Agbioscience

96. Data science paving the way for efficiency in production agriculture

This week Inside INdiana Business Host Gerry Dick sits down with Kay Kuenker, CEO of Advanced Agrilytics.   Innovation in the agbiosciences ultimately enables producers to make the best decisions for their operations based on the findings that technology provides them. On this episode of the podcast, Gerry Dick with Inside INdiana Business sits down with Kay Kuenker, CEO of Advanced Agrilytics, and long-time lover of mathematics. Kay talks about the company’s unique approach to innovation, finding great talent as the company grows and taking on a leadership role at Advanced Agrilytics at the very start of COVID-19.

95. INTERN SERIES: hands-on work creating better young professionals

Coffee runs and calendar coordination might have their place in some internships, but the agbiosciences believe in hands-on experience right out of the gate. On this week’s episode of the podcast, Gerry Dick with Inside INdiana Business talks with Maggie Mulligan, an undergraduate research intern at Purdue University’s Animal Science Department. Maggie talks about her lifelong love of animals leading her down the veterinary path and how her summer experience, working directly with animals and in research labs, is shaping her to be a better young professional after graduation.

94. Sorghum research: from big idea to groundbreaking solution

Ag Alumni Seed recently announced the discovery of dhurrin-free sorghum in their research efforts at Purdue University. On this week’s episode of the podcast, Gerry Dick with Inside INdiana Business is joined by Jay Hulbert of Ag Alumni Seed and Mitch Tuinstra of Purdue University to walk through the research process, how new products come to market and the importance of this finding for farmers in the sorghum belt.

93. Building curriculum for the future of agbiosciences

Talent and workforce development remains at the forefront of big needs for agbioscience employers. Gerry Dick sits down with Andrea Schwartz of Ivy Tech on this week’s episode of the podcast. They talk about the school’s efforts to keep Indiana high school students in-state for their higher education path, their partnership with Purdue University and connecting youth with the many opportunities inside of the state’s agbioscience space.

92. INTERN SERIES: professional development in a pandemic

Among the many challenges presented to companies this summer, navigating internship programs is one of them. AgriNovus Indiana welcomed two new interns in May who have navigated the world of Zoom and work-from-home right out of the gate. This week, Gerry Dick with Inside INdiana Business is joined by Allie Decker and Carson Canfield, summer interns for AgriNovus. They talk about youth finding agbiosciences and necessary tools coming for future generations to discover the breadth of career opportunities in this industry.

91. Turning the table: anniversary episode with Gerry Dick

Indiana has come a long way in the 22 years since Gerry Dick launched Inside INdiana Business and the agbioscience industry has been a leader in that evolution. This week, AgriNovus puts Gerry on the other side of the interview for a two-year anniversary celebration episode of the podcast. Gerry dives into Indiana’s economic history and the growth of our state’s agbioscience sector. He also talks about the importance of talent, Indiana’s high-performing academic institutions and the future of a fast-growing industry that’s solving critical world problems.  

90. Connecting minority students to agbiosciences

In a time of pivotal discussion on equality, leaders across different industries are examining diversity and inclusion in their cultures. Zachary Brown is the National Graduate Student President of MANRRS and a doctoral student at Purdue University. He joins Gerry Dick from Inside INdiana Business on this week’s episode of the podcast to talk diversity, the agbioscience industry and a nationwide organization with a mission to connect minorities to careers in the sector. MANRRS: Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences is a national organization that promotes academic and professional advancement by empowering minorities in agriculture, natural resources and related sciences. Visit manrrs.org for more information.

89. A new era at AgriNovus Indiana

A new era begins at AgriNovus Indiana as the organization welcomes its new President + CEO, Mitch Frazier. On this week’s episode of the podcast, Gerry Dick with Inside Indiana Business sits down with Mitch to talk about his vision for the organization and Indiana’s potential as an agbioscience powerhouse. Plenty of power is needed to meet the food demands of the future. In this episode, Mitch examines challenges that lie ahead: producer profitability, a vulnerable supply chain and weaknesses in our food supply in a COVID-19 world and beyond. How do we fix these problems and feed a growing world? Look no further than the resources + expertise in Indiana to create solutions and shape a more sustainable future.  

88. Agbioscience Talent: a heart for serving people

During this era of deeming industries as “essential” business, agriculture nears the top of operations that must keep going despite a pandemic. To feed the world in an unprecedented time takes a special workforce with a heart for people and a need to serve. Gerry Dick with Inside Indiana Business is joined by Natasha Cox, vice president at Farm Credit Mid-America, on this week’s episode of the podcast. Natasha dives into Indiana’s pool of talent in the agbiosciences and how an operation as big as Farm Credit Mid-America needs a diverse workforce to be at its best. With only six million people in the Hoosier state, she talks the importance of keeping in-state talent here at home and forging a career path in agbiosciences to make a difference.

87. Aquaculture primed to stabilize salmon supply through innovation

This week Inside INdiana Business Host Gerry Dick is joined by Mark Walton, Chief Technology Officer, AquaBounty.  Between 80 and 90-percent of fish consumed in the United States is imported and most of that is a product of aquaculture, otherwise known as fish farming. On this week’s episode of the podcast, Gerry Dick with Inside Indiana Business is joined by Mark Walton, Chief Technology Officer at AquaBounty Technologies. Based in Maynard, Massaschusetts, the company also has a production facility in Albany, Indiana. Mark talks innovation as key to their mission and AquaBounty’s opportunity to provide an abundant supply of fresh, reliable salmon using a smaller footprint. Setting up shop in locations like Indiana are critical, too, as they allow for a quick turn on harvest and delivery to many major U.S. population centers. There is growth ahead for AquaBounty – find out if Indiana is on their radar.