WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A virtual pitching event has offered Purdue University-affiliated startups the chance to connect with potential customers and agriculture leaders during the pandemic.
Fish Tank was a virtual pitching event held earlier this month during the Purdue Ag Alumni Association’s Gone Fishin’ event, the virtual alternative to its annual Fish Fry. The Fish Tank featured 12 Purdue startups that pitched their innovations to agriculture leaders, alumni and business executives.
“Through a partnership with the Purdue Foundry, Fish Tank was our way of presenting a favorite Fish Fry event in a virtual format,” said Danica Kirkpatrick, executive director of the association. “Our alumni enjoy hearing about the innovation and entrepreneurial ideas that come from Purdue’s College of Agriculture, and we were thrilled to be able to bring that to them this year.”
LeafTech Ag Inc., a startup focused on enhanced crop management and performance, won the Judges’ Choice Award and a $5,000 prize.
“The Fish Tank was a great opportunity to strengthen our skills as a company in communicating what we do and where we are headed,” said John Mascoe, founder and CEO of LeafTech Ag.
LeafTech Ag Inc., a startup focused on enhanced crop management and performance, won the Judges’ Choice Award and a $5,000 prize.
The startup was recently accepted into AgLaunch365, an accelerator program operated by Memphis-based AgLaunch, to participate in on-farm validation trials.
Heliponix LLC, a startup that designs, distributes and supports direct-to-consumer, in-home greenhouses, won the Viewers’ Choice Award and a $1,000 prize.
“We have been inspired for many years as we have taken part in the annual Fish Fry and received honest and rapid feedback,” said Scott Massey, co-founder of Heliponix. “The event continues to get better each year, and this year with the pandemic was certainly no different.”
Heliponix announced recently that it had received National Science Foundation funding for its technology.
Other startups that participated in the Fish Tank were:
Advanced Renewable Power LLC.
DENCODA LLC.
Gen3Bio Inc.
Karyosoft LLC.
Hippo Straw (aka Palm Energy).
Phytoption LLC.
Safe Food En Route LLC.
VinSense LLC.
About Purdue Research Foundation
Purdue Research Foundation supports Purdue University’s land-grant mission by helping the university improve the world through its technologies and graduates. Established in 1930, PRF is a private, nonprofit foundation. The foundation helps patent and commercialize Purdue technologies; builds places to encourage innovation, invention, investment, commercialization and entrepreneurship; and makes equity available to students to finance their Purdue education. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at [email protected]. For more information about involvement and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at [email protected].
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at purdue.edu.
Quadrant, a now quarterly convening series aimed at bringing together a diverse group of professionals to further connect Indiana’s agbioscience community, returns this month!
AgriNovus recently released Resilience Through Disruption, a study that examined Indiana’s food supply chain and the effects of a global pandemic. Hear from researchers, producers and startups that are working in the food supply space amidst a quickly changing environment.
Now held in a virtual venue, this won’t be your typical online gathering… we will use an engaging platform that is a video-first virtual event space that fosters real-time collaboration and networking.
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – Ag-Analyticsand Davide Cammarano, Purdue associate professor of agronomy, have announced a recently established research partnership. Using precision agriculture data, Cammarano’s research team will develop farm management strategies that optimize economic outcomes for businesses and individuals.
Ag-Analytics is a farm management platform that specializes in precision agriculture data analytics, remote sensing data analytics and risk management. Through innovative tools and services for farmers, crop consultants and research partnerships, Ag-Analytics helps users mitigate risks, decrease environmental impacts, improve yields and increase profits by making better-informed farm management decisions.
This partnership will allow growers to opt in to work confidentially with university researchers with field-level precision agriculture data. All data will be anonymized and confidential, and researchers will be working only with growers who opt into the agreement with their university.
“This venture will be mutually beneficial, advancing my research while helping Ag-Analyticsdevelop tools for farmers and optimize their production,” Cammarano said. “The hope is that this partnership will create a living research hub for integrating digital tools and models that support farmers.”
