Confronting agriculture's "perfect storm": New AgriNovus Indiana leader views disruption as a spark for agricultural innovation
In the heart of Indiana, a storm of global, economic, environmental, and tech-driven pressures is challenging the food and agriculture industry. Yet, amidst these challenges, Christy Wright, the newly appointed CEO of AgriNovus Indiana, sees an opportunity for breakthrough innovation.
Wright, who previously served as the director of global food systems at Corteva Agriscience, has taken the helm of AgriNovus Indiana, a nonprofit dedicated to growing the agbioscience economy. She is hosting the AgriNovus Indiana Quadrant event today at VisionLoft Stutz in Indianapolis, bringing together key players in the industry.
The Indiana University School of Medicine, the largest medical school in the US, is a testament to the state's commitment to innovation. Wright highlights the convergence of top universities, agtech, animal health, pharmaceutical players, and leading seed companies in Indiana, creating a fertile ground for groundbreaking research and development.
To differentiate Indiana in uncertain times, the Accelerate 2050 strategy defines opportunities under three main pillars: farmer-focused innovation, bioinnovation, and food is health. Wright believes that these pillars can help Indiana navigate the "perfect storm" facing the food and agriculture industry, which includes fluctuating commodity prices, extreme weather events, new technologies, upstream determinants of health, and changes in federal government agenda.
Wright is particularly excited about gene editing, which she believes holds a promise for a food system that is more nutritious, resilient, and better for all. She sees opportunities for startups in areas such as AI, robotics, and gene editing, and she believes that AgriNovus can play an important role in connecting these startups with large corporations such as Corteva.
The OneHealth Innovation District, a research and innovation-focused zone in Indianapolis, anchored by a partnership between Elanco, Purdue University, and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, is another bright spot in Indiana's agbioscience scene. Wright sees particular opportunity to catalyse collaborations around One Health in Indiana.
The Agbioscience podcast and the Velocity program are two successful initiatives at AgriNovus Indiana. The Agbioscience podcast provides insightful discussions on topics related to agriculture and bioscience, while the Velocity program offers resources and support for startups in the agbioscience sector.
The AgriNovus Indiana Quadrant events are quarterly networking events for the agbioscience community. These events not only foster collaboration but also provide a platform for startups to showcase their innovative solutions to the challenges facing the food and agriculture industry.
Hard times are forcing all players to find creative solutions to deal with labor shortages, trade uncertainty, extreme weather, and rising costs. Wright notes that these challenges are driving innovation and collaboration in Indiana's agbioscience sector.
In the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, an organization built for cross-sector collaboration in Indiana, Wright finds a powerful ally in her mission to drive innovation and growth in Indiana's agbioscience sector. With her leadership, AgriNovus Indiana is poised to play a significant role in shaping the future of food and agriculture.
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