Company completes spin-off of seed business, well positioned to advance its robust pipeline with 12 new actives, including 5 biologicals, for launch in the next decade

INDIANAPOLIS—Oct. 1, 2026 – Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) today announced it has successfully spun off its advanced seed and genetics business and will move forward as a leading, pure-play global crop protection company.

“This is a new day for Corteva, and we couldn’t be more excited as we move forward with greater focus, agility and a renewed commitment to innovation and operational excellence,” said Corteva CEO Luke Kissam. “As the challenges facing agriculture continue to evolve, we’re ready to meet the needs of the future with the industry’s best people, portfolio and pipeline—advancing safe, effective and sustainable solutions that
deliver for farmers, our channel partners and our shareholders.”

Corteva begins this next chapter with strong momentum and a proven record of excellence in execution. Between 2020 and 2025, the crop protection business increased revenue by over $1 billion while expanding operating EBITDA margins by approximately 250 basis points on a segment basis. This progress includes establishment of an industry-leading biologicals and natural products platform, and intentional evolution of the company’s product mix toward differentiated technologies—now representing ~65% of sales—to bring new, critically-needed innovations to farmers.

With an $11 billion crop protection pipeline, world-class R&D capabilities, including our microbial discovery, integrated development, and predictive safety platforms, Corteva’s future growth will be driven by innovation farmers need most. Today, the company’s nearly 9,000 employees serve growers in approximately 110 countries.

Conditional licensure, achieved in just over four years, gives poultry producers an option to reduce the impact of necrotic enteritis; commercial evaluation programs begin at major U.S. poultry producers

BiomEdit, a pioneering animal health biotechnology company, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Center for Veterinary Biologics (USDA CVB) has granted conditional licensure for its lead candidate, Clostridium Perfringens Alpha Toxin and NetB Antibody Fragment, Live Limosilactobacillus Vector (CPerf LLV), previously referred to as BE-101, based on the demonstration of a reasonable expectation of efficacy in terms of reduced necrotic enteritis (NE)-associated mortality in broiler chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens.

USDA conditional licensure enables earlier market access for products that demonstrate safety and a reasonable expectation of efficacy, helping address animal diseases with limited treatment options while additional data are generated for full licensure. BiomEdit will continue advancing CPerf LLV toward full licensure.

The conditional licensure step marks a major regulatory and commercial milestone for BiomEdit, advancing CPerf LLV from development into initial market evaluation. BiomEdit believes CPerf LLV is the first genetically engineered probiotic biologic licensed for use in any animal species worldwide, establishing a precedent for a new class of Programmable Veterinary Biologics™.

CPerf LLV, expected to assume the brand name Optavant™ upon full licensure, is a first-of-its-kind programmable veterinary biologic engineered against Clostridium perfringens toxins, a primary driver of NE-related disease, mortality and productivity losses. This non-antibiotic approach is designed to give producers an option for NE beyond antibiotics, supporting an abundant food supply and animal welfare. A widely cited industry analysis estimates that NE costs the global broiler industry up to $6 billion annually in production losses and control measures.

“USDA conditional licensure of CPerf LLV is a defining moment for BiomEdit and for animal health,” said Aaron Schacht, CEO of BiomEdit. “In just over four years since our founding, we have advanced from an ambitious scientific vision to a conditionally licensed product ready for the market. This milestone reflects the extraordinary talent of our team, the confidence of our investors, the commitment of our partners and USDA CVB’s willingness to embrace innovation. More importantly, it validates our belief that programmable biologics can fundamentally expand what is possible in animal health.”

“From our initial investment, we believed BiomEdit had the potential to create an entirely new category in animal health,” said Brett Wong, Partner at Anterra Capital. “Achieving conditional licensure of CPerf LLV demonstrates the team’s ability to translate breakthrough science into commercial products. We look forward to supporting BiomEdit as it continues to build one of the world’s leading animal health biotechnology companies.”

BiomEdit has initiated a commercial evaluation program with three major U.S. poultry producers, with CPerf LLV expected to be deployed in more than 35 million broilers. The program gives producers the opportunity to evaluate CPerf LLV in their production systems.

Twelve students across nine campuses will expand industry visibility, strengthen employer-student connections and elevate awareness of agbioscience career opportunities

AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative focused on growing the agbioscience economy, announced today that 12 students from colleges and universities across Indiana will serve as Field Atlas Ambassadors for the 2026-2027 academic year, helping agbioscience employers build earlier, stronger connections with emerging talent.