“Partnering with Purdue enables precision agriculture research, which drives the industry forward toward data-driven decisions and deeper analysis of field operations,” said Joshua Woodard, CEO and founder of Ag-Analytics. “We are excited to establish a partnership with a premier agricultural research institution and a close neighbor to our West Lafayette, Indiana, headquarters.”
Farmers can easily sign up to participate at https://profit.ag/Purdue. Signup is free, and farmers who sign-up will receive a free Ag-Analytics account, which offers access to high-resolution satellite NDVI imagery, historical and current weather conditions, insurance estimates and other key elements.
HUNTINGTON – Huntington University has received a $400,000 matching grant from Avis Foundation Inc. in Upland. The grant, which will be allocated over a three-year period, is intended to support the university’s agriculture program.
The university says the grant comes in response to “its focus on applied learning and creation of new educational opportunities for secondary students related to agricultural studies.”
“We are humbled by the Avis Foundation’s faith in Huntington University and their investment not only in our current students but in future Foresters,” said Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University. “This matching grant underscores the efforts and successes currently being enacted in our agriculture classrooms and bio-living labs but also creates space for HU to strategically plan for the next generation of students pursuing the agbiosciences.”
HU says it plans to use the funding to engage the community in agricultural education, develop paid opportunities for summer work, and fund the running a livestock learning lab and plant science facility.
“Agriculture has long been a stronghold in the American economy, but new approaches to production, animal science, bioscience and agribusiness are necessary in a world where discovery and innovation are rapidly changing the way people work,” said Marty Songer, executive director for the Avis Foundation Inc. “HU is positioned to not only cultivate interest in current agriculture studies, but through research projects and other educational programming, will be able to impact the future of agriculture as well. We believe that the education provided at Huntington University will undoubtedly enable its graduates to use their knowledge for the good of many communities — both at home and abroad.”
HU launched the Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies in 2014.
The Pantheon is hosting its first Ag Technology Startup Showcase featuring businesses and keynote speaker Chad Colby.
About this Event
Join the Pantheon for a free event! The Pantheon is hosting its first Ag Technology Startup Showcase to help grow and develop local farmers and build current and future Ag Businesses in the community. The showcase will be at the heart and center of Vincennes, IN in the recently renovated Pantheon Theatre.
The Pantheon is a new Co-Working Space and Business Incubator designed to help provide support and resources to current and future entrepreneurs, innovators, and business owners.
The Showcase will feature representatives from the following companies: Market Wagon, Solinftec, BMP Logic, Telesense, and Colby AgTech. The events’ keynote speaker is Chad Colby from This Week in Agribusiness. Refreshments and startup discussions are to follow. For the safety of the community, this event will be offered in-person and virtually. They’ll host 50 guests in-person. Once their max capacity is reached, any guest who wishes to attend may sign-up for the virtual showcase. Get your ticket here.
John Deere has entered into an allied distribution agreement with Smart Guided Systems to sell its Smart-Apply Intelligent Spray Control System for use with John Deere tractors in high value crop applications.
John Deere dealers will sell Smart-Apply systems that are compatible with John Deere Tractors.
The agreement provides a one-stop-solution for high value crop producers to purchase the Smart-Apply Intelligent Control System.
The Intelligent Control System adapts to existing or new air-blast sprayers.
John Deere has entered into an allied distribution agreement with Smart Guided Systems to sell and support its Smart-Apply Intelligent Control System through the John Deere dealer channel in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
Through this agreement, John Deere dealers will sell and service the Smart-Apply Intelligent Control System which uses Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and is compatible with John Deere tractors used in high value crop applications.
The Smart-Apply Intelligent Spray Control System is an add-on kit for air-blast sprayers that are towed behind a John Deere tractor. Smart-Apply can reduce the potential for chemical drift and help decrease the amount of product being applied.
