Agbioscience

Latest Episodes:

444. National Pork Board’s Alayne Johnson on consumer demand, trends + producer priorities heading into her second director term Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

Alayne Johnson, Director of the National Pork Board, joins us this week to explore the priorities shaping pork demand, producer insights and research across the U.S. pork industry. Alayne shares her journey through agriculture, what led her to serve another term on the National Pork Board and how the organization approaches its role in research, promotion and consumer education on behalf of pork producers.

The conversation also examines the shifts defining the industry today, from changing consumer preferences and global demand opportunities to sustainability, nutrition and the research priorities expected to shape the sector’s next chapter.

Highlights include:

Alayne’s journey through agriculture, what led her to the National Pork Board and why she chose to serve another term.
How her appointment to the board came together, what motivated her to serve and what she has learned through the experience.
What surprised her most about how decisions are made at the national level and how those decisions connect back to producers.
The biggest changes shaping agriculture today and how those shifts are influencing the National Pork Board’s priorities.
Where Alayne sees the greatest opportunity to grow pork demand globally and the trends she believes matter most.
An overview of the National Pork Board’s current research agenda, including areas such as animal health, human nutrition, environmental sustainability and consumer behavior.
What recent consumer research is revealing about how shoppers make decisions and how those insights flow back to producers.
Where pork fits into today’s evolving protein conversation as consumers place more value on nutrition, transparency and the story behind their food.
Where Alayne sees the next wave of research delivering the greatest return across production, consumer trends and sustainability.
What has her most excited about this next term and the future of the pork industry.

443. Henry Markarian on how Integrated Dynamics is reusing ethanol infrastructure + innovating inside of a growing bioeconomy Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

Henry Markarian, Co-Founder and CEO of Integrated Dynamics, joins us this week to explore a technology platform aimed at unlocking new value from existing ethanol infrastructure. Henry shares the founding story behind the company, the problem Integrated Dynamics set out to solve and why its approach to repurposing operating, underused and idle assets could matter in the next phase of the bioeconomy’s growth.

Highlights include:

The origin story behind Integrated Dynamics, the market problem it was built to solve and the opportunity the team saw from the beginning.
A practical model built on reusing existing ethanol and industrial infrastructure, and why that approach could be especially compelling from both a speed-to-market and cost perspective.
How the technology works, including why high temperature matters and how that affects performance, economics and operational design.
Henry dives into whether the Integrated Dynamics model introduces additional capital or operating costs and how those factors fit into commercial viability.
Strategic rationale for pursuing cellulosic ethanol, including why ethanol remains an important platform within the evolving bioeconomy.
How Integrated Dynamics expects to compete, along with the risks and tailwinds he sees shaping the broader market.
Winning AgriNovus’ Velocity in 2025 elevated the company’s visibility and credibility and recognition unlocked in subsequent conversations.
How the company’s technology could affect farm economics, ecological outcomes, input costs and potential revenue streams if it succeeds at scale.
Economics of deploying the model through Greenfield, Brownfield and idle plant strategies, as well as through licensing or joint ventures.
Integrated Dynamics' next phase of growth, including how the team may evolve over the next 12 to 24 months.

442. Huntington University’s Dr. Robert Pepper on the future of ag education + developing a talent pipeline for agbioscience Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of Agbioscience Dr. Robert Pepper, President of Huntington University, joins us to explore how their team is building talent for the future of agriculture. Just months into his presidency, Rob shares what drew him to Huntington, how the university is positioning itself inside Indiana’s agbioscience innovation economy and why hands-on, industry-connected learning matters more than ever.

The conversation also examines Huntington’s growing agriculture programs, from its six bachelor’s degrees and farm lab to its animal science education center and looks ahead to the next chapter of talent development. Along the way, Rob discusses what employers are asking for, how cross-disciplinary learning is shaping student readiness and what success could look like for Huntington over the next decade.