Field Atlas Ambassadors are selected college students who serve as the on-campus champion for the state’s agbioscience sector. From exploring career paths and fields of study online to engaging with students on the impact of innovation across the sector, Ambassadors help employers introduce students to the breadth of agbioscience careers and the industry’s innovative, global impact.

For employers, the Field Atlas Ambassador program offers a direct connection to students across Indiana, creating opportunities to raise awareness of agbioscience careers, strengthen campus engagement and build relationships with future talent. Through Field Atlas, students can explore career paths and fields of study while participating in experiential programs such as Company Tours, the Agbioscience Mentorship Program and other hands-on learning opportunities.

“Field Atlas Ambassadors play a critical role in helping students discover the breadth of opportunities in agbioscience,” said Christy Wright, president and CEO of AgriNovus. “From marketing and finance to biology, environmental science and beyond, employers and company leaders can reach students earlier, introduce agbioscience career opportunities and build relationships with our state’s talent pipeline.”

For the 2026-27 academic year, AgriNovus has selected these students to represent Field Atlas:

Since its inception in 2020, Field Atlas has served as a foundational digital resource for career exploration in agbioscience, helping students understand the value chain and its components as well as the local and global impact of the sector. Supplemented by its experiential learning opportunities, Field Altas programming supports a holistic overview of the agbiosciences, addressing knowledge gaps that often go unrecognized by students interested in one facet of the ecosystem.

Employers interested in connecting with students through Field Atlas, hosting experiential learning opportunities, or engaging with our Field Atlas Ambassadors should connect with Career Success Manager Karis Witte.

Twelve Startups Accepted Into Program Focused on Creating Tech-Enabled Solutions Across Bioinnovation, Farmer-Focused Innovation, Food is Health

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (July 22, 2026) — AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative focused on growing the agbioscience economy, announced today that 12 startups will participate in its 2026 Velocity accelerator, a five-month program that awards entrepreneurs a total of $75,000 in cash prizes for their technology solutions divided equally between the strategic categories: bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food is health.

For Velocity, AgriNovus commissioned research conducted by Arrowpoint Labs which synthesizes insights from key state and national agbioscience leaders. The study, Advancing Innovation: Priority Areas for Indiana’s Agbioscience Future, helps shape the program’s focus areas and provides real-world problem statements for participating startups to solve through their technologies.

“This year’s Velocity cohort represents an exceptional set of startups working at the intersection of innovation and industry need,” said Christy Wright, president and CEO of AgriNovus. “Across all three tracks, these teams bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that can help solve critical challenges in agbioscience, driving meaningful impact in Indiana and beyond.”

In 2026, Velocity has transitioned from an open-enrollment framework to a cohort model designed to maximize impact across the ecosystem. The teams selected for each innovation track include:

 

BIOINNOVATION

BioFique, Inc. is a plant-derived natural ingredient platform with an initial use case of improving animal protein production efficiency by addressing animal gut health and disease in poultry, swine and ruminant production. The result is improved feed conversion ratio and increased weight gain, two significant levers impacting producer return on investment, as well as reduced enteric greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Led by CEO Nassir Patel, BioFique’s natural ingredient can be used standalone or complementary to existing feed or pharma solutions including antibiotics, vaccines or probiotics.

ClearLeaf uses patented technology that is organic certified in the EU and Japan to provide a line of safe fungicides and bactericides for agricultural use with pre- and post-harvest solutions for several crops including specialty crops, row crops, vegetables and ornamentals. The solution, GotaBlanca, is currently sold in six Latin American countries and since going to market, has sold over $2 million in products. ClearLeaf is led by its CSO and Co-Founder Agustin Buchert.

Ecoatex converts agricultural byproducts into bio-based material inputs for packaging, coatings, nonwovens, fibers, composites and specialty applications. Its platform produces cellulose inputs, functional nanocellulose, lignin-derived materials and bio-based coatings that help manufacturers reduce reliance on petroleum-derived and PFAS-based materials. Ecoatex is led by founder and CEO Raha Saremi.

NAKI, led by founder and CEO Barak Manbar, is an environmental technology company that transforms high-cost food industry waste (sludge) into high-value, sustainable raw materials on-site. NAKI creates a profitable and regulatory-compliant circular economy model by solving a major waste problem for food factories and delivering carbon-negative local feedback that drastically reduces emission scores.

