AgriNovus Indiana

This week Inside INdiana Business Host Gerry Dick is joined by Norman Burns, CEO, Conner Prairie

64. Showing Agriculture’s Past + Future at Conner Prairie

AgriNovus CEO, Christy Wright, and Vice President, Libby Fritz, recap September with Cayla Chiddister and discuss the month's news, including additions to our team via our Field Atlas Ambassador program, our participation in the One Health Summit in Indianapolis and several industry stories to share. <ul><li><a href="https://myfieldatlas.com/ambassadors/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Meet our Field Atlas Ambassadors</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.fooddive.com/spons/food-is-health-an-emerging-superpower-in-agbioscience-innovation/759822/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read Christy's Food Dive Story</a></li><li><a href="https://biocrossroads.com/annual-indiana-life-sciences-summit/2025-biocrossroads-life-sciences-summit/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AgriNovus Partners with BioCrossroads and Elanco for the Life Sciences Summit 2025</a></li><li>Aaron Schacht to Speak at Life Sciences Summit 2025 | <a href="https://youtu.be/vxmXiK4xda4?si=9DE2sj0e15U84srI" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Watch Aaron Schacht - BiomEdit on Agbioscience</a></li><li>Keystone Cooperative's Kevin Still Announces Intention to Retire | <a href="https://youtu.be/Mz-RsMvcSdY?si=IzyelU7PCQqHUWk6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Watch Kevin Still -- Keystone Cooperative on Agbioscience</a></li><li>SePro Corporation Announces Two Acquisitions</li><li>Insignum AgTech Raises $2.4M</li><li>Purdue Researchers Develop Rapid Test for HPAI</li><li>Integrated Dynamics (Velocity Winner) Awarded $245,000 from National Science Foundation for Phase 1 SBIR Grant</li><li>Field Atlas AMP Applications Now Open | <a href="https://myfieldatlas.com/amp/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apply Here</a></li></ul>

AgriNovus CEO, Christy Wright, and Vice President, Libby Fritz, recap September with Cayla Chiddister and discuss the month's news, including additions to our team via our Field Atlas Ambassador program, our participation in the One Health Summit in Indianapolis and several industry stories to share.

389. AgriNovus' Christy Wright recaps September, examines Indiana's One Health opportunity + agtech startups on the move

As consumers shift their preferences toward healthier food options, there is ripe opportunity for innovators in the CPG snack market. This week, we are joined by NutriPop co-founders Ujaswin Jain and Audrey Chung to talk food is health, student entrepreneurship and seizing the moment. We get into:&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>How the NutriPop team came together on the campus of the University of Notre Dame&nbsp;</li><li>What popped water lily seeds are and how they become a nutritious snack&nbsp;</li><li>The company’s participation in AgriNovus’ Velocity accelerator and how that experienced helped drive NutriPop forward in 2025&nbsp;</li><li>After winning the Food is Health track for Velocity, NutriPop’s successes, wins and momentum on market&nbsp;</li><li>NutriPop’s differentiation and what makes them unique in the food is health space&nbsp;</li><li>The tough realities of the CPG market and why they chose to enter as entrepreneurs&nbsp;</li><li>Advice they would offer to young student entrepreneurs heading down a similar path&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>What’s ahead for NutriPop&nbsp;</li></ul>

Ujaswin Jain + Audrey Chung

Co-Founders, NutriPop

As consumers shift their preferences toward healthier food options, there is ripe opportunity for innovators in the CPG snack market. This week, we are joined by NutriPop co-founders Ujaswin Jain and Audrey Chung to talk food is health, student entrepreneurship and seizing the moment.

388. NutriPop’s Ujaswin Jain + Audrey Chung on student entrepreneurship, food is health + innovating for an evolving, mindful consumer

From innovation pipeline movement to Series B funding, leadership changes and so much more, BiomEdit is on the move. This week, CEO Aaron Schacht joins Agbioscience to talk scientific discovery, artificial intelligence, creating “and” solutions and how he approaches adding to his team in a meaningful way. Highlights include:&nbsp;&nbsp; <ul><li>An overview of BiomEdit’s innovation pipeline and what has Aaron most excited right now&nbsp;</li><li>Optavant – BE-101 – and its movement through the USDA regulatory process, what the technology is designed to do and its benefit to the poultry industry&nbsp;</li><li>Creating solutions that establish certainty for producers – having the economics make sense to where they can realize the full genetic potential of the animal&nbsp;</li><li>Finding the right messages to connect consumers to straightforward understanding of how their food is produced and why these innovations are so important for them&nbsp;</li><li>How the BiomEdit team approaches scientific discovery&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>The company’s latest Series B fundriase -- $18.4 M – and what it will enable the company to do&nbsp;</li><li>New leadership additions and how they add not only competencies, but culture to the BiomEdit team&nbsp;</li><li>Aaron’s vision for the continued opportunity to marry the AI-driven predictive analysis with scientific discovery to drive this work forward – and some incredible updates for their team in this space&nbsp;</li><li>What’s ahead for BiomEdit&nbsp;</li></ul>

Aaron Schacht

CEO, BiomEdit

From innovation pipeline movement to Series B funding, leadership changes and so much more, BiomEdit is on the move. This week, CEO Aaron Schacht joins Agbioscience to talk scientific discovery, artificial intelligence, creating “and” solutions and how he approaches adding to his team in a meaningful way.

387. BiomEdit’s Aaron Schacht on innovation pipeline, approaching scientific discovery + developing “and” solutions in animal health

The global GMO testing market was valued at $3.9 billion in 2021, and is projected to reach $6.2 billion by 2031.&nbsp; With current processes costing time and money, there is a massive opportunity for innovation in genetic detection that benefits grain distributors, seed suppliers and ultimately – the farmer and consumer. Today we are joined by Ryan Skaar, COO of NanoBio Designs, to talk their platform technology and winning AgriNovus’ Velocity accelerator. We get into:&nbsp;&nbsp; <ul><li>What NanoBio Designs does and who they exist to serve through their technology&nbsp;</li><li>How the company has evolved since locating their headquarters to Indianapolis in 2022&nbsp;</li><li>Why they chose Indiana, its entrepreneurial resources and connections, as home base&nbsp;</li><li>Their technology, IndyStix, and its differentiation from other genetic testing technologies on the market&nbsp;</li><li>What winning the AgriNovus Velocity accelerator did for NanoBio Designs as a company and what they’ve done post-win to build momentum&nbsp;</li><li>How IndyStix creates confidence for the entire value chain&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>What Ryan sees as NanoBio Designs’ biggest opportunities for the future&nbsp;</li><li>The company’s pilot that’s currently running and its end goal&nbsp;</li><li>What’s ahead for the company&nbsp;</li></ul>

Ryan Skaar

COO, NanoBio Designs

The global GMO testing market was valued at $3.9 billion in 2021, and is projected to reach $6.2 billion by 2031.  With current processes costing time and money, there is a massive opportunity for innovation in genetic detection that benefits grain distributors, seed suppliers and ultimately – the farmer and consumer. Today we are joined by Ryan Skaar, COO of NanoBio Designs, to talk their platform technology and winning AgriNovus’ Velocity accelertor.

386. NanoBio Designs’ Ryan Skaar on IndyStix, innovating for confidence in the value chain + winning AgriNovus Velocity

Indiana is now home to a commercially available renewable diesel fuel production facility after CountryMark cut the ribbon on its $100 million plus refinery upgrade in Mount Vernon. With new production capabilities and a new market for Indiana soybean farmers, we are joined by CountryMark CEO Matt Smorch to talk about the expansion and what lies ahead. We get into it:&nbsp;&nbsp; <ul><li>The company’s innovation portfolio and what they bring to the energy market&nbsp;</li><li>How biofuels have evolved in recent years – from policy driving change to sustainable aviation fuel&nbsp;</li><li>Ag and oil coming together to drive outcomes on policy&nbsp;</li><li>The $100 million investment in the Mount Vernon facility and how it positions them for the future&nbsp;</li><li>The benefits of co-processed renewable diesel&nbsp;</li><li>Why they chose to make this investment right now&nbsp;</li><li>What’s ahead for CountryMark&nbsp;</li></ul>

Matt Smorch

CEO, CountryMark

Indiana is now home to a commercially available renewable diesel fuel production facility after CountryMark cut the ribbon on its $100 million plus refinery upgrade in Mount Vernon. With new production capabilities and a new market for Indiana soybean farmers, we are joined by CountryMark CEO Matt Smorch to talk about the expansion and what lies ahead.

