Food – it’s the only economy in the world that touches every person on the planet and it’s foundational to human health. So much so that leaders across the economy are uniting the power of food to drive health. It’s a new category of innovation called Food is Health and the nation’s 2nd largest health insurer, Elevance Health, is investing in this area. Dr. Kofi Essel, Food as Medicine Director at Elevance Health, joins today to talk food preventing, managing and treating disease.
Poor diet is one of the leading risk factors for decreased quality of life and premature death. A former pediatrician, Kofi talks about food as medicine being great healthcare and social drivers of health being critical to what happens within the four walls of a doctor’s office. He also stresses the importance of thinking beyond those experiencing food insecurity to nutrition security – ensuring access to the right types of food for their overall health.
The innovative intersection of human health and food is headed for a revolution – and digital is a big piece of that. Kofi gets into Elevance Health’s role in this space and bridging the gap between nutrition supply and demand. As he speaks on hunger as a pervasive problem in the United States, Kofi talks about the innovative solutions that will be needed – and that includes the AgriNovus HungerTech Challenge – designed to create digital solutions that increase access to food and nutrition.
How will we know if food is health is making a difference? Kofi talks health outcomes data, costs of healthcare and thinking about nutrition equity no matter your location.
Innovation helps corn ‘speak’ by changing color to reveal latent plant infections
Insignum AgTech has begun a collaboration with researchers in Purdue University’s College of Agriculture and College of Engineering to create tools for farmers to identify early stages of tar spot disease outbreaks in their corn plants.
The collaboration is supported by grants from the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and an Innovation Voucher from the state of Indiana.
Insignum CEO and Purdue alumnus Kyle Mohler said the work brings together expertise in three areas:
Insignum uses DNA already present in corn plants to develop a new gene that reveals infections at an early stage. The gene uses the plant’s innate response to a fungal spore to cause leaves to form purple spots at the site of infection about a week before disease symptoms can be identified.
C.D. Cruz, associate professor of botany and plant pathology, is one of the foremost experts in the U.S. in phenotyping tar spot in both greenhouse and field conditions. His work focuses on understanding the epidemiology of the disease. He and his team members Alex Acosta, Mariela Fernandez and Andrés Cruz of the Cruz Lab are inoculating Insignum corn with tar spot to test how the plants reveal the disease prior to the onset of symptoms.
Jian Jin, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering, has developed LeafSpec, a patented, hand-held, hyperspectral plant leaf scanner that studies physical characteristics of plants, including early disease symptoms, nutrient deficiency and response to chemical treatments. He and his team will capture images of corn plants in the greenhouse to determine if the color changes can be seen faster and more clearly with the device.
Jin’s team also will develop algorithms that pick up the color changes from drone imagery in Insignum’s 2024 field trials. The work may produce intellectual property to enhance scouting efforts when Insignum commercializes its plant genes.
Tar spot and its damaging effects
Tar spot disease lessens a corn plant’s ability to absorb sunlight, thereby weakening the plant and reducing yield. The disease is caused by the Phyllachora maydis fungus. It creates raised, bumpy black spots called stromata on corn husks, leaves and stalks. Each individual stroma can produce thousands of fungal spores that can quickly infect other plants and fields.
Mohler said tar spot was first detected in the U.S. in 2015.
“By 2023 it was the most damaging pathogen to corn in the country,” he said. “Tar spot’s rate of spread, the amount of damage it causes and the fact many U.S. corn varieties aren’t resistant makes it the most concerning corn disease to American farmers.”
Mohler hypothesizes that Insignum’s technology will turn corn leaves purple to identify the presence of tar spot in a corn plant.
“Farmers can then treat their crops to prevent damage from this devastating disease,” he said. “Treating at the right time is critical to treat the disease. It is challenging to get correct.”
The collaboration is expected to last through the end of 2024.
AgriNovus Indiana, a nonprofit coalition focused on growing Indiana’s agbioscience economy, announced today an addition and change to its board of directors.
The board unanimously approved the addition of Gil Farley, president and owner of Biodyne USA and BW Fusion, to the board and approved David Pugh, chief financial officer of AgReliant Genetics to replace an outgoing director.
“Indiana’s agbioscience economy continues to experience growth and strength thanks to the direction and support of the AgriNovus board of directors,” said Mitch Frazier, president and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana. “The addition of Gil and Dave to our Board brings even more leadership and context to our team as we work to build the agbioscience economy of the future.”
