ZimmCast 675 – Growth of Benson Hill

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast.

The ZimmComm Team has been out on the agriblogging highway at several conferences in the last couple of weeks. This is the first time we’ve been able to do this since the end of February last year. And we’ve got quite a bit more on the calendar starting next with the Agricultural Media Summit in KC, MO. I’ll be there this year in Kansas City taking photos for the American Agricultural Editors Association, now know as the Ag Communicators Network and the Livestock Publications Council and helping AAEA with member interviews as the organization celebrates 100 years. We’re cranking out content from these events in virtual newsrooms on AgNewsWire as well as AgWired. So that’s what is going on in our world. Now let’s move on to this week’s program.

Benson HillIn this episode I’m sharing a conversation with Matt Crisp, CEO of Benson Hill, a food technology company that is unlocking the natural genetic diversity of plants for the plant-based food revolution. It is some very new technology they are employing and Matt will walk us through it. There are some terms like Cloud Biology, nutrition security and the company’s CropOS platform that I think you’ll find them very interesting. So, let’s learn more about what is new with Benson Hill.

So, that’s the ZimmCast for this week. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 675 - Growth of Benson Hill (21:34)

In case you didn’t know it you can find more podcasts we produce in all your favorite podcast apps. That includes the Golden ZimmComm Mic Podcast, The Ethanol Report, Field Notes from Koch Agronomic Services and the Daugherty Water for Food Podcast. We hope you enjoy listening to them.

Want to sponsor the ZimmCast? Just let me know and we can talk through ideas for your company. I’m AgriBlogger on Twitter or just email me at chuck@zimmcomm.biz.

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Agribusiness, Audio, Soybean, Technology, ZimmCast

Precision Ag as a Process, Not a Product

Cindy Zimmerman

Precision agriculture has come a long way over the past couple of decades, to the point where it has gone beyond individual technologies to integrated systems, which is becoming increasingly important in the sustainability economy.

FieldReveal CEO Matt Hesse told attendees at last week’s Tech Hub LIVE conference that sustainability will be an increasing consideration for growers in their decision making. “We’ve got tool sets that are currently available that are doing things that need to set us up to be better now and for the future,” said Hesse.

FieldReveal and partner AgWorks were premiere sponsors of the inaugural Tech Hub LIVE in Des Moines.

Tech Hub Live interview with Matt Hesse, FieldReveal (1:59)

Agronomy, AgWired Precision, Audio, Sustainability, Tech Hub LIVE, Technology

Hearing Focuses on State of Beef Supply Chain

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture held a hearing Wednesday to examine how to address challenges within the beef supply chain during which several members of Congress echoed the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) longstanding call to expand processing capacity.

Ranking Member Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) recently introduced the Butcher Block Act, a bipartisan bill that would ease regulatory barriers and offer USDA funding programs for small processors looking to expand or add shackle space. “We don’t have enough processing capacity,” said Johnson during his opening statement. “That is a market failure that has negative impacts both to consumers who want to eat the beef as well as producers who are trying to raise it.”

Bill co-sponsor Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) also made remarks at the hearing. “I’ve been excited to see USDA take steps with funding provided through the American Rescue Plan to help increase competition for meat and poultry processing and I believe the Butcher Block Act would help expand these efforts and ensure their longevity,” she said.

Rep. Spanberger also addressed questions to witnesses at the hearing Dr. Jayson Lusk with Purdue University and Dr. Dustin Aherin, Rabo AgriFinance.

House beef supply chain hearing Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) (5:12)

House beef supply chain hearing Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) (5:40)