Episode highlights:

Stepping into Huntington University’s presidency in 2025 at a moment of rapid change across the industry
What makes Huntington’s mission and momentum compelling
The university’s case for playing a meaningful role in Indiana’s innovation ecosystem
How Rob sees Huntington contribution to industry and workforce needs
The foundation laid by Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, former president, including the launch and development of the ag program – and how he sees it evolving under his leadership
How the program has grown – six bachelor’s degrees in ag, a farm lab and an animal science education center
What Pepper hears from industry leaders, where employers may be seeking a different kind of graduate and Huntington is positioned to deliver
Building critical bridge to cross-collaborative and allied domains like biology, data, engineering and health
The value of internships, mentorship, corporate partnerships and other real-world applications that help students gain confidence to enter the industry
How strategic partners are shaping Huntington’s program outcomes and how they choose partners that work well for them
Rob defines success in talent development and what excites him most about the future

441. Heartland BioWorks’ Michelle Dennis on building a connected bioeconomy + bridging the gap between scientific discovery and commercial scale-up Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

Heartland BioWorks was formed to help the Midwest advance its position of leadership in the next era of bioscience innovation. By uniting industry, academia, workforce leaders, and public partners, the organization was created to accelerate discovery, grow talent and build a stronger, more connected bioeconomy across the region. We are joined this week by Michelle Dennis, Regional Innovation Officer for Heartland BioWorks, to talk the federal Tech Hub designation, our existing strengths and moving innovation to market faster.

Highlights include:

An overview of the work Michelle’s team is leading to advance the bioeconomy in Indiana
Momentum in discussion around onshoring and biomanufacturing in the US – and why that’s critical
Gaps identified by stakeholders across the industry that Heartland BioWorks is uniquely positioned to address
Bridging the gap between scientific discovery and innovation and commercial scale- up through Heartland BioWorks’ BioLAUNCH
Where Michelle sees promising intersections between agbioscience, biotech and advanced manufacturing
What Michelle believes makes a strong ecosystem of connecting startups, companies, researchers and investors across domains
Workforce skills most needed in this growing bioeconomy and how BioTRAIN is creating a wider funnel for talent in its pipeline
Biggest opportunities Michelle sees for industry, academia and public partners to continue working together to build the state’s talent base
Emerging trends that excite Michelle and where she believes agbioscience should be paying attention right now
What success looks like to Michelle over the next five years
What’s ahead that has her most excited for Heartland BioWorks

440. Hoosier Ag Today's Eric Pfeiffer on innovating for the farmer, meeting innovators in the middle + expanding Indiana's ag story Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

We switch chairs this week and our interview host, Hoosier Ag Today's Eric Pfeiffer, joins us to talk through the state of production agriculture, its impact on innovation, surprising findings out of Purdue on farmer adoption of AI and how innovators/producers can meet in the middle to drive greater impact for both sides.

Eric also gets into Hoosier Ag Today's new partnership with Circle City Broadcasting, bringing Indiana agriculture news to television in the Indianapolis market.

439. AgriNovus’ Tim Dixon on the 2026 Velocity startups, advancing ideas into market-ready solutions across bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food is health Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

Last week, AgriNovus announced that 12 startups will participate in its 2026 Velocity accelerator, a five-month program that awards entrepreneurs a total of $75,000 in cash prizes for their technology solutions divided equally between the strategic categories: bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food is health.

Behind this year’s cohort magic is the organization’s Senior Director of Innovation, Tim Dixon, who joins us this week. He gets into:

Tim’s journey to joining the AgriNovus team and what drew him to the organization
How he defines innovation – and how the definition has evolved over the years
Most promising areas of innovation across agbioscience that have opportunities for transformational impact
How startups should think about customer adoption in a tight farmer and agribusiness market
What makes Indiana uniquely positioned to lead in agbioscience versus other regions of the country
Velocity’s launch and how it’s designed to address gaps in the ecosystem
Tim’s ambitions for Velocity in year one and what he believes competing teams need to be successful
The importance of collaboration among companies, universities, investors and entrepreneurs to turn ideas into market-ready solutions
Outcomes that will signal success for Velocity in 2026
What has him most excited about this year's cohort of startups

