Agbioscience

AgriNovus Indiana

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.

  1. 431. SoySeal’s Jocelyn Erickson + Elizabeth Heckaman on transforming soybeans into industrial products + winning the Student Soybean Innovation Competition

    1d ago

    431. SoySeal’s Jocelyn Erickson + Elizabeth Heckaman on transforming soybeans into industrial products + winning the Student Soybean Innovation Competition

    From styrofoam to concrete, the Student Soybean Innovation Competition at Purdue University has transformed a renewable resource into several industrial products over the last three decades. More than products, though, it has turned students into aspiring creators and entrepreneurs. Elizabeth Heckaman and Jocelyn Erickson from this year’s winning competition join us in studio this week to recap SoySeal, ideating a product to market viability and the ultimate joy of holding a grand prize check.  We get into:   SoySeal as an invention and how it came to be Why they chose an adhesive over other routes The formulation process – how does a soybean become an environmentally responsible adhesive? Its comparison to other tapes on the market, in terms of performance and sustainability Biggest challenges as they worked through the process of idea to market-ready product The role of the consumer in their creation process How they balanced team structure and skillsets across disciplines during development What this innovative pursuit taught them about their own professional development How they approached SoySeal from a business and commercialization perspective rather than just a technical and scientific idea The critical role of Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana farmers to help mentor and influence their process On-campus resources that enabled their team’s success Advice they have for student entrepreneurs Future plans for the team

    36 min

  2. 5d ago

    430. AgriNovus' Christy Wright recaps May, Corteva's HQ decision, USDA visit to Indiana, BioHeartland's launch, a new AgriNovus team member and MORE!

    We joke at the end of this episode, but it feels very on par -- May was a photo finish! And what a year this month shaped up to be in Indiana's agbioscience economy. AgriNovus CEO Christy Wright and VP Libby Fritz join Cayla in the studio to recap the following: Corteva chooses Indiana for its global HQDeputy Secretary of USDA Stephen Vaden visits Indiana following the decision to relocate SNAP to IndianapolisAgriNovus, alongside CICP, BioCrossroads and CIRDA, launched BioHeartland -- a shared identity designed to tell Indiana's distinct, unified story; the region's ability to invent, make and move bioscience solutions at global scale across human, animal and plant science like no other place in the world. Listen to the episode of Agbioscience that talks about the brand here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/428-introducing-bioheartland-a-unified-identity-to/id1412179095?i=1000768561869HHS, USDA and HATCH for Hunger announcing $7.5M dedicated to increasing protein access through cold chain infrastructureA NEW AGRINOVUS TEAM MEMBER!

    24 min
  3. 429. Keystone Cooperative’s Drew Garretson on navigating risk, finding the right innovation for farmers + agtech’s greatest opportunities for impact

    May 25

    429. Keystone Cooperative’s Drew Garretson on navigating risk, finding the right innovation for farmers + agtech’s greatest opportunities for impact

    From agtech adoption to agronomy, inputs, animal health services and beyond, agricultural cooperatives exist under one common objective: to enable farmer success. For 100 years, Keystone Cooperative has delivered that effort to communities across Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois, employing more than 1,700 workers and differentiating themselves through service and relationships.   Vice President of Member Engagement and Public Affairs Drew Garretson joins this week to talk about the Keystone Cooperative journey, including their expanded footprint post-merger and the approach they take to ensure they are delivering best-in-class innovation and services to their farmer members.  Highlights include:  The work Drew leads at Keystone Cooperative – including his many titles over the years with the organization – and how they serve American farmers Conversations with members as they head into the spring planting season How Keystone helps farmers navigate decisions and navigating risk while operating under tight margins Emerging technologies that Drew believes are having the greatest impact on U.S. farming operations over the next five years Criteria Keystone follows to determine whether a potential technology or service is a good fit for their members How Drew and the team have approached partnerships and collaborations over the years – and what makes quality partnerships work for Keystone The generational transition for agriculture and how Keystone approaches the decision-making mindset on farms where thoughts on innovation and sustainability may differ How the current economic and regulatory environment shapes the cooperative landscape and the challenges and opportunities those headwinds present Areas of agriculture Drew believes we’ve just begun to scratch the surface on, our biggest opportunities that lie ahead for farmers to get more efficient and gain net farm income over the next five years What’s ahead for the Keystone Cooperative team that has Drew most excited

    32 min

  4. May 19

    428. Introducing BioHeartland - a unified identity to share Indiana's bioscience story

    Today we are proud to announce the launch of BioHeartland, a shared identity designed to amplify Indiana’s leading bioscience ecosystem at the convergence of human, animal and plant health.   As Indiana competes globally for the next generation of bioscience jobs, companies and innovation, leaders across industry, academia and economic development are rallying around our unified story. Developed through a collaborative effort led by CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), AgriNovus and BioCrossroads, and in partnership with the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority (CIRDA), BioHeartland was created to give Indiana a more cohesive way to share Indiana’s story with investors, companies, researchers and talent around the world. This episode is hosted by CICP CEO Melina Kennedy where she is joined by AgriNovus CEO Christy Wright, BioCrossroads CEO Vince Wong and Mayor of The City of Fishers Scott Fadness.   Learn more and join the story at INBioHeartland.com.

    33 min
  5. 427. Alloy Partners’ Ben Lewis on the One Health Studio, Indiana’s unique advantage + startups + corporations winning together

    May 18

    427. Alloy Partners’ Ben Lewis on the One Health Studio, Indiana’s unique advantage + startups + corporations winning together

    The development and creation of startups and new companies is what allows an innovation ecosystem to thrive. Alloy Partners launched to co-create advantaged startups and venture studios in partnerships corporations and entrepreneurs, melding a future of collaboration between the two. This week, we are joined by One Health Studio Director Ben Lewis to talk market challenges, the studio model and what he sees ahead for the One Health opportunity. Highlights include:   The unique work Ben leads to enable company creation at Alloy Partners Ben’s personal story that led him to this point – tracing back to his time as an Olympic athlete Gaps identified in the market that led to the studio’s creation Alloy’s model and its differentiation from traditional corporate innovation programs How the process works: spinning a new coming with the Alloy One Health Studio Biggest challenges facing company creation in the One Health space Indiana as a breeding ground for quality partnerships and being structured to succeed when it comes to One Health innovation How Ben sees public-private partnerships evolving and the next steps in that process Balancing scientific depth with speed and urgency of startup life when working to create new companies How Ben’s past experience as an entrepreneur has prepared him well for this role One Health trends that are emerging that have Ben most excited for the next five to ten years What Alloy Partners is working on right now that has Ben most excited

    39 min
  6. 426. Purdue’s Dr. Lavanya Reddivari on her groundbreaking food is health research, partnerships moving discovery forward + Indiana’s opportunity to accelerate its impact

    May 11

    426. Purdue’s Dr. Lavanya Reddivari on her groundbreaking food is health research, partnerships moving discovery forward + Indiana’s opportunity to accelerate its impact

    Food is health is a growing conversation across the agbioscience landscape and research is moving the conceptual to tangible solutions. Dr. Lavanya Reddivari from Purdue University joins this week to talk groundbreaking food science research, advancing discovery through the innovation pipeline and how her family roots are making something old new again.   Highlights include:   A high level overview of her research at Purdue and its impact on food is health How Lavanya views food is health from a modern, scientific research perspective Her team’s recent findings of a compound in blueberries that aids people with digestive diseases; the discovery process and how it informed follow up Nutrition as a support function for chronic illnesses that are critically impacting the U.S. population and her team’s “aha” moment where the gut microbiome was the foundation to overall health A grant Lavanya’s team received through the Heartland Children’s Nutrition Collaborative and what it has enabled their research to do How the right partnerships have enabled them to move through different stages of their exploration Lavanya’s family roots and how this story is personal for her Applying her team’s findings and putting them into practice How Lavanya wants to see this research make an impact on the world and the health of its people What she believes are our biggest opportunities to advance Food is Health, given our strengths in Indiana What’s ahead with her laboratory team that has her most excited

    34 min
  7. 425. CICP’s Ting Gootee on the launch of IN AI, putting tech to work for your organization + building Indiana into a more AI-ready economy

    May 4

    425. CICP’s Ting Gootee on the launch of IN AI, putting tech to work for your organization + building Indiana into a more AI-ready economy

    Last week Governor Mike Braun today announced IN AI, a new statewide initiative focused on helping businesses grow, create jobs, and increase wages through the practical application of human-centered artificial intelligence. The initiative will be executed by the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) and will work directly with employers across the state to accelerate AI adoption in ways that strengthen businesses and expand opportunity for Hoosiers.  Joining us this week is Ting Gootee, CICP’s EVP of Digital Adoption and Managing Director of Crossroads Health Ventures. She talks agbioscience, AI adoption and finding the one thing businesses need to solve for – not the dire need to launch a full-blown digital strategy right out of the gate.  Highlights include:   How CICP defines digital adoption in the context of its mission The work Ting is leading and what the organization aims to accomplish through its branded initiatives like AgriNovus Biggest headwinds businesses and organizations face when trying to adopt digital solutions, particularly in what are traditionally offline industries How Indiana is positioning itself to build a more AI-ready economy and the role of digital adoption within that transformation Striking a balance between short-term innovation wins and establishing sustainable, long-term impact across industries statewide to create real impact How digital adoption is changing the skills and education needed for the state’s future workforce The role of partnerships among business, academia and government in maintaining talent pipelines to keep pace with tech advancement (and where we sit in that journey today) How Ting views our opportunity to be a differentiated hub for technology advancement in Indiana Emerging trends and technologies that have Ting most excited What Indiana ideally looks like from a digital adoption standpoint over the next five-ten years Where to get more information on this initiative: https://www.cicpindiana.com/ai/

    27 min

  8. Apr 30

    424. Christy Wright recaps April, new Corteva leadership announcements, BiomEdit foundational patents, Purdue student innovators, Velocity applications and more!

    April was a news-filled month with business announcements, student innovators and AgriNovus programs off and running! AgriNovus CEO Christy Wright and Vice President Libby Fritz join Cayla in the studio to recap the month. Highlights include:  Corteva Unveiling New Leadership for New Corteva and SpinCoBiomEdit Secures Foundational Patents for Engineered Probiotic Platform Positioned to Redefine Animal Health, Multispecies PotentialSoySeal Takes Home Top Prize at Purdue University's Student Soybean Innovation CompetitionAgriNovus Velocity to Focus on Priority Areas for Indiana’s Agbioscience FutureQuadrant Returns on May 13 Focused on $1B in One Health Investment in Indiana; Register here: https://agrinovusindiana.com/quadrant/

    15 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    AgriNovus Indiana
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    427
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 AgriNovus Indiana
  • Show Website
    Agbioscience

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