 

FARMER-FOCUSED INNOVATION

AgriTerra is a farmland intelligence platform that consolidates the soil, water, conservation, renewable energy and market data scattered across eight-plus federal agencies into a single instant analysis for any U.S. parcel. Its flagship product, Land Scout, lets a farmer or landowner type an address or draw a parcel and compare four futures for the same acres side by side in dollars: farm it, cash-rent it, enroll it in conservation or lease it for solar or wind. AgriTerra is led by Co-Founder Tim Fulton.

AgroNet ZERO is developing SoilSync, an AI-enabled decision platform that helps farmers, advisers and input suppliers evaluate where regenerative inputs and practices are most effective. Initially focused on biochar, the platform is designed to expand to other regenerative solutions, including compost, manure-derived inputs and biostimulants. The company is led by Chief Research Officer Tetiana McLemore.

Fallow Ag is a risk translation layer connecting farmers and lenders, converting a farm’s real, non-standard risk profile into a standard that capital providers can underwrite. The company uses a proprietary risk model and translation layer that turns messy, farm-level data (operational, agronomic and financial) into a standardized score a lender can use. Fallow is led by CEO Naveed Iqbal.

Verility, Inc., led by CEO and Co-Founder Liane Hart, is revolutionizing livestock reproduction with a low-cost, non-invasive, mobile fertility diagnostic, called Fertile-Eyez, bringing lab-grade accuracy on-farm. Its AI-driven, handheld system pinpoints the optimal breeding window for sows and gilts, reducing failed inseminations, cutting semen doses, labor and costs, while boosting herd productivity.

 

FOOD IS HEALTH

Arylium, Inc. is developing therapeutics and dietary supplements based on a novel class of small molecules in turmeric, creating a unique intersection between agriculture and biotechnology through the cultivation of a high-value medicinal crop as a source of pharmaceutical ingredients. The company’s lead programs focus on neurological and metabolic diseases and are supported by proprietary preclinical data and an exclusive position around a newly identified drug target with applications across multiple therapeutic areas. Arylium is led by CEO Alexander Crawford.

ClearPRO is developing a specialty whey protein technology that enables clear, heat-stable, high-protein beverages with improved taste, clarity and clean-label appeal. Their process modifies whey protein functionality to help beverage and ingredient manufacturers create shelf-stable clear protein drinks without excessive additives, bitterness, sedimentation or cloudiness after thermal processing. ClearPRO is a product of Purdue University, led by Sunandita Ghosh.

Crossroads Life Sciences is a biotechnology company focused on developing naturally occurring cembranoids, particularly 4R-cembranoid (4R), a nicotine-free compound synthesized on the surface of tobacco leaves and flowers, into products that support brain health (neuroprotection, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, neuroinflammation, organophosphate and nerve-agent exposure). The company plans to continue exploration of their broader therapeutic potential through future scientific and clinical research. The company is led by CEO Dina Ferchmin.

Yellowwood Farmstop and Cafe puts hard-earned money back in farmers’ pockets, while providing a retail outlet for local food. Indianapolis has several grocery options, but none with Yellowwood’s specific geographic focus and mission-driven model. The retail market gives its farm and food partners 70 percent of the sale of each item and builds curated grocery boxes built on food-is-medicine partnerships. Yellowwood Farmstop and Cafe is led by Director of Cafe Operations Anna Holloway.

 

Presented by the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Soybean Alliance, Velocity will culminate in a demo day and award presentation on Nov. 19, 2026. AgriNovus welcomes all industry partners, corporate innovators, investors and entrepreneurs who want to attend the event. A link to receive more information about Velocity, its participating startups and the accelerator’s Demo Day event is available here.

Former Purdue DIAL Ventures and Serial Startup Veteran Tim Dixon to Focus on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Joins AgriNovus Senior Leadership Team

AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative to grow the agbioscience economy, announced today Tim Dixon as its new senior director of innovation – a role charged with accelerating startup and entrepreneurial activity in the state.

Dixon joins the AgriNovus team after more than 30 years of experience in the startup space and will lead the organization’s efforts to accelerate commercial innovation and company creation, building coalitions across industry, academia, capital providers, governments, non-profits and donors to drive awareness around the need for agbioscience innovation and the momentum growing around the state.

“Tim brings to the AgriNovus team a unique mix of startup experience, strategic vision and a deep understanding of transforming big ideas into real-world impact,” said Christy Wright, president and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana. “As Indiana accelerates its position as a global leader in agbioscience, Tim’s experience will enable entrepreneurial activity, new company creation and strengthen ties across industry, academia and capital providers that are critical to our sector’s growth.”

