In its second year, the Ag Innovation Showcase proved to be the leading event convening players in the agriculture industry. By wide acclaim from industry figures, emerging innovators, investors and opinion-leaders, the event has come into its own. At the Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Larta Institute, Nidus and BRDG Park kicked off the event on Monday, May 24 with luncheon keynote speaker Jerry Caulder (Executive Chairman of Finistere Ventures and considered the “father of Ag-bio”) speaking to how things have changed and calling out the industry as a bellwether for a range of developments central to global concerns.

But more than an annual event, the Showcase is shaping to be the place where the dialogue on evolving, critical issues that face governments and industry alike is shaped. The group of executives, entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders contributed to creating an intimate and laser focused event. Three excellent panels covered the nexus of energy and ag; the future of ag with an emphasis on global issues; and the confluence of cleantech in the investment arena of ag tech. Seventeen top-notch emerging companies drawn from around the world presented their innovations covering the technology areas of renewable energy, biomaterials, plant genomics, food production, livestock productivity, and crop inputs.

The organizers are grateful to sponsors, supporters, presenters and attendees for continuing to invest their confidence in the Showcase as the premier event of its kind.