“We are excited to offer this innovative precision spraying solution to our customers for use with their John Deere tractors in high value crop applications such as fruit and tree nut orchards, nurseries, and vineyards,” said Greg Christensen, Go-To-Market Manager for John Deere. “The Smart-Apply system will help ensure that only the canopy gets sprayed and automatically adjusts spray volume based on plant density per nozzle zone. This results in less wasted product while positively contributing to environmental sustainability, maximizing potential profit, and maintaining agronomic efficacy for our growers.”
According Steve Booher, CEO, Smart Guided Systems, John Deere is known for having a world-class dealer channel and for providing outstanding sales, service, and support for their customers.
“The agreement gives our customers access to an innovative, field-proven precision-spraying control system for use in high value specialty crops through a proven distribution channel,” Booher said.
For more information, visit your local John Deere dealer or JohnDeere.com.
About John Deere
Deere & Company (www.JohnDeere.com) is a world leader in providing advanced products, technology and services for customers whose work is revolutionizing agriculture and construction – those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world’s increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure.
About Smart Guided Systems
Smart Guided Systems, LLC is a leader in precision systems for high value permanent crop growers. For more information on the Intelligent Spray Control System, visit www.SmartApply.com.
Frankfort, Ind. – The city of Frankfort, Ind., Clinton County and Indiana state officials today announced Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo and a leading snack manufacturer, will invest $60 million to expand its operations in the city of Frankfort. The expansion will create 50 new jobs, which builds on the previously announced facility investments totaling $230 million over the last two years. Since announcing its first expansion effort in 2018, Frito-Lay has created 200 new employment opportunities at the site.
The Frito-Lay Frankfort site project will add a new manufacturing line, strengthen capabilities and increase capacity to enable future growth. Construction is set to begin in early 2021, and the project is expected to be completed in early 2022.
“Frito-Lay’s continued financial investment and creation of jobs in Frankfort during these challenging times, reinforces their commitment to strengthening our local economy,” said Mayor Judy Sheets. “I am grateful to the company and everyone who played a role in making this project happen.”
Frito-Lay employs approximately 1,300 full-time associates. Upon completion of the expansion, Frito-Lay will operate 21 snack production lines and sit across 135 acres.
“As we continue to expand our Frankfort operations, we appreciate the support and partnership of state and local officials who have been instrumental to our growth,” said Steve Golliher, supply chain vice president, Frito-Lay.
The Frito-Lay Frankfort facility was considered for this significant investment as a direct result of the collaboration with the mayor and the city’s Finance Committee. City officials have proposed a personal property tax abatement to bring this investment and jobs to the community. Additionally, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Frito-Lay up to $550,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans.
“It’s encouraging to see companies like Frito-Lay continue thriving despite a year of unprecedented challenges and have the confidence to diversify their capabilities here and expand their presence in our state,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger. “Frito-Lay has been a part of the Frankfort community for more than 40 years, and we’re excited to support their continued success as they grow and create even more quality career opportunities for Hoosiers.”
Additional project details will be announced at a later date. Frito-Lay’s Frankfort manufacturing sites are located at 323 S. County Road 300 West, Frankfort, Ind. 45061 and 2611 W. County Rd. 0 NS, Frankfort, Ind., 46614.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A new report, released today by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Purdue University, shows a strong job demand for new college graduates with degrees in agricultural programs. U.S. college graduates can expect approximately 59,400 job opportunities annually between 2020 and 2025. This reflects a 2.6 percent growth from the previous five years. Employer demand will exceed the supply of available graduates with a bachelor’s degree or higher in agriculture-related fields.
“Future development of our complex global food system requires the brightest minds from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and disciplines working together to solve the challenges before us,” said Parag Chitnis, acting director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. “This report shows that students across America who are studying food, agriculture and related sciences to take on these challenges have made a sound career choice and will graduate into a strong and growing job market in the years ahead.”