Prior to AgriNovus, Dixon served as managing director of Purdue DIAL Ventures, where he fostered an ecosystem of corporate partners, successful entrepreneurs, startup investors and leaders in academic research to create companies that bring novel solutions to market to improve the global food supply.

DIAL’s venture studio employed an entrepreneur-first approach, resulting in the launch of 10 new companies in its first three years. Dixon also led Doyen Analytics, a human capital diligence firm, and InterOptic, a high-tech company backed by Pritzker Ventures that delivers high-speed optical networking solutions.

Earlier in his career, Dixon held various roles at startups and Fortune 500 companies in Silicon Valley, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Europe, launching multiple multibillion-dollar data center products and raising more than $300 million in startup funding and private equity investment.

He serves as a business mentor for the Mandela Washington Fellowship and is a prefect and board member of the Indiana chapter of the Tripoli Rocketry Association. Dixon holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University and a master’s degree in quantitative psychology from Ball State University.

Dixon will lead AgriNovus’ cornerstone innovation program, Velocity, an accelerator guided by research that focuses in three critical agbioscience areas: bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food is health. Velocity culminates with a demo day event and three $25,000 cash prizes for each track winner.

The next Velocity accelerator will kick off in mid-July. Companies, individuals and entrepreneurs who want to apply to participate can access more information here.

To learn more about the AgriNovus team, visit AgriNovusIndiana.com/team.

New regional identity showcases the state’s ability to invent, make and move breakthroughs across human
health, animal health and plant science, positioning Indiana to compete globally for bioscience investment,
innovation and talent.

INDIANAPOLIS (May 19, 2026) — Today, regional leaders introduced BioHeartland, a new shared identity designed to unify and elevate Indiana’s bioscience ecosystem across human health, animal health and plant science.

Developed through a collaborative effort led by the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) and its branded initiatives, BioCrossroads and AgriNovus Indiana, in partnership with the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority, BioHeartland was created to give Indiana a more cohesive and unified way to share the state’s story with investors, companies, researchers and talent around the world. For more than a century, Indiana has steadily helped shape global health through leadership in research, development, manufacturing and logistics – inventing, making and moving bioscience solutions at global scale. Today, the state’s bioscience industry generates more than $125 billion in direct economic impact, ranks first in the nation for pharmaceutical and life sciences exports and continues to attract companies, talent and investment at an accelerating pace.

As Indiana competes globally for the next generation of bioscience jobs, companies and innovation, leaders across industry, academia and economic development are coming together around a unified identity for the region’s bioscience ecosystem.

“Indiana is a powerhouse in human, animal and plant biosciences, but our story has not been told with the clarity, consistency or urgency it deserves,” said Melina Kennedy, CEO of the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership. “What makes this region different is not just that we make bioscience solutions, we are also a hotbed of invention and discovery, with the manufacturing strength, logistics infrastructure and collaborative spirit to move innovations into the world. BioHeartland gives us a shared identity to help investors, companies and talent understand the full value of what Indiana offers.”

“Indiana’s life sciences sector has reached a remarkable level of scale because of decades of collaboration across industry, academia, government, philanthropy and investors,” said Vince Wong, president and CEO of BioCrossroads. “BioHeartland helps connect that story across research,
development, manufacturing, talent and entrepreneurship, and gives us a clearer way to show how Indiana’s life sciences ecosystem is producing real results for people here and around the world.”

“Indiana is home to global leaders in human, animal and plant health – a powerful intersection for innovation and our competitive advantage,” said Christy Wright, president and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana. “BioHeartland tells our connected story, showing the state’s ability to bring new solutions to market that address critical needs for farmers, consumers and communities across the world.”

Indiana’s bioscience industry generates more than $125 billion in direct economic impact. The state ranks first in the nation for pharmaceutical and life science exports, and Hoosier inventors have patented more than 13,000 inventions since 2010, nearly three times the national average. Governor Mike Braun has also committed $1 billion over the next decade to grow high wage jobs in agriculture and life sciences, further strengthening Indiana’s position in plant, animal and human health.

“Governor Braun’s $1 billion commitment to creating 100,000 new jobs is a statement to the world: Indiana is planting a flag in the ground as the place for human, animal and plant health,” said David Adams. “The assets are already here — from discovery to delivery — across one connected region. With this announcement, Central Indiana has a unified voice and a stronger platform to compete globally for investment, companies and talent. Now it’s time to tell the BioHeartland story to the world.” The BioHeartland launch also builds on the state’s broader regional growth strategy, including Governor Braun’s designation of CIRDA to help lead and coordinate the next phase of bioscience growth across Indiana.

