AgriNovus Indiana

It’s estimated that disease could cost the global food system up to 20% of production and one scientist is turning to the plant itself to change that. Dr. Kyle Mohler joins us today to talk his recent win at the Rally In-Prize Pitch Competition, his work to detect disease in plants much earlier and the Insignum AgTech’s startup journey in 2024.&nbsp; Insignum AgTech’s traits allow for the farmer to detect when disease is coming – nearly a week before you would actually see symptoms – an opportunity for farmers to treat with precision and before things are past a point of no return. Kyle gets into the farmer feedback surrounding the technology in action and how it serves as a decision-making tool for their operations.&nbsp; Fresh off a win at the Rally Innovation Conference In-Prize Pitch Competition, Kyle talks scaling via test plots across the Midwest. He also talks great milestones for Insignum AgTech in 2024 and where they hope to be headed in the future.&nbsp;

Kyle Mohler

Founder + CEO, Insignum AgTech

It’s estimated that disease could cost the global food system up to 20% of production and one scientist is turning to the plant itself to change that. Dr. Kyle Mohler joins us today to talk his recent win at the Rally In-Prize Pitch Competition, his work to detect disease in plants much earlier and the Insignum AgTech’s startup journey in 2024. 

Insignum AgTech’s traits allow for the farmer to detect when disease is coming – nearly a week before you would actually see symptoms – an opportunity for farmers to treat with precision and before things are past a point of no return. Kyle gets into the farmer feedback surrounding the technology in action and how it serves as a decision-making tool for their operations. 

Fresh off a win at the Rally Innovation Conference In-Prize Pitch Competition, Kyle talks scaling via test plots across the Midwest. He also talks great milestones for Insignum AgTech in 2024 and where they hope to be headed in the future. 

323. Insignum AgTech’s Kyle Mohler on early disease detection in crops + the value of farmer feedback

This weekly podcast dives into the agbioscience sector, where agriculture, life sciences innovation and cutting-edge technology converge. Agbioscience is an in-depth conversation with leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs across food, animal health. plant science and agtech. Learn more about industry innovation and where it's heading from those leading the way.

Agbioscience

Happy International Podcast Day! Mitch Frazier and Cayla Chiddister recap the agbiosciences in September and look ahead to upcoming events. Key takeaways include: - Artificial intelligence (AI) moving from hype to help + the recent conversation at AgriNovus' QUADRANT with Kristen Owen (Oppenheimer + Co.), Aaron Schacht (BiomEdit) and Brad Fruth (Beck's Hybrids)- The collaboration and joint venture between Corteva Agriscience and Pairwise (via Corteva Catalyst) -- a $25M investment to advance gene editing- A recap of NASDA (National Association of State Departments of Agriculture) + audio with Chuck Magro (Corteva) and Jeff Simmons (Elanco)- A preview of our December QUADRANT. Register here: https://agrinovusindiana.com/quadrant/ Past episodes mentioned: Aaron Schacht + Eric Bonabeau (BiomEdit): https://podcast.agrinovusindiana.com/public/215/Agbioscience-8a9a4381/7d349933 Elliott Parker (High Alpha Innovation): https://podcast.agrinovusindiana.com/public/215/Agbioscience-8a9a4381/a43e4c6c

Happy International Podcast Day! Mitch Frazier and Cayla Chiddister recap the agbiosciences in September and look ahead to upcoming events. Key takeaways include: 

- Artificial intelligence (AI) moving from hype to help + the recent conversation at AgriNovus' QUADRANT with Kristen Owen (Oppenheimer + Co.), Aaron Schacht (BiomEdit) and Brad Fruth (Beck's Hybrids)
- The collaboration and joint venture between Corteva Agriscience and Pairwise (via Corteva Catalyst) -- a $25M investment to advance gene editing
- A recap of NASDA (National Association of State Departments of Agriculture) + audio with Chuck Magro (Corteva) and Jeff Simmons (Elanco)
- A preview of our December QUADRANT. Register here: https://agrinovusindiana.com/quadrant/

Past episodes mentioned: 
Aaron Schacht + Eric Bonabeau (BiomEdit): https://podcast.agrinovusindiana.com/public/215/Agbioscience-8a9a4381/7d349933

Elliott Parker (High Alpha Innovation): https://podcast.agrinovusindiana.com/public/215/Agbioscience-8a9a4381/a43e4c6c

324. Mitch Frazier recaps September, Corteva + Pairwise collaboration, NASDA and more

The cornerstone of the agbioscience economy is production agriculture. Without farmers, no amount of agtech, animal health, or plant science would ever be applicable to feed and fuel this world. Today we are joined by Leah Anderson, SVP of Land O’Lakes and president of WinField United, to talk about her drive and motivation to help the farmer – and putting it into action.&nbsp; Key Takeaways:&nbsp;&nbsp; <ul><li>The farmer perspective headed into harvest including some stress surrounding commodity prices, input costs and declines in farm income levels.&nbsp;</li><li>Challenges for Land O’Lakes and WinField United ahead of next growing season – from access to labor and investment decisions – and how they’re helping the farmer with those hurdles.&nbsp;</li><li>Data as a decision driver and the Advanced Acre Rx program as a prescription suite of tools based on a farmer’s most pressing individual needs.&nbsp;</li><li>The cooperative model as a differentiator for farmers and the emerging innovations that have Leah most excited – including AI biologicals and evolving new markets (Carbon, water, etc.).&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>

Leah Anderson

SVP, Land O'Lakes

The cornerstone of the agbioscience economy is production agriculture. Without farmers, no amount of agtech, animal health, or plant science would ever be applicable to feed and fuel this world. Today we are joined by Leah Anderson, SVP of Land O’Lakes and president of WinField United, to talk about her drive and motivation to help the farmer – and putting it into action. 

Key Takeaways:  

- The farmer perspective headed into harvest including some stress surrounding commodity prices, input costs and declines in farm income levels. 
- Challenges for Land O’Lakes and WinField United ahead of next growing season – from access to labor and investment decisions – and how they’re helping the farmer with those hurdles. 
- Data as a decision driver and the Advanced Acre Rx program as a prescription suite of tools based on a farmer’s most pressing individual needs. 
- The cooperative model as a differentiator for farmers and the emerging innovations that have Leah most excited – including AI biologicals and evolving new markets (Carbon, water, etc.).  

322. Land O’Lakes' Leah Anderson on the farmer perspective, emerging innovations and data as a differentiator to drive net farm income

Innovation in agbioscience has never been more critical. In today’s tough economy, farmers are looking for new ways to generate margin and with geopolitical instability around the world, food’s stabilizing force around the world is taking center stage. Former Army Colonel and Executive Vice President of The Directions Group (Aimpoint Research) joins today to talk forces of change in our food system, food security as national security and innovation for the farmer.&nbsp; Key Takeaways: &nbsp; <ul><li>The Directions Group’s recent Farmers of the Future research dives into how farmers are evolving, what they need and how his team sees this landscape changing in the future – including consolidation.&nbsp;</li><li>Agbioscience’s critical role in human health and its impact on our national security and military service. &nbsp;</li><li>Mark’s work with Indiana farmers to define the critical challenges facing their operations as the launch point for this year’s Producer-Led Innovation Challenge and The Directions Group’s methodology of tackling this feedback.&nbsp;</li><li>Labor management and administrative burden as huge hurdles for farmers to be successful – and why talking with a farmer will drive better outcomes for innovators.&nbsp;</li></ul> Read the study, Producer-Led Innovation Challenge Opportunity Identification, at agrinovusindiana.com/research.&nbsp;

Mark Purdy

EVP, The Directions Group

Innovation in agbioscience has never been more critical. In today’s tough economy, farmers are looking for new ways to generate margin and with geopolitical instability around the world, food’s stabilizing force around the world is taking center stage. Former Army Colonel and Executive Vice President of The Directions Group (Aimpoint Research) joins today to talk forces of change in our food system, food security as national security and innovation for the farmer. 

Key Takeaways:  

The Directions Group’s recent Farmers of the Future research dives into how farmers are evolving, what they need and how his team sees this landscape changing in the future – including consolidation. 

Agbioscience’s critical role in human health and its impact on our national security and military service.  

Mark’s work with Indiana farmers to define the critical challenges facing their operations as the launch point for this year’s Producer-Led Innovation Challenge and The Directions Group’s methodology of tackling this feedback. 

Labor management and administrative burden as huge hurdles for farmers to be successful – and why talking with a farmer will drive better outcomes for innovators. 

Read the study, Producer-Led Innovation Challenge Opportunity Identification, at agrinovusindiana.com/research. 

321. The Directions Group’s Mark Purdy on farmers of the future + their identified opportunities for innovation in agbioscience

Sustainability in agbioscience requires two key inputs: environment and economics. Today we are joined by Rumin8’s head of research and development, Dr. Lucas Huntimer, to talk economic durability, sustainability and how his team aims to decarbonize 100 million cows by 2030. Lucas dives into the challenge at hand – methane – and Rumin8’s differentiated approach to innovating in this space. Rather than focusing on methane knockdown, their team is redirecting methane emission back into productivity, returning investment back to the producer. With an uptick in innovation happening in this space, we had to ask: why now? Lucas talks through the rise in focus surrounding cattle, their bold mission to decarbonize 100 million cows by 2030 and the hurdles they’ll face to get there, from regulatory to capital.

Lucas Huntimer

Head of Research and Development, Rumin8

Sustainability in agbioscience requires two key inputs: environment and economics. Today we are joined by Rumin8’s head of research and development, Dr. Lucas Huntimer, to talk economic durability, sustainability and how his team aims to decarbonize 100 million cows by 2030.  

Lucas dives into the challenge at hand – methane – and Rumin8’s differentiated approach to innovating in this space. Rather than focusing on methane knockdown, their team is redirecting methane emission back into productivity, returning investment back to the producer. 

With an uptick in innovation happening in this space, we had to ask: why now? Lucas talks through the rise in focus surrounding cattle, their bold mission to decarbonize 100 million cows by 2030 and the hurdles they’ll face to get there, from regulatory to capital. 

320. Rumin8’s Dr. Lucas Huntimer on durability, sustainability + the decarbonization of 100 million cows by 2030 

Discover the journey of Salena Scardina, from her start at McDonald's Corporation to becoming the Chief Marketing Officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, and her mission to redefine Indiana's global brand. In this episode of Agbioscience, Salena shares her insights on the customer experience, the power of understanding your audience and the innovative promise of Indiana's economy looking toward the future. Dive into the discussion on how Indiana is boldly claiming its place on the world stage, thanks to strategic branding and a deep commitment to innovation in agriculture, technology and touting what we do best – work together to achieve big outcomes.&nbsp;

Salena Scardina

CMO, Indiana Economic Development Corporation

Salena Scardina, CMO of Indiana Economic Development Corp, shares insights on Indiana's underestimated Agbioscience sector and her journey from McDonald's to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) on Agbioscience with host Mitch Frazier.

319. IEDC’s Salena Scardina on For the Bold, the customer experience + knowing when to automate vs. innovate

AgriNovus CEO, Mitch Frazier, recaps August with highlights from the Rally Innovation Conference, the upcoming Producer-Led Innovation Challenge, Field Atlas hitting college campuses across Indiana and events coming up for you to join!

AgriNovus CEO, Mitch Frazier, recaps August with highlights from the Rally Innovation Conference, the upcoming Producer-Led Innovation Challenge, Field Atlas hitting college campuses across Indiana and events coming up for you to join!

318. Mitch Frazier recaps the Rally Innovation Conference, talks Producer-Led Innovation Challenge and more

Venture capital has become synonymous with innovation. And one firm is turning to an event featuring world renowned artists, actors, athletes and innovators (plus a multi-million-dollar pitch competition) to drive new creative collisions. Toph Day, CEO of Elevate Ventures and mastermind of the Rally Innovation Conference, joins today to talk the state of venture capital, false growth driving bad decisions and his optimism heading into the last quarter of 2024. Part of his optimism starts with a major event kicking off in Indianapolis this week – the 2nd Rally Innovation Conference. Toph stresses the value of other vertical perspectives, bringing a wide range of expertise together at Rally and what attendees can expect at the event this week (in one word: Toph says to expect magic). What’s so different about Rally, anyway? Toph acknowledges that innovation doesn’t happen 1 on 1 between investor and entrepreneur and introduces a critical figure to the process: the disparate stakeholder (the figure upon which the event was launched). Between the demo floor, nationally renowned keynote speakers and a multi-million-dollar pitch competition, Rally is designed to bring together leaders across multiple disciplines to drive new, creative waves of innovation. With over 3,000 attendees in year one, Toph has a big vision for Rally’s sophomore season. This includes keynotes from Tia White, Alex Rodriguez, Marcus Lemonis and Jann Mardenborough (think creative collisions) + fantastic breakout sessions across food and agtech (among other verticals). Learn more about Rally at rallyinnovation.com. Use code RALLYAgrinovus to get 40% off your ticket.

Toph Day

CEO, Elevate Ventures

Venture capital has become synonymous with innovation. And one firm is turning to an event featuring world renowned artists, actors, athletes and innovators (plus a multi-million-dollar pitch competition) to drive new creative collisions. Toph Day, CEO of Elevate Ventures and mastermind of the Rally Innovation Conference, joins today to talk the state of venture capital, false growth driving bad decisions and his optimism heading into the last quarter of 2024.  

Part of his optimism starts with a major event kicking off in Indianapolis this week – the 2nd Rally Innovation Conference. Toph stresses the value of other vertical perspectives, bringing a wide range of expertise together at Rally and what attendees can expect at the event this week (in one word: Toph says to expect magic). 

What’s so different about Rally, anyway? Toph acknowledges that innovation doesn’t happen 1 on 1 between investor and entrepreneur and introduces a critical figure to the process: the disparate stakeholder (the figure upon which the event was launched). Between the demo floor, nationally renowned keynote speakers and a multi-million-dollar pitch competition, Rally is designed to bring together leaders across multiple disciplines to drive new, creative waves of innovation.   

With over 3,000 attendees in year one, Toph has a big vision for Rally’s sophomore season. This includes keynotes from Tia White, Alex Rodriguez, Marcus Lemonis and Jann Mardenborough (think creative collisions) + fantastic breakout sessions across food and agtech (among other verticals).  

Learn more about Rally at rallyinnovation.com. Use code RALLYAgrinovus to get 40% off your ticket.

Recent Episodes

SEASON 7

324. Mitch Frazier recaps September, Corteva + Pairwise collaboration, NASDA and more

322. Land O’Lakes' Leah Anderson on the farmer perspective, emerging innovations and data as a differentiator to drive net farm income

321. The Directions Group’s Mark Purdy on farmers of the future + their identified opportunities for innovation in agbioscience

320. Rumin8’s Dr. Lucas Huntimer on durability, sustainability + the decarbonization of 100 million cows by 2030

319. IEDC’s Salena Scardina on For the Bold, the customer experience + knowing when to automate vs. innovate

318. Mitch Frazier recaps the Rally Innovation Conference, talks Producer-Led Innovation Challenge and more

317. Toph Day on the Rally Innovation Conference + the disparate stakeholder driving creative collisions

About The Show

Agbioscience

Mitch Frazier

CEO, AgriNovus Indiana