The Great Outdoors Foundation has announced the launch of Convergence: The Conservation Ag Accelerator, a pitch competition designed to advance innovative solutions at the intersection of agriculture and conservation. Convergence is part of the Athene Watershed26 conference, taking place June 30–July 1. Convergence aims to bring together entrepreneurs, farmers and…
America’s Cultivation Corridor announced that David Cook, president of Iowa State University, was elected to its board of directors, effective April 13. Cook will also serve as secretary of the board, joining the slate of board officers for the 2026-27 leadership term. “At the heart of Iowa’s agricultural strength are…
The Iowa State University Research Park and the Crop Science division of Bayer have announced the opening of the Seed Production Innovation (SPI) Innovation Center on the research park campus. According to a news release, the innovation space will host producer education, innovation workshops and foster collaboration with partners, with…
BioConnect Iowa and the Iowa Biotechnology Association have announced that they have reached an agreement to share leadership through a joint service arrangement. Through the agreement, Jessica Hyland, who has served as executive director of IowaBio since 2019, will now also lead BioConnect, the state’s public-private partnership for economic development…
The Iowa Biotechnology Association recognized Brent Shanks, Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering and Jean Steffenson Faculty Chair in Chemical and Biological Engineering at Iowa State University, as the recipient of the 2026 Biotech Leader Award. The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership within their organization and…
Ag Startup Engine, an early-stage venture firm focused on technologies across the agriculture and food value chain, has closed its third fund, a $7 million seed fund. The fund builds on Ag Startup Engine’s mission of bridging the gap between innovation and real-world agricultural adoption, the firm said in a…
Radicle Growth, a food- and ag-focused venture capital firm, announced the launch of the Radicle Corn Challenge sponsored by US Corn Farmers, a global call for startups developing technologies that create new, durable demand for corn through innovative products, materials and value chains. The challenge will invest a total of…
America’s Cultivation Corridor recently hosted a webinar on advances in renewable fuels innovation, moderated by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. Naig said that the state of Iowa is a leader in the production of both ethanol and biodiesel, as well as a leader in developing the feedstocks for those…
America’s Cultivation Corridor is hosting a webinar from 2-3 p.m. today on renewable fuels innovations and Iowa’s role in developing the industry’s next generation of technologies and diverse feedstocks. Featured speakers include Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig; Paul Nees, global book lead, renewables and carbon, Chevron Supply & Trading;…
Editor’s note: This is the second in a three-part series of stories about rural innovation in Iowa. See the first story about food carts here. In a field of goldenrod and blue vervain are dozens of bison, clustered together, ears alert. One was wallowing, gently rolling around in the dirt, bouncing his…