That economic strength is rooted in a rare concentration of expertise. Indiana is one of the few places in the world where human health, animal health and plant science all operate at scale in the same region. Global companies including Eli Lilly and Company, Elanco and Corteva are headquartered or deeply rooted in Indiana, alongside a growing network of startups, research institutions and advanced manufacturing operations.

“Indiana’s bioscience strength is the result of decades of investment, collaboration, and innovation operating in close proximity,” said David A. Ricks, chair and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company. “Lilly has been a proud part of the BioHeartland story for 150 years, and we’re just getting started.” “Creating BioHeartland further advances the efforts to make Indiana a premiere destination for life sciences talent and innovation,” said Jeff Simmons, president and CEO of Elanco. “We believe BioHeartland will accelerate efforts to build an ecosystem where the next generation of life-changing bioscience innovation will be created. We look forward to contributing to and thriving within this exciting new chapter.”

Indiana’s research universities are also central to BioHeartland’s ecosystem, producing and attracting the talent that powers the region’s innovation pipeline while advancing discoveries that reach patients, farmers and communities around the world. The state is home to four R1 research universities, including the largest medical school in the country.

“BioHeartland reflects Indiana’s extraordinary capacity to develop and deliver bioscience solutions at scale,” said IU President Pamela Whitten. “From our nine campuses to initiatives like the IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences, Indiana University is proud to contribute to that leadership ecosystem
through research and innovation that’s improving lives and driving economic opportunity across our state.”

“With our strengths in human, animal and plant health research and innovation, Purdue University is deeply connected to this ecosystem,” said Mung Chiang, president of Purdue University. “BioHeartland gives that work a shared identity and a platform to further accelerate innovation in this space in central Indiana.”

The BioHeartland identity also reflects the growing network of innovation districts and bioscience hubs across Central Indiana, including 16 Tech Innovation District, the LEAP Innovation District, the OneHealth Innovation District, and the Fishers Life Sciences and Innovation District. Together, those districts form a connected constellation designed to help ideas move faster from discovery to commercialization by bringing together research, talent, manufacturing capacity and infrastructure.

“Communities across Indiana have spent years investing in life sciences infrastructure and innovation,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, chair of the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority. “BioHeartland gives the entire region a unified way to tell our story to position ourselves as a life science destination that can compete globally.”

BioHeartland will make its international debut at the BIO International Convention in San Diego, June 22 through 25, where Indiana leaders will introduce the identity to global investors, companies and bioscience partners.

Brand assets, messaging guidance and partner resources are available at INBioHeartland.com

Governor Mike Braun today celebrated a major economic development win as Corteva selected Indianapolis as the global headquarters for its new market-leading crop protection and nature-inspired technologies company, choosing Indiana over multiple competing states. The decision, tied to Corteva’s planned separation into two public companies later this year, deepens an Indiana presence that traces back to 1989.

“Indiana is a global leader in agbioscience – and today’s announcement is just more proof,” said Gov. Braun. “Corteva’s decision to base its global headquarters here reinforces our national reputation as an innovation corridor, nurturing a world-leading bioscience industry that supports hundreds of thousands of Hoosier jobs and generates billions of dollars for the state’s economy. Indiana continues its winning streak.”

Corteva announced last year it would split into two public companies, with the crop protection business retaining the Corteva name. That company, anchored in Indiana, will continue to be a Fortune 500 company with a world-class team of scientists and capabilities, helping farmers solve some of their toughest challenges.

By headquartering in Indianapolis, Corteva taps the full power of Indiana’s biosciences ecosystem, talent, partners and infrastructure, supporting innovation from discovery to delivery. Indiana’s bioscience sector contributes more than $125 billion to the state’s economy. Corteva has publicly stated its future strategy will be built around operational excellence and differentiated innovation, particularly biologicals. Indiana delivers both and now stands at the leading edge of natural and microbial crop innovation worldwide.

“Indianapolis continues to prove we are a city where innovative companies can grow and lead,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Corteva’s continued investment builds on that momentum and reflects the strength of the City’s partnership with the company, our deep talent base and our growing agriculture and innovation ecosystem. We are proud Corteva calls Indianapolis home and proud of what this announcement represents for our city’s future.”