Farley launched Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Biodyne USA in 2012 and BW Fusion in 2019 with a focus on using the power of environmental biotechnology in agriculture, bioremediation and groundwater. He previously held roles with several firms in biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical industries. After growing up in Florida, Farley came to Indiana to attend Indiana Tech on a basketball scholarship, graduating in 1997 with a bachelor of science degree.
Pugh serves as vice president of finance and chief financial officer of AgReliant Genetics, overseeing the financial direction of the company on key, long-range strategies. Previously, he was treasurer and vice president of finance strategy and risk management for Elanco Animal Health, where he established the treasury and risk management teams upon Elanco’s IPO and spin off from Eli Lilly. Prior to Elanco, Pugh spent 24 years with Eli Lilly & Company where he held several positions in finance and information technology. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Purdue University and a master of business administration from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.
The AgriNovus Indiana board of directors is comprised of leaders from industry, academia and government. All members are listed online at www.AgriNovusIndiana.com/Board.
A team of researchers recently dug in to Indiana’s $69.6B agbioscience economy and its opportunities for growth well into the future – 2050, to be exact. Amanda Rose, agri-food systems lead for RTI International, joins us to elaborate on the newly released study, Accelerate 2050: A Vision for Indiana Agbioscience, and three defined opportunities for differentiated growth amid future uncertainty, including:
Farmer-Focused Innovation
Food is Health
BioInnovation
Why these opportunities? Amanda gets into the study’s methodology, marrying economic data with strategic foresight and creating the conditions for a future economy you want. These aren’t ideas bouncing off the wall but are grounded in existing assets that make Indiana unique. She also talks economic data, establishing a benchmark for future competitive analysis and how the data compares relative to other industries.
This study was largely about the future, so what’s ahead? Amanda talks about possible future scenarios for agbioscience on a global scale and the importance of operating and innovating at unique intersections to drive big outcomes – for people, plants, animals and the planet.
AgriNovus Indiana-commissioned study benchmarks state’s global competitiveness, defines three priority opportunities for the future
AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative to grow the agbioscience economy, released new research today that found Indiana’s agbioscience sector contributes $69.6 billion to the state’s economy and identified forces expected to shape its global competitiveness.
Conducted by RTI International, the study entitled Accelerate 2050: A Vision for Indiana Agbioscience, identified the state’s relative economic performance across food, animal health, plant science, agtech and production agriculture and defined priority opportunities to position Indiana’s agbioscience economy for differentiated growth amid future uncertainty.
“Agbioscience is a critical contributor to economic growth and is connected to every person on the planet given it centers on food,” said Mitch Frazier, president and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana. “This new research not only defines the present economic strength in Indiana, it creates a framework to measure comparative growth and establishes focus to inspire the next chapter of innovation across food, animal health, plant science, agtech and agriculture.”
According to the study, Indiana’s priority opportunities include:
Farmer-Focused Innovation –development of a multi-faceted entrepreneurial support system for Indiana farmers that recognizes their central role in agrifood innovation and implementation.
Food is Health – innovation at the intersection of plant, animal, human and environmental health that recognizes food as the nexus to fuel both economic growth and improved health outcomes.
BioInnovation – establish Indiana as a premier destination for bio-innovators and manufacturers to research, commercialize and scale biotechnology processes, platforms and products.
Informed by the expertise of the AgriNovus’ board of directors, the study couples the discipline of strategic foresight with economic and market analysis to characterize the current state of Indiana’s agbioscience economy and creates a vision with prioritized opportunities.
“The global agbioscience economy is on the precipice of significant change and while you cannot predict the future, you can create it,” said Amanda Rose, agri-food systems lead at RTI International. “This report reflects the energized commitment of AgriNovus’ diverse stakeholders to mobilize available resources and seize new opportunities aligned with their shared vision of the future.”
Indiana’s agbioscience economy generates $22.7 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) – a total comparable in size to auto manufacturing or construction, which each generate $22 billion in gross domestic product; and
Indiana maintains a position of global leadership in the following agbioscience platforms: agricultural production, plant science and crop protection and animal health and nutrition.
The full study, Accelerate 2050: A Vision for Indiana Agbioscience, is available at here.
Interested in learning more? Join AgriNovus at QUADRANT in Indianapolis on Wednesday, July 17 for a more in-depth discussion of this research, what differentiates Indiana and how we will need to adapt to stay competitive in the future. More details and registration for this free event are here.