Audio, Beef, Livestock, Marketing, Meat, NCBA

Precision Ag News 7/28

Carrie Muehling

  • A team of scientists has identified a promising resistance gene that could help fight a devastating fungus called stem rust, which attacks wheat crops and threatens global food security. The discovery, recently published in Nature Plants, also identifies a gene in the fungus that triggers this resistance in the host plant, and together these discoveries provide a pathway to help wheat growers defend against this disease.
  • Calyxt, Inc. announced the appointment of Michael A. Carr as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 27, 2021. Mr. Carr will also serve as a member of Calyxt’s Board of Directors. Mr. Carr was most recently the Vice President of M&A, Strategy, and Innovation at Darling Ingredients, Inc., a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients and renewable energy.
  • Pivot Bio announced the close of a $430 million Series D funding led by DCVC and Temasek, bringing the total equity raised to more than $600 million. The funding will fuel the company’s accelerating release of disruptive products focused on replacing the $60 billion of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer sold each year just to sustain corn, wheat, and rice.
  • Enko, the crop health company, announced details on its partnership with Bayer to develop diverse chemistries for crop protection. Applying drug discovery approaches from pharma to crop protection will allow the companies to identify unexpected product candidates that safely target pests in new ways.
  • As Verdesian Life Sciences continues to grow in size and breadth of product and technology offerings, so, too, does the company continue to invest in the people and experts in an ever-growing portfolio. The company has added four product managers to its Global Marketing team to further support the growing Verdesian business.
  • Filipino rice consumers are close to benefiting from a provitamin A-infused rice with the approval of its commercial propagation permit. Dr. John C. de Leon, executive director of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), announced that a biosafety permit for propagating the Golden Rice was issued on July 21, 2021. Dr. Donald MacKenzie, executive director of the Institute for International Crop Improvement at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and formerly with the International Rice Research Institute, leads the regulatory component of the Healthier Rice Project that includes Golden Rice and iron and zinc biofortified rice.
AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

Grounded Communications at #NAMA21

Chuck Zimmerman

Janice Person, Grounded CommunicationsDuring the Agri-Marketing Conference the Golden ZimmComm Microphone found out what’s new with Janice Person and that is Grounded Communications. Janice started this new venture after a long career that left her grounded in the worlds of food and farming. She is also grounded in a love of urban life as well as a deep passion for small towns.

Grounded Communications offers a range of services, including consulting, public speaking, training (for groups and individuals) and content creation. Listen in to our conversation and learn more.

Listen to the Grounded Communications story with Janice here: Interview with Janice Person (5:57)

2021 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

Agencies, Audio, NAMA

Hearing from Large Producers About Technology

Chuck Zimmerman

Former USDA Under Secretary and previous Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey gathered a group of large-acre farmers from around the state for a discussion about what they seeking in technology during last week’s Tech Hub LIVE conference in Des Moines.

Joining Northey were Iowa farmers Scott Henry, LongView Farms; Kyle Mehmen, MBS Family Farms; and Ben Riensche, Blue Diamond Farming Company. Each discussed what they are looking for from trusted advisors in terms of value, service, and what is needed for success.

Northey sees a lot of potential for farmers in the low carbon future. “I believe we will gravitate towards more of a supply chain kind of market,” he said. “I think those early adopters are well positioned for if an ethanol plant says ‘I want to buy low carbon corn because I’m going to produce low carbon ethanol’…then they’re set up to do that.”

Tech Hub Live interview with Bill Northey (6:12)

AgWired Precision, Audio, carbon, Farming, Tech Hub LIVE, Technology

Animal Ag News 7/26

Carrie Muehling

  • Developed by Ridley Block Operations, part of the Alltech Feed Division, the makers of CRYSTALYX® Brand Supplements have launched a new supplementation app to make product selection for livestock easier than ever.
  • The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) are pleased to announce the addition of Emily Anne Igli as the new development and operations specialist, effective July 12.
  • As the Beef Checkoff celebrates its 35th anniversary, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, is shining a light on the successful promotion and research programs that drive the demand for beef.
  • The Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) will celebrate the program’s anniversary during the upcoming Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville, August 10-12.CBB will host a number of activities to mark the Beef Checkoff’s 35th anniversary, including a video montage of the program’s history and achievements during the convention’s Opening General Session. At that time, the CBB will also announce the recipient of the first-ever Checkoff Visionary Award, an honor that will go to someone in the beef industry who has demonstrated exemplary support of and commitment to the Checkoff’s goals and vision.
  • Twelve organizations representing farmers and companies who make the vast majority of America’s meat, poultry, and dairy, as well as animal feed and ingredients, unveiled the Protein PACT for the People, Animals, and Climate of Tomorrow – the first joint initiative of its kind designed to accelerate momentum and verify progress toward global sustainable development goals across all animal protein sectors.
  • Cargill and Intelia have entered into a partnership to distribute Intelia’s COMPASS broiler platform in the United States and Canada in an effort to provide world-class precision solutions to broiler producers. COMPASS is a precision livestock tool designed to help broiler producers monitor, manage, model and enhance decision-making at the flock level.
  • The National Bison Association (NBA) has announced the 2021 Throlson American Bison Foundation Scholarship amid continued growth in consumer demand for healthy, natural bison meat. The online scholarship application is available online here and must be submitted by October 1, 2021, which also requires this form to be completed by the student’s department head, as well as a letter of recommendation from faculty.
  • There were 101 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of July 1, 2021, according to the Cattle report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