“Corteva has long, proud roots in the state of Indiana, and the employees and management team are pleased to continue to be able to call Indiana home for their groundbreaking innovation,” said Corteva Chair Greg Page, who will also chair the new Corteva after separation. “The Hoosier state is an established leader in global biosciences innovation and the Corteva headquarters will serve as the company’s core research and development hub, driving its impressive pipeline of synthetic, biological, and natural product innovation, while also anchoring Corteva Catalyst, its investment and collaboration platform.”

Corteva’s decision builds on Gov. Braun’s recently announced $1 billion, 10-year life sciences initiative focused on creating 100,000 new jobs within plant, animal and human health.


Community Support:

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.)
“I am grateful for Corteva’s continued investment in Indiana and its skilled Hoosier workforce. With today’s exciting announcement, Corteva will remain at the forefront of innovation, drive new research to improve lives, and further demonstrate that our state is a national leader in biosciences.”

Don Lamb, State Director, Indiana Department of Agriculture
“Corteva’s decision to reaffirm Indiana as its global headquarters is a tremendous vote of confidence in our state’s workforce, our research ecosystem, and our long-standing leadership in agriculture and agbioscience. We’re proud that Indiana will continue to be the home base for a company shaping the future of food and farming worldwide. ISDA looks forward to supporting Corteva as it grows, innovates, and continues investing in the communities that make this partnership possible.”

Andrea Richter-Garry, Interim CEO & President, Indy Economic Development
“When a best-in-class global company continues to choose Indianapolis, it says something powerful about who we are and where we are headed. This announcement reflects the strength of a long-standing partnership, the momentum of our growing agriculture and innovation ecosystem, and the confidence global companies continue to place in Indy. Corteva’s decision also reaffirms the strength of our life sciences workforce and the top-tier quality of life Indy provides to retain global talent.”

Christy Wright, President & CEO, AgriNovus Indiana
“Corteva chose Indiana—again. A world leader in crop protection and biologicals is doubling down on this state and its ecosystem to build the natural-products frontier that will define the industry’s next chapter.”

Matt Mindrum, President & CEO, Indy Chamber
“Corteva’s decision to keep and grow its headquarters in Indianapolis is a powerful affirmation of Indy’s position as a global leader in bioscience innovation. This investment reflects the strength of our talent, the depth of our business ecosystem, and the collaborative momentum driving our region forward. Global companies choose to grow where innovation can accelerate, and today’s announcement reinforces that the Indy region is built for bold moves and long-term success.”

The Food and Nutrition Administration, formerly the Food and Nutrition Service, will refocus its 16 nutrition assistance programs

(Washington, D.C., April 30, 2026) — Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services mission area announced its intention to introduce the Food and Nutrition Administration. This shift will include a reorganization and relocation, all to move program leadership and staff from Washington, D.C. to hub and program compliance locations across the U.S. This shift in customer service will not disrupt program execution nor any endeavor to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse across USDA’s 16 nutrition assistance programs.

“On my first day leading the People’s Department, I shared several commitments to our state, tribal, territory, and local government partners, including prioritizing customer service and infusing each nutrition program with new energy and vision,” said Secretary Brooke L. Rollins. “This reorganization is designed with those commitments in mind. I look forward to working with our partners as we continue to nourish children and families in need through nutrition programs that not only are provided by America’s farm families, but programs that pave a pathway to better health and economic stability.”

“This reorganization is long overdue,” said Deputy Secretary Stephen A. Vaden. “The Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services mission area has not had a Senate-confirmed Under Secretary in nearly two decades, and the shift to the Food and Nutrition Administration will better align with other benefit programs administered across the federal government. This reorganization also reduces duplicative management and complexity within the agency, better prioritizes State service and participant needs, and expands the Department’s presence to fight fraud, waste, and abuse.”

“As part of this reorganization, we are changing our structure from regional offices to Hubs that will offer improved program support across the nation,” said Deputy Under Secretary Patrick Penn. “This new structure will enhance our customer service to the millions of families reliant on these programs and allow for greater employee and partner collaboration.”

As part of this effort, the FNA Administrator will remain in Washington, D.C., along with a small footprint to be responsive to Congress, interagency needs, regulatory work, and policy coordination.