Capital and science – two key ingredients that are shaping the future of the agbioscience economy. Dr. Jaleh Daie, Managing Partner of Aurora Equity, joins us today to talk about the state of risk capital in agbioscience, the round trip we’ve taken in the last six years and how it compares to other areas of investment.
With Jaleh’s rich background in education and focus on science, what unique opportunities have been created for her? She talks doing good for humanity, trailblazing for women in science and seeing innovation through a scientific lens. Jaleh talks investment in agtech being in the “early innings” and big trends getting a lot of traction – including biologicals, gene editing and artificial intelligence (AI).
Jaleh gets into digital and its potential to transform agriculture – from the farmgate to the dinner plate – and the opportunities to innovate in a tightening farm economy. She stresses the importance of understanding the needs of farmers and her excitement surrounding upstream innovation to create better margins and profitability for farmers around the world.
gBETA is a free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots. Each program is capped at five teams, and requires no fees and no equity.
The implementation grant was made possible by the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (“Tech Hubs”) program created by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which was co-authored by Indiana’s U.S. Senator Todd Young. Out of a pool of nearly 380 applicants, ARI’s application for Heartland BioWorks was one of just 31 to win a Tech Hub designation in October 2023, allowing it to participate in the second-round competition to receive a funding award. Of the 31 designated hubs, Heartland BioWorks was one of only twelve to win implementation funding.
“This grant validates Governor Holcomb’s vision for creating an economy of the future, and confirms what our ecosystem has known for a long time—that Indiana is a global pioneer in biotech production,” said ARI CEO Dave Roberts. “Heartland BioWorks is securing America’s biotech future, and this funding will provide critical support to accelerate workforce development and remove barriers for entrepreneurs bringing new biotech products to market.”
The award, the exact amount of which will be finalized in coming months, will be leveraged to support projects that are:
Attracting and connecting workers, including those historically excluded from the innovation workforce, to good jobs;
Establishing a formal network to provide navigation resources, mentorship, and greater access to facilities and venture capital funding to help innovators successfully scale and launch their bioproducts in the region;
Constructing BioWorks HQ, a hands-on biomanufacturing training facility for diverse participants to effectively enter the workforce and for current employees to upskill—and for innovators to test and demonstrate their biotech innovations;
Implementing a grant program to help early-stage innovators surmount cost barriers to accessing these product development facilities, keeping biotech inventions and supply in the U.S.; and
Developing training pathways, leveraging curricula from Indiana’s higher education institutions and other globally recognized training programs to prepare participants for high-quality jobs in biomanufacturing operator and lab technician roles once the BioWorks HQ is constructed.
Heartland BioWorks, a consortium led by ARI, brings together key stakeholders from industry, academia, government, and nonprofit sectors to ensure that bioproducts invented in America are also made in the US. Members include major companies like Eli Lilly, Elanco, Corteva, INCOG, and Roche, as well as academic institutions such as Indiana University, Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame, and Ivy Tech Community College. Centered in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, Heartland BioWorks will leverage Indiana’s unparalleled collection of resources and capabilities to secure the nation’s biomanufacturing future
“When I worked to enact the CHIPS and Science Act two years ago, I knew Indiana was well-positioned to seize on the law’s historic opportunities to lead our country on technology areas important to global competitiveness,” Young said in a news release. “That potential continues to become a reality for Hoosiers. Today Heartland BioWorks was one of only 12 Tech Hubs across the country to receive a funding award. From leveraging existing resources and expertise in Indiana on life sciences and manufacturing to constructing a new headquarters for workforce training to helping early-stage innovative companies bridge the ‘valley of death’, Heartland BioWorks is going to solidify Indiana’s place on the global map as the preeminent location for biotech innovation and manufacturing.” – U.S. Senator Todd Young
“Indiana’s new Tech Hub designation has opened our state up to a next level of opportunities,” said Gov. Eric Holcomb. “Now that we have been awarded nearly $51 million to support the implementation, it’s full steam ahead in workforce development and building the specific talent pipelines to support the exact type of innovative business growth and entrepreneurship we want.”
“Indiana’s designation as a regional tech hub for biotechnology and biomanufacturing is a significant step forward for our robust and diverse life sciences sector. Thanks to the innovative and collaborative work being led by Heartland BioWorks, we’ve unlocked approximately $51 million in federal funding that will further bolster our efforts to solidify Indiana as a global destination for developing and producing life-changing solutions. This funding will better arm public and private industry leaders with the tools needed to innovate new technologies, launch new businesses and train tomorrow’s biomanufacturing leaders, generating significant growth for the state’s economy while solving 21st century challenges for people around the world.” – David Rosenberg, Indiana Secretary of Commerce
“As the state’s flagship university, IU is deeply committed to elevating the great state of Indiana,” said IU President Pamela Whitten. “Serving as a partner in the Heartland BioWorks Hub enables us to meet this goal by contributing our expertise and resources to support the growth of the biotech sector and the development of talent pipelines. We are proud to be part of a vibrant community that fosters collaboration, entrepreneurship, and economic growth, and we look forward to seeing the impact of this funding on our state and region.”
“Through our outstanding faculty and students in One Health, Purdue University is excited to be part of the winning team in this critical national competition. Along with the Microelectronic Commons Hub and Hydrogen Hub wins, the BioWork Regional Tech Hub is another important dimension of ARI and partners like Purdue executing for the success of the CHIPS Act for our state and our country.” – Mung Chiang, Purdue University President
“Indiana is the nation’s leader in pharmaceutical exports and is poised to extend this leadership, given its robust ecosystem of leading biomanufacturers and educational institutions. This grant will catalyze Indiana’s ability to provide the skilled, diverse biomanufacturing workforce this country needs to make critical medicines for patients.” – Vince Wong, President & CEO of BioCrossroads
“This catalytic investment will fuel Indiana’s economy by accelerating biotechnology in Central Indiana, creating a ripple effect throughout the whole state,” said José Padilla, president of Valparaiso University. “Equitable biotech workforce training and commercialization is essential, and we are proud to continue our support and involvement in this effort.”
“Today’s announcement is a testament to the collaboration and forward-thinking of Indiana’s innovation ecosystem,” said Emily Krueger, president & CEO of 16 Tech Community Corporation, the non-profit manager of the 16 Tech Innovation District located in downtown Indianapolis. “16 Tech is proud to collaborate with the Heartland Bio Works to accelerate our state’s economic impact and to grow our biotech industry and workforce.”
“Evonik is proud to be part of the Heartland BioWorks consortium that was awarded the implementation grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Regional Technology and Innovation Hub program. We encourage and actively participate in BioWorks’ efforts to develop the future workforce for the biomanufacturing sector, support biotech startups, and modernize biopharma manufacturing.” – Daniel Fricker, Site Manager, Evonik Tippecanoe Laboratories
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has projected to move from hype to help in 2024, generated by a shift in the global economy. There are tech companies taking that ambition and turning it into a reality and one of them joins us today. Dustin Sapp, CEO of Traction Ag, addresses farm accounting through technology, the sophistication of farming operations and how little of that innovation has hit farmers’ back offices.
How do farmers actually manage their books? Dustin says it’s a patchwork of solutions that take lots of time, spreadsheets and occasional uncertainty – something Traction Ag is well positioned to solve. He also gets into the vote of confidence from investors of late, all centered around the idea of improving the economic prosperity of farmers. Dustin also talks about their approach to responsible growth and building something that lasts so that farmers count on it as a trusted source for years to come.
In a tough time for innovators trying to fundraise, what is Traction Ag doing different? Dustin stresses the importance of demonstrating value, telling your story well and the vision you have for your business. How will AI create more help at the farmgate? Dustin talks about AI not being a hero for bad solutions and how his tech background has paved the way to the opportunities he’s had to date.
Biologicals – the broad category of ag input products derived from living organisms – have experienced significant growth in terms of adoption and investment. An analysis of Pitchbook data reveals there have been more than 6,000 deals in the global ag biotech market over the past decade. One of those companies driving growth is Biodyne USA. This week, we are joined by their National Director of Agronomy, Bodie Kitchel, to talk Biologicals vs. Biostimulants and what’s driving growth in the space.
For Bodie, everyone’s “why” looks a little different when it comes to the adoption of biologicals and farm economics are certainly a piece of that. He gets into the farmer mindset around adopting innovation to leverage net farm income and Biodyne being an education company to help farmers learn where their dollar has the most value. Bodie also talks about needing economic impact right away but also balancing that belief with the value of economic impact in years two, three, four and five.
With his experience in ag retail, how has Bodie seen innovation evolve? He talks about positioning, investment and companies being afraid of the unknown. Looking ahead, Bodie talks about that fear being outweighed by the urgency around innovating – and Biodyne USA doing it with speed.
