AgriNovus Indiana is a nonprofit organization operating as a strategic initiative focused on accelerating and expanding the agbiosciences economy in the state of Indiana. Established as a branded initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP)—which unites major corporate, academic, and philanthropic leaders to drive economic growth—AgriNovus serves as a catalyst for innovation at the intersection of food, agriculture, science, and technology. By connecting emerging startups, established global corporations, academic institutions, and government stakeholders, the organization positions Indiana as a premier global hub for agbioscience research, commercialization, and talent development.
Core Mission and Strategic Focus Areas
The fundamental mission of AgriNovus Indiana is to fuel growth in the agbiosciences by championing innovation, fostering business development, and producing actionable industry research. The organization concentrates its operational efforts and strategic initiatives around three primary forces of change that define the modern agbioscience landscape:
- Food is Health: Focusing on innovations at the intersection of plant, animal, human, and environmental health, recognizing food as a vital nexus to drive improved health outcomes and economic growth.
- Bioinnovation: Establishing Indiana as a leading destination for bio-innovators and manufacturers to research, commercialize, and scale biotechnology processes, platforms, and products.
- Farmer-Focused Innovation: Developing a comprehensive entrepreneurial support infrastructure centered around farmers, acknowledging their vital role in driving agricultural technology adoption and field-level implementation.
Products, Programs, and Services Offered
AgriNovus Indiana delivers a wide array of programs, platforms, and services designed to support entrepreneurs, corporate entities, students, and investors within the agbioscience sector.
1. Velocity Accelerator
Velocity is AgriNovus's signature accelerator program that empowers innovators, entrepreneurs, and early-stage companies to move disruptive ideas forward. Operating across targeted tracks such as food-is-health, bioinnovation, and farmer-focused solutions, the program guides participants using data-driven research and high-level industry mentorship. Velocity typically culminates in competitive pitch events where participants vie for cash prizes (such as a $25,000 prize per track) to help commercialize and scale their technologies.
2. Field Atlas Talent Program
Recognizing the critical need for next-generation human capital, AgriNovus created Field Atlas. This talent platform and career-discovery tool connects students and job seekers with modern agbioscience careers, employers, internships, and educational pathways. Field Atlas bridges the gap between emerging talent and industry employers, ensuring a robust workforce pipeline for the state's agriculture and tech sectors.
3. Industry Research and Market Intelligence
AgriNovus produces extensive, industry-backed research reports, sector reviews, and market assessments. These publications analyze critical trends, growth opportunities, and economic impacts across various sub-sectors, including:
- Animal health and nutrition
- Plant science and crop protection
- Value-added food and nutrition
- Agricultural equipment technologies and systems
- The intersection of agbioscience and tech, including solutions addressing food insecurity
4. Start-up and Investor Directories
To facilitate capital flow and business scaling, AgriNovus maintains digital directories and networking services that link emerging agbioscience startups with venture capitalists, angel investors, and accelerators. These directories provide visibility to early-stage innovations and streamline strategic partnerships.
5. Thought Leadership, Media, and Convenings
The organization acts as a convener for the ecosystem through signature events, podcasts, and summits:
- The Agbioscience Podcast: A regular media series sharing innovative stories across food, animal health, plant science, agtech, and agricultural economics.
- Major Summits and Events: Events like the Quadrant and the One Health Summit bring together industry executives, scientists, policymakers, and creators to discuss collaborative approaches to global challenges.
Ecosystem and Stakeholder Network
AgriNovus Indiana operates through deep collaboration with a coalition of corporate partners, academic institutions, and government bodies. Its board of directors and supporting network include major global leaders in agriculture, animal health, and finance—such as Corteva Agriscience, Elanco Animal Health, Beck's Hybrids, Purdue University, Indiana Farm Bureau, and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). Through these multi-sector partnerships, AgriNovus successfully bridges the gap between laboratory discoveries and commercialized marketplace solutions.
