership Program (Class 16). Wright is also a Trustee of the Indiana Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.
Indiana’s agbioscience economy contributes $22.7 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) and employs more than 147,000 people statewide. With Wright’s vision and expertise, AgriNovus is well-positioned to execute its Accelerate 2050 Strategy that defines priority opportunities to position Indiana’s agbioscience economy for differentiated growth amid future uncertainty. To learn more, read Accelerate 2050: A Vision for Indiana Agbioscience.
AgriNovus is a branded initiative of The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), a unique civic and economic engine committed to transforming Indiana’s economy through strategic collaboration across the state’s most critical sectors. Founded in 1999, CICP unites the chief executives of Indiana’s leading corporations, universities, and philanthropic organizations to foster innovation, investment and long-term prosperity.
“Christy’s expertise uniquely positions her to lead AgriNovus into its next chapter,” said Melina Kennedy, CEO of The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP). “As the organization continues its efforts to grow the agbioscience industry, her leadership will be vital to a sector that is critical to Indiana’s success.”
Wright will host the next AgriNovus Quadrant on Wednesday, August 20 at VisionLoft Stutz in Indianapolis. Speakers include Beth Archer (AgriInstitute), Brian Barker (AgReliant Genetics), Karen Plaut (Purdue University) and Kevin Still (Keystone Cooperative). Get more details and register for the free event here.
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.
The market for ag biologicals is projected to grow significantly according to Grandview Research – making the leap from $11B market in 2024 to a $16.8B in 2030. One Indiana company has recently created a strategic alliance to drive biological innovation at every stage of the crop nutrition cycle. Dr. Tanya Soule, Vice President of Microbiology at BW Fusion, joins us to talk science, producers and the farm. We get into:
For over 230 episodes of Agbioscience, Mitch Frazier has helped share the stories of leaders and innovators across food, animal health, plant science, agtech and agriculture. One story we’ve not told, though, is that of the storyteller, himself. Today we close a chapter on this podcast and with all love, turn our pages forward to what lies next. But make no mistake, this is not a chapter we will soon forget. For his final time on Agbioscience, Mitch Frazier joins us. We get into:
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that the food ag industry contributes roughly 1.5 trillion to the country’s GDP – that’s a 5.5% share. It’s a market that continues to evolve as many factors – from consumers to regulatory challenges – create new opportunities for innovation and new products. This week we are joined by Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing CEO, Jason Kashman, to share perspective on food, health and what’s ahead. We dive into:
The USDA just reported that there are 243 veterinary shortage areas across 46 states nationwide – the highest number ever. It’s a challenging environment, particularly when you consider veterinarians are on the front lines of battling avian influenza and dealing with a massively growing companion animal population. Dr. Bret Marsh, Dean of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, joins this week to help understand the evolution that’s happening in this space and how this gap is being tackled. We get into:
