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.
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,” saidSecretary 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,” saidDeputy 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.
Advance technologies enabling modular, flexible mid-scale fermentation and bioprocessing infrastructure that support pilot and scaling of precision fermentation, microbial strain engineering, and bio-based chemical production domestically.
Develop enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, and chemical conversion technologies transforming high-volume agricultural waste streams into high-value bioplastics, biochemicals, specialty food ingredients, and advanced materials at commercial scale with positive economics.
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:
Build unified farm data platforms that consolidate 500,000-plus daily data points from fragmented systems into predictive decision support tools that demonstrate clear ROI and integrate seamlessly with existing farm operations.
Develop automated compliance and regulatory navigation platforms that reduce time burden of complex EPA pesticide point systems, conservation program paperwork, and multi-jurisdictional requirements while maintaining farmer access to essential chemistry and economic incentives.
Create autonomous equipment and AI-enabled robotics for complex farm tasks (specialty crop harvesting, livestock management, processing operations) that deliver under two-year ROI, mitigate skilled labor needs, and integrate with existing farm infrastructure.
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:
Build platforms connecting farmers to healthcare payers, CPG companies, and health-conscious consumers that enable transparent pricing premiums for nutrient-dense crops, identity-preserved supply chains at commercial scale, and measurable clinical outcome tracking.
Develop data collection, integration, and analytics platforms demonstrating measurable clinical outcomes (ER visit reduction, hospitalization decrease, medication use reduction) from food interventions, enabling sustainable business cases for health care payers beyond temporary grant funding.
Develop protein-enriched ingredients and functional food components that integrate seamlessly into existing CPG manufacturing processes while improving macronutrient profiles and meeting consumer requirements.
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.
Elanco today announced $400 million in continued investment in its U.S. operations, workforce and communities over the next five years. This deepens Elanco’s commitment to product innovation, advanced manufacturing and its customers – farmers, veterinarians and pet owners. The company will expand its R&D presence in its new Indianapolis global headquarters and surrounding OneHealth Innovation District, while continuing to invest in its U.S.-based manufacturing footprint. Elanco will further invest in its Kansas monoclonal antibody (mAb) manufacturing facility to support innovation, particularly a major next generation immuno-therapeutic pet innovation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted an accelerated pathway for conditional approval of a novel immuno-therapeutic that has the potential to be a first-in-class major pet health blockbuster, expected in the next 2-3 years.
Additionally, as part of the positive engagement with the USDA, Elanco announces significant progress in the final steps of the approval of Befrena™, its newest potential blockbuster product. Review of all technical sections and label alignment is now complete, with the final administrative review underway at the USDA. Befrena has demonstrated differentiated efficacy in treating dogs with allergic dermatitis and canine atopic dermatitis. In both laboratory and field studies, Befrena has shown to be safe and well-tolerated, offering a dependable treatment option for veterinary professionals and pet owners alike. Befrena will offer important efficacy, convenience and value differentiators. Elanco continues to expect a first half 2026 launch.
In connection with these investments, Elanco expects the 2026 net tariff impact to be immaterial to adjusted EBITDA growth, given additional tariff clarity and a positive offset from an incremental price increase.
The combination of a favorable tax environment from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, regulatory reform resulting in improved timelines for USDA regulatory reviews and greater certainty on tariffs has created favorable conditions for the continuation of U.S. investments in R&D and manufacturing, while bringing key innovation capabilities from Europe to the U.S.
Elanco CEO Jeff Simmons joined ‘Mornings with Maria’ on Fox Business to discuss the $400 million investment in U.S. manufacturing and R&D. Watch here.
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.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), refocusing its core operations to better align with its founding mission of supporting American farming, ranching, and forestry.
Over the last four years, USDA’s workforce grew by 8%, and employees’ salaries increased by 14.5% – including hiring thousands of employees with no sustainable way to pay them. This all occurred without any tangible increase in service to USDA’s core constituencies across the agricultural sector. USDA’s footprint in the National Capital Region (NCR) is underutilized and redundant, plagued by rampant overspending and decades of mismanagement and costly deferred maintenance. President Trump has made it clear government needs to be scrutinized, and after this thorough review of USDA, the results show a bloated, expensive, and unsustainable organization.
To be clear, all critical functions of the Department will continue uninterrupted. For example, we are at the height of fire season, and to date, have not only exceeded hiring goals, but have preserved the ability to continue to hire. Earlier this year, Secretary Rollins issued a Secretarial Memorandum exempting National Security and Public Safety positions from the federal hiring freeze. These 52 position classifications carry out functions that are critical to the safety and security of the American people, our national forests, and the inspection and safety of the Nation’s agriculture and food supply system. These positions will not be eliminated. However, employees may be subject to relocation.
“American agriculture feeds, clothes, and fuels this nation and the world, and it is long past time the Department better serve the great and patriotic farmers, ranchers, and producers we are mandated to support. President Trump was elected to make real change in Washington, and we are doing just that by moving our key services outside the beltway and into great American cities across the country,” said Secretary Rollins. “We will do so through a transparent and common-sense process that preserves USDA’s critical health and public safety services the American public relies on. We will do right by the great American people who we serve and with respect to the thousands of hardworking USDA employees who so nobly serve their country.”
The reorganization consists of four pillars:
Ensure the size of USDA’s workforce aligns with available financial resources and agricultural priorities
Bring USDA closer to its customers
Eliminate management layers and bureaucracy
Consolidate redundant support functions
To bring USDA closer to the people it serves while also providing a more affordable cost of living for USDA employees, USDA has developed a phased plan to relocate much of its Agency headquarters and NCR staff out of the Washington, D.C. area to five hub locations. The Department currently has approximately 4,600 employees within the National Capital Region (NCR). This Region has one of the highest costs of living in the country, with a federal salary locality rate of 33.94%. In selecting its hub locations, USDA considered where existing concentrations of USDA employees are located and factored in the cost of living. Washington, D.C. will still hold functions for every mission area of USDA at the conclusion of this reorganization, but USDA expects no more than 2,000 employees will remain in the NCR.
USDA will vacate and return to the General Services Administration the South Building, Braddock Place, and the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, and revisit utilization and functions in the USDA Whitten Building, Yates Building, and the National Agricultural Library. The George Washington Carver Center will also be utilized until space optimization activities are completed. These buildings have a backlog of costly deferred maintenance and currently are occupied below the minimum set by law. For example, the South Building has approximately $1.3 billion in deferred maintenance and has an average daily occupancy of less than 1,900 individuals for a building that can house over 6,000 employees.
USDA’s five hub locations and current Federal locality rates are:
This is only the first phase of a multi-month process. Over the next month and where applicable, USDA senior leadership will notify offices with more information on relocation to one of the regional hubs.
To make certain USDA can afford its workforce, this reorganization is another step of the Department’s process of reducing its workforce. Much of this reduction was through voluntary retirements and the Deferred Retirement Program (DRP), a completely voluntary tool. As of today, 15,364 individuals voluntarily elected deferred resignation.
