Agbioscience Movement Courting Young Talent to Fuel Growth
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowHamilton County-based Beck’s Hybrids President Scott Beck is among a growing number of people who believe ag tech and the agbiosciences can be Indiana’s next big thing. Beck participated in last week’s Forbes AgTech Summit in Indianapolis, the first time the high-profile event was held outside of California. "People are recognizing the assets that are in Indiana and that it is a hub of innovation when it comes to agriculture, particularly agbioscience." However, Beck says there is an important gap that needs to be bridged if success is to continue in what is now a $16 billion industry in the state. "Part of the effort of AgriNovus and really all of us in Indiana agriculture is to make awareness of the assets and the opportunities for young people."
In an interview on this weekend’s edition of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, Beck talked about the potential for growth in the state’s agbioscience industry.
At the invitation-only Forbes summit, which attracted nearly 500 technology and agriculture industry players, Forbes Media Editor-In-Chief Steve Forbes said he believes Indiana can be a focus for investors and companies looking to grow in the agbioscience space. "People say ‘oh, something is happening here in startups, maybe we should look at it,’ so it builds on itself," said Forbes, in an interview with Inside Indiana Business reporter Mary-Rachel Redman.
In remarks at the event, Purdue University President Mitch Daniels said he is seeing signs that young people are getting more engaged in agriculture. Daniels said student-led startups at Purdue have increased five-fold, and about one-third of those startups are ag-related.