The preparation of the report began before the coronavirus pandemic when global socio-economic conditions looked much differently than they do at the release of this report.
“It was extremely challenging to project the success and perseverance of current college students, let alone the employment opportunities that await new graduates during a global pandemic,” said Marcos Fernandez, principal investigator on the project and professor in the College of Agriculture at Purdue University. “Regardless, the project team confidently concludes that the need for graduates and employment opportunities in agricultural fields will remain strong and steady.”
Graduates earning degrees with emphasis in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources and the environment (FARNRE) will account for 61 percent of the annual supply pool. Most of the employment opportunities will be in business and management at 42 percent and another 31 percent in science and engineering. Openings anticipated in education, communication and government will make up 14 percent, and 13 percent will be in food and biomaterials production with nearly 92 percent of those jobs going to FARNRE majors.
“Diversity and inclusiveness are strategic for the future workforce,” said Allan Goecker, co-principal investigator and emeritus staff of Purdue University. “For the food, agriculture, renewable resources and environment sector to fully address the needs of the United States, it must reflect the population it services.
“A more diverse and inclusive workforce will support a more innovative and creative agricultural industry for the future,” Goecker said.
Over the past two decades and across all levels of degree attainment, more females than males have graduated in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources and the environment.
Some majors tend to attract a greater proportion of female students, including animal sciences, agricultural education, agricultural communication and veterinary medicine.
Other majors tend to attract more male students, including agricultural engineering, forestry, agronomy and crop science.
There will be a strong demand for graduates with expertise in data science across all disciplines.
Expect to see strong employment for specialists in marketing, e-commerce, field technical service, water quality and environment, climate and invasive species, food technology, and environmental and rural policy.
Sector employs nearly 77,000 workers in high-wage jobs
INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 12, 2020) — AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative focused on growing Indiana’s agbioscience economy, today released a comprehensive study that found the sector directly contributes more than $39 billion to the state’s economy.
“Indiana’s agbioscience economy is thriving, generating growth in both economic output and average wages,” said Mitch Frazier, president and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana. “This study identifies Indiana’s tremendous strengths in operations and academia across food production, animal health, agtech and plant science and establishes a clear platform for us to take Indiana’s agbioscience economy to the next level.”
According to the study, Indiana’s agbioscience economy is driven by four innovation-based platforms, including:
Value-Added Food and Nutrition – represents a significant $29.1 billion in output for Indiana, up 13 percent since 2012, and accounts for over 53,000 jobs totaling 14.2 percent growth.
Animal Health and Nutrition – contributes $4.3 billion in ouput for Indiana, growing 8.6 percent since 2012. Employment has also grown by 18.6 percent, totaling over 11,300 workers.
Agricultural Equipment, Technologies andSystems – responsible for $1.8 billion in output, up 15.6 percent since 2012, and employs more than 5,400 workers totaling 5.5 percent job growth.
Plant Science and Crop Protection – represents $3.9 billion in output, a decline of 26 percent since 2012. Employment has fallen by 15.6 percent, totaling over 6,500 workers.
“Noting the large-scale changes that have affected the agbiosciences globally, it is encouraging to see Indiana’s economic growth,” said Deborah Cummings, principal and senior director for TEConomy Partners. “Indiana should be encouraged by the progress and collaboration with partners across the state to continue on a growth trajectory into this new decade.”
The full study, Innovative Agbioscience in Indiana: 2020 Assessment, is available at www.AgriNovusIndiana.com.
The future of agriculture and our planet depends on us to provide for today without sacrificing our tomorrow. Technological advancement is essential. Cutting-edge thinking is mandatory. Innovation is imperative. Sustainability is central.
In the 2020 FFA Blue Room, attendees had the chance to explore innovations and new technologies, learn about careers they didn’t even know existed and envision a more sustainable future. AgriNovus president + CEO, Mitch Frazier, was a highlighted speaker at this year’s event.
