BIO Dedicates Focus to Human Health and Biopharmaceuticals

Chuck Zimmerman

Biotechnology Innovation OrganizationPretty big decision for BIO. I guess other ag organizations will be ready to carry the load.

The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today announced plans to dedicate its focus entirely to human health and to transition the work of its Agriculture and Environment (A&E) section to other organizations.  This change is intended to enable an enhanced strategic focus on each of these respective areas of biotechnology and will be effective July 1, 2025. In support of this transition, BIO announced the hiring of two new senior executives to lead Regulatory Affairs and a new “Center of Excellence” focused on Emerging Companies & Economic Growth. 

“The field of biotechnology is increasingly diverse, with great threats and significant opportunities,” said John F. Crowley, President and CEO, BIO. “In consultation with the BIO Executive Committee and the Agriculture and Environment Governing Board, BIO has determined that these organizational changes will enable greater focus and impact on behalf of our healthcare members, and will sharpen our advocacy work on critical policy priorities for the improvement of human health – modernizing the FDA’s regulatory processes; building back a robust biopharmaceutical manufacturing base across the US and our allies; preserving strong IP protections; fostering capital formation; protecting our national security; and enabling 21st Century access to medicines. At the same time, this change will enable A&E member companies to enhance their focus on agricultural and environmental biotech at expert third-party organizations.” 

Biotech

Precision Ag News 5/29

Carrie Muehling

  • The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) applauds the appointment of Jimmy Emmons to serve as Assistant Chief of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
  • The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the award of $17.5 million in Outreach and Technical Assistance grants to 161 conservation districts in 45 states and territories.
  • The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) issued a statement after the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission released its Initial Assessment.
  • Custom Agronomics, a leading provider of private-label liquid plant nutrition and specialty products for the agriculture, turf, and ornamental markets, announced today that Scott Addy has been named CEO.
  • rTek, an Almaty-based precision agriculture start up and nature-based solutions (NbS) carbon credits project developer, has selected Perennial, a global leader in measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MMRV) for environmental assets, as its exclusive soil carbon MMRV provider for the next 10 years to deliver high-integrity carbon credits globally. The first project aims to regenerate 500,000 hectares of degraded grasslands, support sustainable production and livelihoods, and establish quality assurance systems for sustainable grassland management in Kazakhstan.
  • John Deere announced the acquisition of Sentera, a leading provider of remote imagery solutions for agriculture headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. This acquisition will advance the capabilities of John Deere’s existing technology offerings, providing farmers and ag service providers with a more comprehensive set of tools to generate and use data to make decisions that improve farm profitability, efficiency, and sustainability.
  • The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware approved this week the sale of the business assets of Benson Hill to Confluence Genetics, LLC. This sale will enable the historic business to continue outside of Chapter 11 bankruptcy with new leadership and supportive ownership, starting a new chapter as a leaner, innovation-driven leader in soybean trait development. Confluence Genetics is set to embark on a new chapter as an agtech start-up following its acquisition by a group of seasoned agribusiness investors, spearheaded by Expedition Ag Partners and S2G Investments. The company will focus on scaling its proprietary ultra-high protein soybean genetics for animal feed, expanding market position in its specialty food grade portfolio, and expanding geographies by leveraging its unique soy germplasm, AI-powered breeding platform, and speed breeding facility.
  • The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Heuermann Lecture on April 29 featured Claudia Ringler, Ph.D., director of natural resources and resilience at the International Food Policy Research Institute. Her keynote address offered a compelling exploration of the often-overlooked connection between irrigation and nutrition. The lecture was hosted as part of the week-long 2025 Water for Food Global Conference by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska.
  • Farmers for Sustainable Food announced the release of its 2024 Progress Report, a yearly report that highlights the organization’s major accomplishments and milestones from the previous year.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Preview of 2025 AgGateway Mid-Year Mtg.

    Chuck Zimmerman

    AgGateway Mid-Year MeetingIt’s time for the Mid-Year Meeting of AgGateway. To get a preview I talked with Brent Kemp, President/CEO, AgGateway.

    In 2025, AgGateway is celebrating 20 years of active engagement with leading agriculture companies in the pursuit of seamless digital connectivity and interoperability across the value chain. We welcome all industry stakeholders to join us for three days of learning and networking this summer.

    The North America Mid-Year Meeting is where member volunteers gather to discuss the work of AgGateway connectivity initiatives and working groups through the first half of the year, and set plans for remainder of the year leading up to our Annual Meeting and Conference in November.

    In addition to task-focused working sessions, segment-based committees share ideas for new projects to initiate. Business presentations and keynote speakers provide additional context for the work of the organization, and fuel high-value networking opportunities throughout the event.

    You can listen to our conversation here: Preview of 2025 AgGateway Mid-Year Mtg. (12:26)

    AgGateway, Audio, Precision Agriculture

    Give Your News Release a Voice

    Cindy Zimmerman

    AgNewsWireOnce upon a time in 2004, a brand new company called ZimmComm New Media started a service called “Talking News Releases,” which was simply adding sound bites or an audio interview to a press release.

    We started that service because, being broadcasters, we liked to have audio to go with news stories and we hated getting a release and trying to get an interview to go with it and finding out that person is out of the country for the next two weeks! It would be so much nicer if we had the audio right there with the release, right?

    Anyway, that was over 20 years ago and we still have that service, although we stopped calling them talking news releases and will generally be happy to include links to audio with your AgNewsWire release just like we include links to images, at the standard rate of $525. If you would like us to do an interview for you, we do charge an extra $150.

    AgNewsWire releases are sent to nearly 1550 contacts in the agribusiness/agrimarketing industry, including farm broadcasters, ag editors, social media influencers, podcasters, communications specialists, industry leaders, and others. Our open rates average about 35% and audio downloads average about 200.

    Here is a link to an example:
    PowerPollen Receives Foundational Patent for Groundbreaking Pollen Storage Methodology

    When we send out a news release for you we also post it on AgNewsWire and do a story post on AgWired, as well as share on social media. We even have a handy on-line form for you to order a release and send materials and instructions. We try to make it easy.

    ZimmComm Announcement

    Animal Ag News 5/27

    Carrie Muehling

  • The House reconciliation bill that passed on May 22 contains several provisions that are favorable to dairy farmers and align with key priorities for Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative. The package from the House includes a $56.4 billion increase for farm bill programs and is one of the most sweeping rewrites of agricultural and nutrition policy in years, bringing much needed adjustments to key agriculture programs.
  • Michael Dykes, D.V.M., the president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), issued a statement on the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s Making Our Children Healthy Again Assessment.
  • National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Duane Stateler, a pork producer from McComb, Ohio, released a statement on the ‘Make American Healthy Again’ (MAHA) Commission report.
  • Wendy Brannen will join the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) as Vice President of Communications and Marketing, beginning Monday, June 16th. She will be based in NPPC’s Washington, D.C. public policy office.
  • On February 20, 2025, the Cattle Plaintiffs in the In re: Cattle and Beef Antitrust Litigation against JBS, Tyson, Cargill and National Beef received preliminary approval of an $83.5 million settlement with JBS. The class action lawsuit, filed in 2019 by National Farmers Union (NFU), R-CALF USA and four individual ranchers, alleges anticompetitive conduct in the cattle market. Eligible parties may now submit claims under the terms of the JBS settlement. The settlement website, www.CattleAntitrustSettlement.com, informs both cattle feeders and futures traders of the details of the settlement. The website also provides instructions as to how claims can be filed, and how persons can object or opt out of the settlement.
  • The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is pleased to announce the addition of Gregory Conner as its senior manager of multilateral affairs and market access. In this position, Conner will play a key role in advancing AFIA’s global market access, trade policy and regulatory initiatives, along with communicating to policymakers about these initiatives, representing the AFIA in trade discussions and advocating for science-based regulations to reduce non-tariff barriers.
  • Dr. R. Dean Boyd, swine nutritionist with Animal Nutrition Research, will moderate four small interactive group discussions at World Pork Expo titled Lessons in Swine Nutrition. The hour-long sessions offered will be held June 4th and 5th in the U.S. Soy Hospitality Tent #G520 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa.
  • Papillon Agricultural Company, developer of premium nutritional products for dairy and beef cattle, has launched a new anti-caking agent DeTerra 365™ to support ruminant immune function with improved feed hygiene.
  • USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project by researchers from Iowa State University that worked to develop and evaluate bacterin-based vaccines for the control of spotty liver disease in poultry. The research is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing.
    • AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Animal Bites

    Custom Agronomics Names New CEO

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Florida-based plant nutrition company Custom Agronomics announces Scott Addy as new chief executive officer.

