The Ag Innovation Showcase has been bringing together innovators and investors from across the agricultural industries since 2009. Delegates from all over the world convene in the Donald Danforth Plant Science Centre in St Louis, Missouri, to discover the science and technologies that can solve the world’s agricultural challenges. Registration is now open for the Ag Innovation Showcase 2017: visit www.agshowcase.com.

Carlo Montemagno: I’m really excited about being here at the AgInnovation Showcase.

Hank Giclas: Well it’s been a fascinating event for me, this is my first time to attend here.

Avi Maidenberg: We’ve been coming here for a number of years; it’s just a great forum to network and connect.

Darryn Keiller: I really enjoyed the experience. Learned a lot about what was happening, and science.

The New Economy: The Ag Innovation Showcase has been bringing together innovators and investors from across the agricultural industries since 2009.

Delegates from all over the world convene in the Donald Danforth Plant Science Centre in St Louis, Missouri, to discover the science and technologies that can solve the world’s agricultural challenges.

Carlo Montemagno: It gives the opportunity for us to be able to identify where the latest breakthroughs are in science and technology; identify what the common problems that are in need of solutions.

Rachel Haurwitz: We get to surround ourselves with other early companies who are looking at brand new innovations, all the way through all the players in the food chain: mid and large sized ag companies, and farmers themselves.

Hank Giclas: I think the most rewarding thing for me is being able to see a lot of the innovators and the entrepreneurs and the technologies that are being worked on, because we’re always on the hunt for folks who have solutions for some of the issues that are pressing the ag industry.

Darryn Keiller: For me it was an opportunity to meet the other strategic players: Syngenta and Monsanto and Dow.

Alec Anderson: It’s really interesting coming here; when you look at what’s around you. It’s good because we’re talking to people who understand agriculture.

Lisa Dyson: And so it’s nice to be in a group of investors that are familiar with the challenges, and that have companies in their portfolios that they’re also bringing to market.

The New Economy: The Ag Innovation Showcase is a partnership between the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and the Larta Institute. Together they’re expanding the field of agricultural science – and helping researchers commercialise their projects.

Rohit Shukla: This is the eighth year of what we set out to make the community event for agricultural innovation from around the world.

Sam Fiorello: And our idea from the very beginning was to have a gathering that was focused exclusively on plant tech, ag tech, issues of farming, food distribution. And we’d bring together four categories of attendees: investors, innovators, thought leaders, and key strategics.

Rohit Shukla: And the objective has always been aligned with the need to present solutions to problems that have been acutely felt, and will continue to be acutely felt, across the spectrum of agriculture. Which means biology, food production, food distribution,  new sources of food, consumer trends, recycling of food back into the system, inputs, diagnostics. Everything that goes on, both behind the scenes, and in front of the camera, so to speak.

Sam Fiorello: So one of the things that we’re very proud of is that we’re building networks of investors from around the world that can form syndicates to invest in these early stage, mid stage technologies. We’re building awareness of the importance of ag as an investment class, and the solutions it can have. We’re having strategics here so they can not only acquire technology companies, but also give a sense for where they see the industry going. And then we talk to thought leaders about, what’s the five, 10, 15, 20 year look.

BreAnn Washburn: I think it’s been very effective. I’ve learned quite a lot. I feel like I’ve learned a lot more about the industry, and the depth of the industry, and the passion of the people involved in it, but also we’ve made a lot of great connections here.

Lisa Dyson: It’s been a great day. I am happy to be a part of this conference. It’s a great collection of people that they’ve brought together throughout the industry, and it’s very beneficial for all of us.

Sam Fiorello: Today we’re at capacity. Last year and this year in fact, oversubscribed. And I think that momentum will continue. We’re very proud of the work we’ve done, the affiliations we’ve helped make. Bringing folks together, building networks, reinforcing those networks, so they can go off and do great work.