Page 6 - 17AIS Program Book

Welcome Welcome to the Ninth Annual
Ag Innovation Showcase

Welcome to the Ag Innovation Showcase!

We are now accustomed to the fact that the Showcase consistently attracts the best
and the brightest, not only in the scope and quality of the innovations, but in the
community we foster.
This year’s theme, Farm, Food, and Feast of Data, points to the trends and the
practices that mark agriculture and its influence on a range of issues of concern to our
world: population growth, food traceability, security and productivity, soil health, use
and management of inputs, etc. We are grateful to feature outstanding speakers and
entrepreneurs addressing critical issues. We have divided the Company Showcase into
six blocks of a few companies each, drilling down into the implications of the theme
and its offerings to meet the challenges identified. There are no shortage of challenges
and innovative responses, and the Showcase continues to evolve to stay relevant and
stimulating.
This year’s lineup begins and ends with Views from the Farm, profiling a new
generation of farmers, farm operations, and farm families, their embrace of innovation
on the farm and how they add value to create post-harvest products. Spotlight
sessions and disruptive dialogues (panels) feature perspectives from investors, ag
industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and farmers. The sponsored Special Content Sessions
focus on specific organizations within the ag innovation community such as the
Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research and DOE’s ARPA-E and geographies
including France, Argentina, and Canada. For the second year, we are proud to
feature university-based innovations in the University Showcase, thus fulfilling our
promise to present the entire spectrum of innovations.
Once again, time and space is built into the agenda to ensure time for informal and
formal meetings.
The Showcase is near and dear to those who spawned it and organize it each year.
We appreciate most gratefully the enthusiasm and commitment of our Advisory
Committee, reviewers, and mentors. We are tremendously thankful for the support
that our sponsors have provided again this year. We simply could not bring the
Showcase to you without the help of all these committed people.
Thank you. We wish everyone an enjoyable and productive three days.

SAM FIORELLO, Chief Operating ROHIT SHUKLA
Officer and Senior Vice President for Founder & CEO,
Administration and Finance, Larta Institute
Donald Danforth Plant Science
Center, President, BRDG Park

2 #17AIS Ag Innovation Showcase