INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Nearly a year after breaking onto the Indiana business and education scene, the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership’s (CICP) AgriNovus initiative is still gauging the state’s agricultural riches – but also trying to turn data into action.
What actions, precisely, is still up in the air. AgriNovus President and CEO Beth Bechdol finished last week hosting a series of meetings of four new main "innovation councils" formed from all that data mining, each of which will be tasked with coming up with ideas and projects to promote and develop its sector. These are:
•Plant Science and Crop Protection
•Animal Health and Nutrition Products
•Value-added Human Food and Nutrition Products
•Agricultural Equipment Technologies and Systems
Bechdol explained when most people think of Hoosier agriculture, plant and crop production seems to stick out the most in their minds, followed by livestock products. Less known are the state’s research and work on value-added human food and nutrition products (in other words, beyond the farming) and ag technology and innovations.
The overall AgriNovus strategy will be promotion, collaboration and entrepreneurial support. Next year, she said AgriNovus will launch a message/imaging campaign to promote what Indiana already has, ag-wise. And, to follow up on last year’s study on the state of agricultural resources here, Battelle Technology Partnership Practice will soon release another commissioned assessment, this one on talent and workforce needs for Indiana ag.
It will address the future of agriculture across production, research, processing, marketing and other sectors – all functions that drive agribusiness. "How do you see your talent needs changing in the next three years? Five years? Ten years?" is how Bechdol described it.
Collaboration and networking is something else AgriNovus wants to encourage among its board and council members, and anyone else in – or wanting to get into – Indiana agriculture. She said part of this will be identifying chances for businesses, schools, government offices and individuals to work together, as well as taking stock of existing programs, internships, student-based experiences, partnerships, projects and the like.
One of the goals of entrepreneurial support is just as it sounds: Helping businesses related to agriculture grow, or new ones get off the ground. One key element is for AgriNovus to make contacts – and friends – with local and national venture capital firms and individuals looking for good investments.
A handful of business, philanthropic and education partners each committed $50,000 for 2014-15 ($25,000 per year) toward AgriNovus’ budget, said Bechdol, with state government kicking in a higher share through its Economic Development Corp. ($100,00 yearly) and Department of Agriculture, for a $410,000 annual budget.
In exchange, each had a senior seat on AgriNovus’ executive steering committee. These include representatives of Beck’s Hybrids, Clabber Girl, Dow AgroSciences, Elanco, National FFA, Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Indiana Soybean Alliance, the Indiana State Fair Commission, JBS United, LDI, Ltd., Whiteshire Hamroc and Purdue University’s College of Agriculture.
For 2016-17, remaining members will roll over to a board of directors structure, adding more seats for stakeholders as they join and commit funds; she envisions an eventual board of about 20-25 people. The budget should grow, as well, Bechdol explained, as AgriNovus does more work and hires a small staff.
For a lesser commitment of $10,000 yearly, new stakeholders can instead have a seat on one or more of the four innovation councils, which will meet quarterly. It gives those members a say in work plan and other key activities of the council(s), as well as networking with other ag industry leaders.
Anyone interested in either level of investment can contact Bechdol at bbechdol@cicpindiana.com or 317-638-2440.
Finally, later this year AgriNovus is planning to host its first annual summit. It will probably be a half-day program on Dec. 10; more details will be released later.