438. Indiana Association of Soil + Water Conservation Districts’ Liz Rice on balancing economic and environmental sustainability, the state’s innovative advantage Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

Sustainability. It’s a big word that carries several meanings – particularly across the agbioscience value chain. From conservation practices on the farm to technologies that create a more efficient use of the land, innovators in agbioscience are always seeking to do more with less. Underpinned in that effort is economic sustainability and how different practices create fluctuations in margin for farmers and companies alike. Today we are joined by Executive Director of the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Liz Rice, to talk pressing challenges when it comes to the land and what it takes to support farmers in this space.

Highlights include:

The role of IASWCD in supporting farmers, communities and local conservation efforts around the state
How the conversation on sustainability and conservation has evolved over the last decade
Challenges farmers and district leaders are facing right now that feel most pressing and urgent
Soil health and how Liz defines it in practical terms
Balancing expectations of environmental stewardship with the economic realities of agriculture
Some of the most effective practices Liz has seen adopted today and why they are gaining traction
The role Liz sees farmers playing in climate resilience
New technologies, data and research – and how they will impact the land
Strong partnerships across the ecosystem that she sees making impact
How sustainability can be an even bigger part of our state’s agbioscience story
What’s ahead for her team that has her most excited

437. ISDA’s Don Lamb on convening the corners of the agbioscience industry to drive impact + meaningful change Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

From Indiana’s rich agricultural story to the cross-sector innovation taking place in BioHeartland, the state’s economy tells more than one story about what it does well; the growing story, however, is how its innovation domains come together to share an identity with much more power. This week, Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Don Lamb joins the show to talk about the farmer, the future and BioHeartland’s positive momentum.

Highlights include:

Don’s perspective as a farmer and how becoming the Director of ISDA has evolved his view of the industry
The opportunity for Indiana to innovate at the intersection of farming, food, animal health and plant science
USDA’s announcement of Indianapolis as a hub for their relocation initiative and what he believe it signals about Indiana
Why Indiana is a fit and the advantage our ecosystem brings
The impact of a USDA hub on the farmer here in Indiana
Updates on the future of Indiana and USDA, including the announcement of SNAP to Indianapolis
Don’s thoughts on BioHeartland and why an identity for our region matters more than ever
How he hopes the brand grows and evolves both inside and outside perspectives on production agriculture and agbioscience’s impact on the state
Farmers, agribusinesses and community leaders’ roles in sharing the BioHeartland story
Don answers the question: “Is Indiana having a moment?”
ISDA’s plans for seizing the opportunity to connect the farming and innovation communities
What’s coming up for ISDA that has Don most excited

436. DIAL Ventures’ Allan Gray on their new $30M fund, supporting entrepreneurship + creating the next wave of agbioscience innovation Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

Since its inception, Purdue DIAL Ventures has run six studio cycles and built an impressive portfolio of companies – including Gripp, Croft, Oaken, FIeldist and Aerton – now valued at over $30 million. This week, Executive Director Allan Gray joins us to talk the launch of their Fund II (which is now underway) and how his team’s model uniquely supports company creation.

Highlights include:

An overview of the work at Purdue DIAL Ventures and how their work improves the food system while enabling farmer success
The gap identified in the market that led to the organization’s creation
DIAL’s unique value and how they can deliver on things others cannot
How their Fund I set the tone for Allan’s team to move forward in terms of market validation and success
Fund II – it's timeline, deployment pace and kickoff for the studio
How Allan sees Fund II comparing to the first in terms of mechanics and how they approach company creation
The relationships with partners and how they create investable and scalable innovation that serves a broader market
Milestones Allan likes to see hit in order to feel like innovation is derisked
Trends and themes Allan sees as prevalent in the next fund to meet the needs of an evolving industry
Allan’s list of hopeful outcomes for Fund II
What’s ahead

435. Innovations in food, animal health, plant science, agtech + agriculture: here's an agbioscience recap for the first half of 2026 Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

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