Agrinovus Indiana Archives - CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership

AgriNovus Indiana announces startups selected for Velocity, launches 2026 accelerator

Courtney Kerr2026-07-22T11:10:01-04:00July 22, 2026|

Twelve Startups Accepted Into Program Focused on Creating Tech-Enabled Solutions Across Bioinnovation, Farmer-Focused Innovation, Food is Health INDIANAPOLIS (July 22, 2026) - AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative focused on growing the agbioscience economy, announced today that 12 startups will participate in its 2026 Velocity accelerator, a five-month program that awards entrepreneurs a total of $75,000 in cash prizes for their technology solutions divided equally between the strategic categories: bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food is health. For Velocity, AgriNovus commissioned research conducted by Arrowpoint Labs which synthesizes insights from key state and national agbioscience leaders. The study, Advancing Innovation: Priority Areas for Indiana’s Agbioscience Future, helps shape the program's focus areas and provides real-world problem statements for participating startups to solve through their technologies. “This year’s Velocity cohort represents an exceptional set of startups working at the intersection of innovation and industry [...]

AgriNovus taps Purdue DIAL Ventures veteran to lead innovation efforts across state’s agbioscience ecosystem

Courtney Kerr2026-06-18T09:17:57-04:00June 16, 2026|

Former Purdue DIAL Ventures and Serial Startup Veteran Tim Dixon to Focus on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Joins AgriNovus Senior Leadership Team INDIANAPOLIS – June 16, 2026 – AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative to grow the agbioscience economy, announced today Tim Dixon as its new senior director of innovation – a role charged with accelerating startup and entrepreneurial activity in the state.Dixon joins the AgriNovus team after more than 30 years of experience in the startup space and will lead the organization’s efforts to accelerate commercial innovation and company creation, building coalitions across industry, academia, capital providers, governments, non-profits and donors to drive awareness around the need for agbioscience innovation and the momentum growing around the state.“Tim brings to the AgriNovus team a unique mix of startup experience, strategic vision and a deep understanding of transforming big ideas into real-world impact,” [...]

Advancing Innovation: Priority Areas for Indiana’s Agbioscience Future

Courtney Kerr2026-05-29T11:16:57-04:00April 1, 2026|

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AgriNovus Indiana research unveils focus areas ripe for startup innovation, launches applications for $75,000 Velocity Accelerator

Courtney Kerr2026-04-14T14:35:38-04:00March 30, 2026|

2026 Velocity empowers innovators to build tech solutions in bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation, food is health INDIANAPOLIS (March 30, 2026) - AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative to grow the agbioscience economy, released new research today identifying critical challenges ripe for innovation that will serve as the foundation for the 2026 Velocity Accelerator, a six-month program that awards entrepreneurs three separate $25,000 cash prizes for their technology solutions in bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food is health. Conducted by Arrowpoint Labs, the study entitled Advancing Innovation: Priority Areas for Indiana’s Agbioscience Future updates the sector’s economic impact in Indiana, synthesizes insights from key state and national agbioscience leaders and provides problem statements for the innovation community – from students to startups and existing companies – to solve through Velocity. “Velocity is an accelerator that focuses on the core challenges facing our agbioscience industry,” said [...]

AgriNovus Indiana announces new board leadership, welcomes new directors

Courtney Kerr2026-02-25T14:35:14-05:00February 25, 2026|

INDIANAPOLIS (February 25, 2026) — AgriNovus Indiana, a nonprofit coalition focused on growing Indiana’s agbioscience economy, announced today that Trent Torrance, chief operating officer of United Animal Health, will serve as chair of the organization’s board of directors. The board unanimously approved Tim Bettington, executive vice president for Center of Strategic Growth at Elanco, as its vice chair. Phil Brewer, vice president of strategy at Keystone Cooperative, and Dr. Bernie Engel, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture at Purdue University, were also approved to the AgriNovus Executive Committee. Stéphane Frijia, president and CEO of Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, and Drew Garretson, vice president of Innovation and Sustainability at Keystone Cooperative, were unanimously approved as additions to the organization’s Board of Directors. The board also approved the addition of Darren Dillenbeck, CEO of BW Fusion, Mike Jacob, board representative [...]

PODCAST: Christy Wright on food as the next frontier of health, innovating for the farmer + AgriNovus as a critical ecosystem convener

Courtney Kerr2025-12-16T15:01:56-05:00December 16, 2025|

PODCAST: Melina Kennedy, CEO of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), recently hosted Christy Wright, the newly named President and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana on the Agbioscience podcast. They talk service, food as the next frontier of health and Christy's vision for what lies ahead for Indiana’s agbioscience economy. They get into: Christy’s journey from Director of Global Food Systems at Corteva to taking the reins at AgriNovus this year The “why” behind her desire to lead and serve, now in a leadership role at CICP Her takeaways and high-level overview as she’s been on a road tour 90 days into the job AgriNovus’ Accelerate 2050 report and how it serves as a launching point for the organization’s strategy moving forward How Christy wants to leverage the power of Indiana’s agbioscience ecosystem to drive a new era of industry [...]

Nutrition + Wellness Majors: The Emerging Agbioscience Professional – Field Atlas

Courtney Kerr2025-11-17T10:00:25-05:00November 17, 2025|

This article was originally published by Field Atlas. Click here to read the original article. The Field Atlas Agbioscience Mentorship Program was launched nearly 5 months ago in February of 2025, and the connections mentees have been able to make through the first half of this program are truly inspiring. AMP is a guided yearlong mentorship program that connects late college and early professionals to industry leaders excelling in the agbioscience field. This year, 14 professional mentor/mentee connections were made through AMP – one of those including China Thompson, Senior at Marian University pursuing a degree in Nutrition, Fitness & Wellness and aspiring Nutritionist. China originally applied to the AMP program hoping to achieve a better understanding of the agbioscience industry and develop a broader network in this space. China was really hoping this experience would help her bridge the connection [...]

How Field Atlas is Preparing Students for Careers in Environmental Studies, Sustainable Agriculture

Courtney Kerr2025-11-17T09:45:22-05:00November 17, 2025|

This article was originally published by Hoosier Ag Today. Click here to read the original article. Before Field Atlas ambassadors and students take their Agbioscience company tours, the students are introduced to Indiana ag leaders during the Field Atlas mentorship dinner. This gives students the opportunity to connect with agbioscience professionals who are actively working in careers that feed the world, protect the planet, and improve lives. Photo courtesy of AgriNovus Indiana. There are many different careers in the agbioscience industry. But, many college students may not be aware of the ones that focus on environmental studies and sustainable agriculture. “I really want to work in conservation, and I know that conservation is such a big part of agriculture,” says Aliviah Cartwright, who is a natural resources and environmental management major at Ball State University. She’s also a Field Atlas ambassador [...]

AgriNovus Indiana Names Christy Wright President and CEO

Courtney Kerr2025-08-11T10:22:17-04:00August 11, 2025|

AgriNovus Indiana, a non-profit coalition focused on growing Indiana’s agbioscience economy, announced today that Christy Wright will be its next president and CEO, effective August 18. Wright brings 15 years of leadership in food and agriculture, having most recently served as the director of Global Food Systems at Corteva Agriscience. “Christy has a focus and commitment to accelerating impact at AgriNovus and driving this critical agbioscience economy forward,” said Karen Plaut, former executive vice president for research at Purdue University and chair of the AgriNovus Indiana Board of Directors. “The AgriNovus Board welcomes her to the team, and we look forward to supporting her leadership to make Indiana a global leader in agbioscience innovation.” In her tenure at Corteva Agriscience, Wright led efforts as director of Global Food Systems, partnering with food and agriculture stakeholders to create a more [...]

AgriNovus Indiana announces changes to its Board of Directors

Courtney Kerr2025-08-11T11:37:34-04:00July 22, 2025|

INDIANAPOLIS (July 22, 2025) — AgriNovus Indiana, a nonprofit coalition focused on growing Indiana’s agbioscience economy, announced today changes to its board of directors. The board unanimously approved the addition of Craig Anderson, president and chief executive officer of Ag Alumni Seed, Dr. Robert Pepper, president of Huntington University and Eric Young, chief financial officer at BiomEdit, to replace outgoing directors. “To execute a bold vision, you must have great leaders in place,” said Karen Plaut, executive vice president for research at Purdue University and chair of the AgriNovus Indiana Board of Directors. “The additions of Craig, Robert and Eric bring a varied background of skills, perspectives and experiences to our Board that will be critical to our shared vision of growing this agbioscience economy.” Anderson is the president and chief executive officer of The Ag Alumni Seed Improvement Association [...]

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