Programmatically, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will be relocated to Indianapolis, IN; the Child Nutrition Programs will be relocated to Dallas, TX; the Supplemental Nutrition and Safety Programs will be relocated to Kansas City, MO; and research programs will be relocated to Raleigh, NC. The fifth Hub in Denver, CO, will serve as the Emergency Management and Continuity of Operations location. Lastly, retailer operations and compliance will be across four offices: Atlanta, GA; Los Angeles, CA; Dallas, TX; and New York, NY.

These actions will realign the Department’s focus to the States who administer USDA nutrition programs, the households who benefit from them, and the taxpayers who fund them.

2026 Velocity empowers innovators to build tech solutions in bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation, food is health

AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative to grow the agbioscience economy, released new research today identifying critical challenges ripe for innovation that will serve as the foundation for the 2026 Velocity Accelerator, a six-month program that awards entrepreneurs three separate $25,000 cash prizes for their technology solutions in bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food is health.

Conducted by Arrowpoint Labs, the study entitled Advancing Innovation: Priority Areas for Indiana’s Agbioscience Future, updates the sector’s economic impact in Indiana, synthesizes insights from key state and national agbioscience leaders and provides problem statements for the innovation community – from students to startups and existing companies – to solve through Velocity.

“Velocity is an accelerator that focuses on the core challenges facing our agbioscience industry,” said Christy Wright, president and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana. “This study defines where Indiana is best positioned to lead and gives participants the tools they need to create purpose-built, scalable technologies. We look forward to working with our entrepreneurial ecosystem to drive progress in these focus areas.”

According to the study, there are three challenge areas for innovators to address through innovation for this year’s accelerator:

 

BioInnovation

Develop technology that unlocks powerful markets for bio-based products, including focuses on gene editing for operational simplicity, mid-scale biomanufacturing and fermentation infrastructure, and agricultural waste stream biorefinery transformations.

Challenges to address include:

 

Farmer-Focused Innovation

Leverage technology to assist farmers with some of the most critical issues facing their operations; including farm data intelligence and interoperability, regulatory navigation and compliance automation, and human-out-of-loop automation for labor-intensive operations.

Challenges to address include:

 

Food is Health

Develop and accelerate innovation that increases food and nutrition access and enables food as a driver of health, giving opportunities across the agricultural and health care value chains to positively impact healthier lives, communities and environment.

Challenges to address include:

 

Presented by Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Soybean Alliance, Velocity’s three tracks are guided by research and strong mentorship throughout the six-month accelerator. The program will culminate with a demo day event and winning check presentations in October. Companies, individuals and entrepreneurs who want to apply to participate in Velocity can access more information and an application link here. The deadline to register is May 1, 2026.

To read the full study and get more information on the Velocity challenge scopes, click here.

AgriNovus Indiana, a nonprofit coalition focused on growing Indiana’s agbioscience economy, announced today that Trent Torrance, chief operating officer of United Animal Health, will serve as chair of the organization’s board of directors.    

 

The board unanimously approved Tim Bettington, executive vice president for Center of Strategic Growth at Elanco, as its vice chair. Phil Brewer, vice president of strategy at Keystone Cooperative, and Bernie Engel, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture at Purdue University, were also approved to the AgriNovus Executive Committee.

 

Stéphane Frijia, president and CEO of Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, and Drew Garretson, vice president of Innovation and Sustainability at Keystone Cooperative, were unanimously approved as additions to the organization’s Board of Directors. The board also approved the addition of Darren Dillenbeck, CEO of BW Fusion, Mike Jacob, board representative at The Pantheon, and Sarah Oznick, general counsel at GDM North America, to replace outgoing directors.

 

“AgriNovus is on a mission to accelerate growth in Indiana’s agbioscience economy and that requires a coalition of strong leaders,” said Christy Wright, president and CEO of AgriNovus. “These additions to our board and its leadership create opportunities for new experience, insights and collaboration across the value chain that will continue to define and differentiate Indiana as a global leader in agbioscience innovation.”

 

Torrance is the chief operating officer and is a member of the board of directors for United Animal Health, a Sheridan, Ind. based company focused on providing solutions for animal nutrition and health. He has served in various roles for the company since 2001 including research and development, project management and corporate leadership. Torrance holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Western Illinois University and a master’s degree in animal science from the University of Missouri. He also serves on the board of directors for United Animal Health’s Joint Venture in China, Shandong United Nutrition.