    “Retailers are looking for solutions that deliver real value, and the private label products developed by Custom Agronomics are second to none,” Addy said. “The science is incredibly strong, and the company’s advanced technology and manufacturing capabilities set it apart. I’m excited about the opportunity to help drive continued growth at Custom Ag.”

    Addy brings more than 30 years of experience in the agriculture industry. He most recently served as Vice President of Brand Technology at Wilbur-Ellis, a leader in crop protection, seed and nutritional products. He previously held national leadership roles involving crop protection chemicals and seed.

    Addy was raised on a Georgia farm and earned a degree in agricultural economics from the University of Georgia. He previously worked in sales and marketing roles at DuPont Crop Protection, Griffin, and American Cyanamid.

    Agribusiness, Agronomy, AgWired Precision, people, Precision Agriculture

    Perennial and rTek Partner to Regenerate Degraded Grasslands

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Kazakhstan-based nature-based solutions (NbS) carbon credits project developer rTek has selected Colorado measurement, reporting, and verification company Perennial as its exclusive soil carbon MMRV provider for the next 10 years to deliver high-integrity carbon credits globally.

    The goal of the partnership is to regenerate Kazakhstan’s soils through sustainable agricultural land management by leveraging Perennial’s expertise in digital soil mapping (DSM) and advanced soil organic carbon (SOC) modeling with rTek’s local proficiency in land management, design, and implementation of carbon projects.

    Supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), this initiative falls under the Kazakhstan Resilient Agroforestry and Rangeland Project, which promotes sustainable pasture management. The activity “Support for Access to International Carbon Markets,” aims to demonstrate how carbon trade can serve as a catalyst for attracting private investments. By doing so, it seeks to enhance sustainable pastureland management, develop critical infrastructure, and facilitate access to international carbon markets for long-term financial sustainability. Set to begin baseline modeling in 2025, this initiative will implement advanced MMRV methodologies compliant with Verra’s VM0032 standards, enabling accurate soil carbon credit generation and enhancing rTek’s capacity to manage and expand grassland restoration.

    The partnership is seeking investors and carbon credit buyers to join them in transforming 500,000+ hectares of Kazakhstan’s long-degraded grasslands into a global example for sustainable agriculture and carbon sequestration.

