A new report from AgriNovus Indiana is aiming to turn some of agriculture’s toughest challenges into opportunities for innovation—backed by funding and support designed to deliver tangible benefits to farmers and agribusinesses nationwide.
The study, conducted by Arrowpoint Labs and titled “Advancing Innovation: Priority Areas for Indiana’s Agbioscience Future,” identifies critical gaps across the sector and will guide the organization’s 2026 Velocity Accelerator, a six-month program that awards three $25,000 prizes to entrepreneurs developing practical, scalable solutions. Applications for the program are open through May 1.
At its core, the initiative is focused on equipping innovators to solve real-world problems facing U.S. agriculture—from rising input costs and labor shortages to regulatory complexity and shifting consumer demands.
The report outlines three priority areas—bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food as health—each with direct implications for farm productivity, profitability and long-term sustainability.
For farmers, the most immediate impact may come from the accelerator’s emphasis on operational tools. Proposed innovations include unified data platforms capable of turning hundreds of thousands of daily data points into actionable insights, automated systems to streamline compliance with complex environmental and pesticide regulations, and autonomous equipment designed to reduce reliance on increasingly scarce labor. Together, such technologies could lower costs, save time and improve decision-making on the farm.
Advancements in bioinnovation also promise to reshape the agricultural landscape. The report highlights opportunities in gene editing to develop crops with improved resilience and nutrient profiles, as well as new biomanufacturing systems that could expand domestic production of bio-based products. It also calls for technologies that convert agricultural waste into high-value materials such as bioplastics and specialty ingredients—potentially creating new revenue streams for producers.
The third focus area, food as health, reflects a growing push to better connect agriculture with healthcare and nutrition systems. Innovations in this space could enable farmers to capture premiums for nutrient-dense crops, while new data platforms may help demonstrate how food-based interventions reduce healthcare costs—opening additional markets for agricultural products.
“This study defines where Indiana is best positioned to lead and gives participants the tools they need to create purpose-built, scalable technologies,” said Christy Wright, President and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana.
Indiana’s agbioscience sector already plays an outsized economic role, with more than 5,400 establishments contributing $22.4 billion to the state’s GDP, according to the report. But leaders behind the initiative say the broader goal is to ensure innovation developed through programs like Velocity delivers benefits far beyond state lines.
Backed by the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and the Indiana Soybean Alliance, the accelerator will select 30 participants across its three tracks, pairing them with mentors and industry stakeholders before culminating in a demo day this fall.
For farmers and agribusinesses, the stakes are clear: as economic pressures mount, the ability to adopt technologies that improve efficiency, unlock new markets and reduce risk could define the next era of American agriculture.
CLICK HERE to read the full report.
CLICK BELOW to hear more about the report and the 2026 Velocity Accelerator on the AgBioscience Podcast—Presented by AgriNovus Indiana and hosted by Hoosier Ag Today’s Eric Pfeiffer:
