Sustainability. It’s a big word that carries several meanings – particularly across the agbioscience value chain. From conservation practices on the farm to technologies that create a more efficient use of the land, innovators in agbioscience are always seeking to do more with less. Underpinned in that effort is economic sustainability and how different practices create fluctuations in margin for farmers and companies alike. Today we are joined by Executive Director of the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Liz Rice, to talk pressing challenges when it comes to the land and what it takes to support farmers in this space.  

Highlights include:  

The role of IASWCD in supporting farmers, communities and local conservation efforts around the state 

How the conversation on sustainability and conservation has evolved over the last decade 

Challenges farmers and district leaders are facing right now that feel most pressing and urgent 

Soil health and how Liz defines it in practical terms 

Balancing expectations of environmental stewardship with the economic realities of agriculture 

Some of the most effective practices Liz has seen adopted today and why they are gaining traction 

The role Liz sees farmers playing in climate resilience 

New technologies, data and research – and how they will impact the land 

Strong partnerships across the ecosystem that she sees making impact 

How sustainability can be an even bigger part of our state’s agbioscience story 

What’s ahead for her team that has her most excited

Sustainability. It’s a big word that carries several meanings – particularly across the agbioscience value chain. From conservation practices on the farm to technologies that create a more efficient use of the land, innovators in agbioscience are always seeking to do more with less. Underpinned in that effort is economic sustainability and how different practices create fluctuations in margin for farmers and companies alike. Today we are joined by Executive Director of the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Liz Rice, to talk pressing challenges when it comes to the land and what it takes to support farmers in this space.

Highlights include:

The role of IASWCD in supporting farmers, communities and local conservation efforts around the state

How the conversation on sustainability and conservation has evolved over the last decade

Challenges farmers and district leaders are facing right now that feel most pressing and urgent

Soil health and how Liz defines it in practical terms

Balancing expectations of environmental stewardship with the economic realities of agriculture

Some of the most effective practices Liz has seen adopted today and why they are gaining traction

The role Liz sees farmers playing in climate resilience

New technologies, data and research – and how they will impact the land

Strong partnerships across the ecosystem that she sees making impact

How sustainability can be an even bigger part of our state’s agbioscience story

What’s ahead for her team that has her most excited

YouTube Video VVVhNGU0WnYzY05pRFFRU25jVlA4NXhRLmh1UFhJY1psOW9R

438. IASWCD’s Liz Rice on balancing economic and environmental sustainability

From Indiana’s rich agricultural story to the cross-sector innovation taking place in BioHeartland, the state’s economy tells more than one story about what it does well; the growing story, however, is how its innovation domains come together to share an identity with much more power. This week, Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Don Lamb joins the show to talk about the farmer, the future and BioHeartland’s positive momentum. 

Highlights include: 

Don’s perspective as a farmer and how becoming the Director of ISDA has evolved his view of the industry 

The opportunity for Indiana to innovate at the intersection of farming, food, animal health and plant science 

USDA’s announcement of Indianapolis as a hub for their relocation initiative and what he believe it signals about Indiana 

Why Indiana is a fit and the advantage our ecosystem brings 

The impact of a USDA hub on the farmer here in Indiana 

Updates on the future of Indiana and USDA, including the announcement of SNAP to Indianapolis 

Don’s thoughts on BioHeartland and why an identity for our region matters more than ever 

How he hopes the brand grows and evolves both inside and outside perspectives on production agriculture and agbioscience’s impact on the state 

Farmers, agribusinesses and community leaders’ roles in sharing the BioHeartland story 

Don answers the question: “Is Indiana having a moment?” 

ISDA’s plans for seizing the opportunity to connect the farming and innovation communities 

What’s coming up for ISDA that has Don most excited

From Indiana’s rich agricultural story to the cross-sector innovation taking place in BioHeartland, the state’s economy tells more than one story about what it does well; the growing story, however, is how its innovation domains come together to share an identity with much more power. This week, Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Don Lamb joins the show to talk about the farmer, the future and BioHeartland’s positive momentum.

Highlights include:

Don’s perspective as a farmer and how becoming the Director of ISDA has evolved his view of the industry

The opportunity for Indiana to innovate at the intersection of farming, food, animal health and plant science

USDA’s announcement of Indianapolis as a hub for their relocation initiative and what he believe it signals about Indiana

Why Indiana is a fit and the advantage our ecosystem brings

The impact of a USDA hub on the farmer here in Indiana

Updates on the future of Indiana and USDA, including the announcement of SNAP to Indianapolis

Don’s thoughts on BioHeartland and why an identity for our region matters more than ever

How he hopes the brand grows and evolves both inside and outside perspectives on production agriculture and agbioscience’s impact on the state

Farmers, agribusinesses and community leaders’ roles in sharing the BioHeartland story

Don answers the question: “Is Indiana having a moment?”

ISDA’s plans for seizing the opportunity to connect the farming and innovation communities

What’s coming up for ISDA that has Don most excited

YouTube Video VVVhNGU0WnYzY05pRFFRU25jVlA4NXhRLkE5SFk2LUtFRVRB

437. ISDA’s Don Lamb on convening the corners of the agbioscience industry to drive impact