 

Bettington serves as Elanco’s executive vice president for Center of Strategic Growth, responsible for corporate strategy and market development, focusing on launch readiness and driving growth initiatives. He also oversees business development, government affairs, strategy, global farm animal sustainability and global innovation. Bettington is a recognized animal health leader with more than 25 years of experience across both livestock and pet health, beginning in his native country Australia, the United States and across Europe. He has built some of the industry’s most successful portfolios and overseen some of the most significant commercial businesses in animal health. Bettington was formerly executive vice president and president of U.S. Operations and Global Customer Experience at Zoetis. He joined Zoetis from Boehringer Ingelheim where he served as North American Region Head of Commercial Operations for its animal health business. Bettington holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Western Sydney University and a master’s degree in marketing management from the Macquarie Graduate School of Management in Sydney, Australia.

 

Brewer serves as vice president of Strategy for Keystone Cooperative, an Indianapolis, Ind.-based farmer-owned agricultural cooperative formed in March 2024 through the merger of Co-Alliance and Ceres Solutions. In his nearly 29 years serving the cooperative, he has held roles of increasing responsibility including location manager and vice president of Agronomy. Brewer holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Taylor University.

 

Engel is the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture at Purdue University, where he previously served as senior associate dean and as head of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Over the course of his career, Engel has received numerous honors from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), including the Outstanding Young Researcher Award (1999), ASABE Fellow (2014), the Gilley Academic Leadership Award (2016), and the Hancor Soil and Water Conservation Engineering Award (2019). At Purdue, he has been recognized as the College of Agriculture’s Outstanding Researcher and Outstanding Graduate Educator, named a University Scholar, and received the College of Engineering’s Best Teacher Award.

 

Frijia is president and CEO of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership (NEI), leading economic development for the region’s 11 counties since 2021. Before joining NEI, he spent a decade at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, where he advanced cluster-based attraction strategies, led international business development, and supported the relocation and expansion of more than 35 international companies, helping generate billions in new investment and thousands of new jobs. At NEI, he has driven organizational revitalization by accelerating lead generation and project activity, strengthening the brand, and launching initiatives that enhance regional competitiveness, including Plug and Play partnerships, automation efforts, and inclusive growth programs. He is a three-time Indiana Top 250 Honoree and was named a DCI “40 Under 40” in economic development (2019). Frijia holds a master’s degree in urban and environmental planning and a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical management technology from Arizona State University and is fluent in English, French and Italian.

 

Garretson serves as the vice president of Member Engagement and Public Affairs at Keystone Cooperative, spending nearly 20 years in the cooperative system. He has previously held roles for Keystone Cooperative and Land O’Lakes Inc. in both agricultural technology development and digital strategy, leading teams across the United States. Garretson serves on The Pantheon board of directors, the Purdue College of Ag Alumni board of directors, Purdue Alumni Association Executive Council and is a graduate of the Indiana AgrIInstitute Leadership Program. He also serves as co-chair of the Rural Broadband Taskforce in Knox County. Garretson holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education from Purdue University.

 

Dillenbeck is the CEO of BW Fusion, a Fort Wayne, Ind.-based agricultural company that specializes in agronomy, digital scripting and bio-nutritional products. With more than 30 years in the industry, he held roles of increasing responsibility starting at Dow AgroSciences to his most recent role as president of FMC North America where he led commercial, development and regulatory teams while developing growth strategies for the business. Dillenbeck holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry from the University of New Brunswick.

 

Jacob is a board representative of The Pantheon and founder of TerraForce, an automated harvesting solution for fruit farmers. A farmer turned engineer and entrepreneur, Jacob founded Veritas Engineering Group in 2015 and led the company through several consecutive years of rapid growth before exiting in 2023. He serves as a board member of The Pantheon, chairman of Jacob Farms, and is an active member of The Pantheon’s Ag Tech Committee. Mike received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and resides with his wife and four children in Knox County.

 

Oznick is general counsel for GDM North America, entering the industry via Westfield, Ind.-based AgReliant Genetics in 2016. Her role was instrumental in GDM’s acquisition and integration of AgReliant into its global company. Oznick is a member of the GDM North American operating committee and oversees legal operations, risk management, regulatory and compliance, and safety. In addition, she plays a key role in the company’s approach to industry affairs and biotech strategy. Oznick has nearly two decades of broad in-house experience across legal subject matters in diverse industries, including private, nonprofit and government. Oznick serves on the Indy Chamber board of directors as well as committees of various industry and community organizations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Indiana University, a juris doctor from New England School of Law and is admitted to the bar in Indiana and Illinois.

 

The AgriNovus Indiana Board of Directors is comprised of leaders from industry, academia and government. Learn more about our members here.

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