385. CountryMark’s Matt Smorch on their $100M expansion + Indiana’s 1st commercially available renewable diesel fuel production facility

CountryMark’s Matt Smorch on their $100M expansion + Indiana’s 1st commercially available renewable diesel fuel production facility

Young leaders are born in the show rings of 4-H fairs and Cora Rodibaugh knows that story well. This week, the 10-year 4-H'er sits down with Indiana Farm Bureau’s Annie Romine to recap her career, talk about her love of pigs and the skills she’s acquired along the way that have her equipped her for the future. She also shares what’s ahead for her as she takes off for Purdue University to start the fall semester.&nbsp; Indiana Farm Bureau is dedicated to supporting youth in agriculture. There are several opportunities for youth to be involved in INFB, with scholarships for graduating seniors and college students; Collegiate Farm Bureau chapters at Purdue, Huntington and Vincennes universities; FFA advocacy days and trainings; grants for FFA chapters and 4-H clubs; and leadership development events, competitions, awards and conferences. INFB also serves as presenting sponsor of the Exhibitor Experience for livestock exhibitors and all showmanship contests at the Indiana State Fair.&nbsp; You can learn more at <a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.infarmbureau.org%2fYFAP&amp;c=E,1,pET7Oe5aYlOBS-HZ9ad1GTfo66A7Edt6vu5jOGsgJb5xUYH_em9IIHVjyE4hFpP4piq-aX8ADyBO-LLHso9kpbWO4ElCvxPK1Gg0ij2-yZk37MCYKp7OmDx1&amp;typo=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">infb.org/YFAP</a>.&nbsp;

Cora Rodibaugh

Ten Year 4-H Participant, Tipton County

Young leaders are born in the show rings of 4-H fairs and Cora Rodibaugh knows that story well. This week, the 10-year 4-H'er sits down with Indiana Farm Bureau’s Annie Romine to recap her career, talk about her love of pigs and the skills she’s acquired along the way that have her equipped her for the future. She also shares what’s ahead for her as she takes off for Purdue University to start the fall semester.  

Indiana Farm Bureau is dedicated to supporting youth in agriculture. There are several opportunities for youth to be involved in INFB, with scholarships for graduating seniors and college students; Collegiate Farm Bureau chapters at Purdue, Huntington and Vincennes universities; FFA advocacy days and trainings; grants for FFA chapters and 4-H clubs; and leadership development events, competitions, awards and conferences. INFB also serves as presenting sponsor of the Exhibitor Experience for livestock exhibitors and all showmanship contests at the Indiana State Fair.  You can learn more at infb.org/YFAP. 

384. Cora Rodibaugh on 10 years of 4-H leadership, next generation agbioscience talent + being a peer influence for the industry

Young leaders are born in the show rings of 4-H fairs and Cora Rodibaugh knows that story well. This week, the 10-year 4-H'er sits down with Indiana Farm Bureau’s Annie Romine to recap her career, talk about her love of pigs and the skills she’s acquired along the way that have her equipped her for the future. She also shares what’s ahead for her as she takes off for Purdue University to start the fall semester. 

Indiana Farm Bureau is dedicated to supporting youth in agriculture. There are several opportunities for youth to be involved in INFB, with scholarships for graduating seniors and college students; Collegiate Farm Bureau chapters at Purdue, Huntington and Vincennes universities; FFA advocacy days and trainings; grants for FFA chapters and 4-H clubs; and leadership development events, competitions, awards and conferences. INFB also serves as presenting sponsor of the Exhibitor Experience for livestock exhibitors and all showmanship contests at the Indiana State Fair.  You can learn more at infb.org/YFAP. 

This weekly podcast dives into agbioscience, where agriculture, life sciences and cutting-edge technology converge. Agbioscience is an in-depth conversation with leaders and entrepreneurs across food, animal health, plant science and agtech. This one-of-a-kind podcast offers updates on the latest advancements and future trends from those at the forefront of agbioscience innovation.

64. Showing Agriculture’s Past + Future at Conner Prairie

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