The Curious Plot is Revealed at #NAMA21

Chuck Zimmerman

From the ZimmComm booth at the #NAMA21 conference I learned all about Curious Plot. It’s the new brand for what we knew as FLM Harvest. The Golden ZimmComm Microphone spent some time with agency President/CEO, Laurie Fleck. Laurie says the agency is working on really upping their digital game with more to be announced this fall. The agency has the same ownership, leadership, team members, clients and services with a new name and identity against the backdrop of rapid transformation in the food and agriculture markets it serves.

“Our industry and clients have experienced a staggering amount of change,” said Laurie Fleck, president and CEO of Curious Plot. “Curious Plot signals our own evolution and continued growth in our dedicated space. While we are still very young by most standards, we continually grow and enhance our service offerings to help our clients navigate the challenges and opportunities to come.”

Curious Plot represents two central pillars of the agency’s new positioning: an innate commitment to continuous learning and the ability to help clients tell a motivating and results-driven story.

Learn more about Curious Plot in my interview with Laurie here: Interview with Laurie Fleck, Curious Plot (6:02)

2021 Agri-Marketing Conference Photo Album

Agencies, Audio, NAMA

Sustainability in Focus at #TechHubLIVE

Cindy Zimmerman

With increasing interest and investment in sustainability up and down the agriculture value chain, each segment of the industry is finding its place as crop production practices evolve.

During Tech Hub LIVE last week, CropLife Media Group Editor Paul Schrimpf moderated a group of key sustainability stakeholders who shared their perspectives on the state and future of sustainability practices, the importance of data and precision agriculture, and the role of service providers in sustainability programs.

The panel featured:
Jason Weller, President, Truterra LLC
Aaron Sindelar, Ph.D., Sustainability Lead, Central Valley Ag Cooperative
Jamie Dingley, Commodities Manager, North America, Corbion

As part of the Land O’ Lakes cooperative, Truterra offers a farmer-owned, farmer-driven food and ag sustainability program. “We’re really trying to innovate and find creative ways for the farmer to not just get recognized for their conservation and stewardship, but actually get paid for their stewardship,” said Weller, who served as chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Learn more in this interview.
Tech Hub Live interview with Jason Weller, Truterra (8:18)

AgWired Precision, Audio, carbon, Precision Agriculture, Sustainability, Tech Hub LIVE, Technology

Industry Ag News 7/23

Carrie Muehling

  • The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center announced it has joined the Decade of Ag movement, recognizing that a unified vision of sustainable food, fiber and energy systems for the future requires collaboration, endorsement and advancement from across the agricultural value chain.
  • The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) announces the promotion of Sarah Gallo to Vice President, Agriculture and Environment. In her new role, Sarah will lead the policy and market access strategies for BIO’s Agriculture and Environment Section, which is comprised of members from the former Food and Agriculture and Industrial and Environmental Sections.
  • Iowa Corn® will be welcoming RAGBRAI cyclists at multiple stops along the route with the opportunity to talk with local farmers and enjoy sweet corn starting on Sunday. Farmers will share facts about field corn grown in Iowa that is used for livestock feed, ethanol fuel, and 4,000 other everyday products! Sweet corn is referred to as the delicious 1% that consumers enjoy. Along with Fed by Farmers, Iowa Corn will be serving sweet corn to riders who tour the Iowa Corn trailer.
  • The American Seed Trade Association presented its recently updated Strategic Plan. The Plan was updated through a formal process over the past several months, including feedback from ASTA membership, and was officially approved by ASTA’s Board of Directors in June.
  • Seed World announced Paul Nelson as the 2021 Future Giant of the Seed Industry. Nelson serves as a corn product design lead at Bayer and was selected for the award because of his leadership and vision for the future of plant breeding.
  • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack named Daniel Whitley the new Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. Whitley has served as the agency’s Acting Administrator since December 2020.
  • The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) announced that Bryan Goodman joined NCGA as the Director of Policy Communications on July 19. He will provide strategic communications counsel on NCGA policy priorities, work closely with reporters covering farm policy and implement communications tactics that will help advance NCGA’s advocacy priorities on Capitol Hill.
  • Benson Hill, Inc. announced that Bruce Bennett will join the Company’s Executive Leadership Team as President of its Ingredients business segment.
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