BioResearch & Development Growth Park Newsletter

Dutch, Malaysian, Australian and American Companies Selected To Present New Technologies

 

The Ag Innovation Showcase selected 16 early and emerging agricultural entrepreneurial companies through a rigorous international business plan competition.  In addition
to promising technology innovation, the companies were required to demonstrate market and business vision.  

 

The winning companies represent some of the most exciting innovations across industry sectors and worldwide geographies in renewable energy, ag biotech and genomics, and sensors and analytics. The companies include:

 

GrassRoots Biotechnology

Durham, NC

 

Biogas & Electricity

San Diego, CA

 

Phycal, Inc.

St. Louis, MO  

 

NSure BV

Netherlands

 

GS Biotech S/B

Malaysia

 

Vestaron Corporation

Kalamazoo, MI

 

Orchid Life Sdn Bhd

Malaysia

 

Newtricious BV  

Netherlands

 

C5-6 Technologies

Middleton, WI

 

Earth Analytics Group

San Francisco, CA  

 

Aquation Pty Ltd

Australia

 

Solum

San Diego, CA

 

Veris Technologies, Inc.

Salina, KS

 

Sensor Development Corporation

Rocky River, OH

 

Ag Technix Pty Ltd.

Australia 

 

GrowSafe Systems Ltd.

Alberta, Canada 

 

 

Panels To Provide Insights on Where Agribusiness is Headed 

 

AG ECONOMIC FORUM

Alternative scenarios for international agricultural supply and demand in the future and country-specific insights on Brazil and China.

 

ALUMNI COMPANY PANEL 

 

Executives of entrepreneurial companies that presented at a previous Showcase will share insights on their success, low and high points and their strategies to attract capital and enhance  visibility.    

 

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS: INVESTMENT TO ACQUISITION 

 

An inside look at biotech and M&A strategies of major ag food companies in directing early stage investment dollars to help create future acquisition targets, with focus on issues like new markets, identifying and filling gaps in technologies, coping with patent expirations and other strategic considerations.

 

NEW FRONTIERS IN AG RESEARCH: TOOLS TO DRIVE DISCOVERY 

 

Experts discuss new technologies and applications for understanding the quantity and quality of complex agricultural datasets using bioinformatics, computational and mega genomics, modeling, imaging and sensor technologies, and more.

 

IMPORTANCE OF INNOVATION CLUSTERS: FROM CONCEPT TO COMMERCIALIZATION 

 

How new models promoting global collaborations based on solution-based clusters are rapidly replacing traditional geographic clustering in ag and other sectors.

  

  

Complete information about program, speakers and panels

available at

www.agshowcase.com  

 

SPECIAL AG SHOWCASE  ISSUE: MAY 2011 

showcase logo

3rd Annual Ag Innovation Showcase  

Grows in Stature and Prestige

What began just three years ago as an opportunity to connect entrepreneurial companies with industry leaders and venture capitalists in the agricultural space has quickly become the leading annual event for the agribusiness industry, attracting a worldwide audience.. 

 

Focused on exploring innovative ideas and opportunities related to agriculture as a key component in solving long-term issues in food production and security, environmental and energy concerns, the third annual Ag Innovation Showcase takes place May 23-24 at the Danforth Plant Science Center, the world's largest independent plant science research institute. The Ag Innovation Showcase was founded by BRDG Park and others in 2009. 

 

The two-day program offers participants a platform for dialogue and discussion, as well as deal-making across the spectrum of
ag-bio, food and nutrition, biofuels, sustainable materials, clean-tech, information technology and animal health.

 

In addition keynote speakers and panels representing a "who's who" of executives and innovators from around the world, presentations to investors and industry experts by winners of a global business plan competition for early and emerging innovations are a special feature of the annual event. (see list of 16 winning companies on left.

 

The 2011 Ag Innovation Showcase is presented by BRDG Park, Larta Instititute, St. Louis County Economic Council, Missouri Technology Corporation and Global Agtech Investors Network (GAIN), St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association (RCGA), and the Danforth Plant Science Center.   


Keynoters Are Innovators In Algae-Based Fuel and Ag Genomics, Plus Leader in Brazilian Ag Finance

The CEO of the global biotechnology company whose products will facilitate genomic innovations in agriculture, the CEO of one of the world's leading innovators in creating algae-based fuel, and the Chairman and Principal Partner of the first credit rating agency in Brazil will be keynote speakers at the third annual Ag Innovation Showcase.

 

As Chairman and CEO of Life Technologies Corp.,Gregory T. Lucier heads a company whose 50,000 products enable scientific research throughout the world, including the design of crops and plants to take agricultural engineering to improve crop yiels and outputs.

 

Jason Pyle, PhD, MD, is co-founder and CEO of Sapphire Energy, Inc., which is known for its leading work in bio-energy, such as converting algae into biofules to address globbal issues of energy independence and climate change. Sapphire recently announced a multi-year collaboration with Monsanto.

 

Since receiving a PhD from the University of Chicago, Paulo Rabello de Castro hss become Chairman of the Board and Principal Partner of SR Rating, the first credit rating agency to operate in Brazil. He also is Managing Partner of RC Consultores, an economic consulting and research firm. Dr. de Castro has written extensively on Brazil's agribusines sector and about macroeconomic policies for the country's sustainable recovery from high inflation and over-indebtedness.    



Panels Feature "Who's Who" in Agriculture

A robust schedule of panels featuring an international "who's who" of speakers from leading agricultural businesses, venture capital and investment firms, and research institutions, will engage in active discussion, providing new insights and perspectives.  Topics and speakers will look at the state of agribusiness from many different points of view:  

 

AG ECONOMIC FORUM

  • Moderator: Alex F. McCalla, PhD, University of California-Davis
  • Mark Rosegrant, PhD, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
  • Elisio Contini, PhD, Brazilian Enterprise for Agricultural Research(EMBRAPA)
  • Scott Rozelle, PhD, StanfordUniversity
  • Joyce Cacho, PhD, Novus International

ALUMNI COMPANY PANEL

  • Moderator:  Arama Kukutai, Finistere Ventures
  • Kirk Haney, SG Biofuels, Inc.
  • Heidi Kuehnle, Kuehnle AgroSystems
  • Derek Rapp, Divergence (acquired by Monsanto, Feb.2011)

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS: FROM INVESTMENT TO ACQUISITION

  • Moderator:  Dan Broderick, Global Agtech Investors Network (GAIN) 
  • Spencer Maughan, Venrock
  • Cindy Warren, Dow AgroSciences
  • Derek Rapp, Divergence (acquired by Monsanto, Feb.2011)
  • Dan Tomso, Bayer CropScience LP.

 NEW FRONTIERS IN AG RESEARCH:TOOLS TO DRIVE DISCOVERY

  • Moderator: Ralph Quatrano, PhD, Washington University  
  • James Carrington, PhD, Danforth Plant Science Center
  • Mat Muller, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
  • Nathan Wood, Life Technologies
  • Eric Ward, 2 Blades Foundation

 INNOVATION CLUSTERS:FROM CONCEPT TO COMMERCIALIZATION

  • Moderator: Rohit Shukla, Larta Instiitute
  • Robert Henry, PhD, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food innovation
  • Charles Dilks, Dilks Consulting
  • Mark van Haaren, PhD, KeyGene, Inc.
  • Sam Fiorello, Danforth Plant Science Center and BRDG Park at the Danforth Plant Science Center   

For more information about BRDG-Park at the Danforth Plant Science Center or to see past issues of BioBuzz Newsletter   

visit www.BRDG-Park.com