    AgWired Precision, carbon, Precision Agriculture, Soil

    Industry Ag News 5/27

    Carrie Muehling

  • The Make America Healthy Again Commission released its long-awaited report, which denigrates the safety of key pesticides used by corn growers and other farmers. In response, the National Corn Growers Association released the following statement: “The Make America Healthy Again Report is filled with fear-based rather than science-based misinformation about pesticides. We are deeply troubled that claims of this magnitude are being made without any scientific basis or regard for a long history of EPA expert evaluations of these products.”
  • The American Soybean Association strongly rebukes the May 22 Make America Healthy Again Commission report for being brazenly unscientific and damaging to consumer confidence in America’s safe, reliable food system. Should the administration act on the report—which was drafted entirely behind closed doors— it will harm U.S. farmers, increase food costs for consumers, and worsen health outcomes for all Americans. ASA calls on President Trump, who has long been a friend of farmers, to step in and correct the Commission’s deeply misguided report.
  • Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) have reintroduced the Farmer-to-Farmer Education Act (S. 1769). This bill, written in collaboration with American Farmland Trust (AFT) and the National Young Farmers Coalition (Young Farmers), would facilitate farmer-to-farmer conservation education and successful practice adoption by building capacity and increasing support for farmer-led education networks, particularly for historically underserved producers.
  • The World Food Prize Foundation and the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) are pleased to announce the creation of the Illinois Youth Institute, as part of the Foundation’s continued expansion of its global Youth Programs. Over the coming year, the Foundation and UIC will partner to plan a one-day immersive event for Illinois students to explore global food security challenges, engage in hands-on science and discover careers in food and agriculture.
  • The AgCareers 2025 Roundtable Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, will feature sessions for attendees to learn about the latest developments in AI and new technology in the agriculture and food industry. The Roundtable education sessions kick off on Wednesday, August 6th, with an “Innovation in the Industry” keynote session. Billi Hunt, Executive Director of America’s Cultivation Corridor, presenting an overview of the industry’s latest technological advancements and trends and how they affect people recruitment, management and retention.
  • Over 100 expert speakers participated in the week-long 2025 Water for Food Global Conference held in Lincoln, Neb. April 28 to May 2, 2025. More than 350 attendees from 23 different countries came together to tackle the critical challenge of ensuring a resilient future with water and food security for all at the event hosted by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska. All conference sessions were recorded and will be available to view on the institute’s YouTube Channel in the coming months. More information can be found on the conference website.
  • More than 4,700 food safety professionals, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders from around the globe gathered for the 2025 Food Safety Summit, held May 11–15 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. The event brought together 1,210 in-person attendees and 3,546 virtual participants to explore the latest advancements and pressing challenges in food safety. The expanded exhibit hall featured 160 leading vendors—marking a 28 percent increase from 2024—and showcased innovative solutions across the industry.
  • The Southern Peanut Growers Conference is scheduled for July 23-25, 2025 at
    Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida. This year’s theme is “Ridin’ Out the Storm.” View the conference schedule and register online here. Registration rates increase by $75 on June 16, 2025.
  • Texas Tech University graduate Allie Herring has joined the Agri-Pulse team of journalists as an intern this summer in Washington. Herring will write for the Agri-Pulse and Agri-Pulse West newsletters — which are must-read, subscriber-only products offering the latest ag and food policy information — and contribute to the Agri-Pulse DriveTime podcast and Newsmakers TV show available at Agri-Pulse.com. She will also help compile the annual Agri-Pulse CEO salary report.
  • Join the Livestock Publications Council for the next Coffee and Collaboration on Wednesday, May 28 at noon CT. Speakers include Kelsey Vejraska, Audio Visual Specialist, American Hereford Association and Dylan Davidson, Director of Marketing and Creative Design, American Paint Horse Association. This free monthly webinar is moderated by Jennifer Shike and Angie Stump Denton. No registration is necessary. It’s open to members and non-members.
  • The Syngenta RTP Community Grant Program is celebrating 10 years of providing valuable support that has helped address important needs in the community pertaining to agriculture and STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Math) including education, hunger relief, nutrition, and water and land conservation. Over the past 10 years, the RTP Community Grant Program has distributed approximately $222,500 in funding to local organizations engaged in initiatives such as community gardens, food pantries, STEM programs, lake cleanup, land conservation, and agriculture education programs.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Tech Hub LIVE 2025 Marks 5 Years of Ag Tech Innovation

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Tech Hub LIVE Conference and Expo returns to the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines July 21-23 to mark five years of delivering real-world ag tech solutions under the theme “TECH THAT WORKS: Driving Efficiencies for Retailer Success and Farmer Resilience.”

    Powered by the CropLife Media Group™, in partnership with the Global AgTech Initiative and AgriBusiness Global brands, Tech Hub LIVE continues to grow as the industry’s largest gathering of ag retailers, dealers, agronomists, distributors, manufacturers, consultants, and tech providers committed to advancing practical innovation in agriculture.

    Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, will officially welcome attendees and open the conference with a forward-looking conversation on innovation, sustainability, and the future of farming while Jeff Blair, President and CEO of GreenPoint Ag, will headline the keynote presentation, “Beyond the Headwinds: Adapting & Advancing.”

    The 2025 event will feature an active exhibit hall showcasing the latest technologies, along with a dynamic lineup of breakout sessions, panel discussions, expert exchanges, Tech Talks, and fireside chats with CropLife editors—offering unique insights into the future of ag retail and data-driven farming, while giving attendees the flexibility to tailor their experience across a wide range of sessions and formats.

    Partner sponsors include Agri-Access and the Greater Des Moines Partnership, further reinforcing the event’s strategic focus on innovation and community impact.

    Registration is now open, with Early Bird Rates available through May 30 at www.TechHubLIVE.com.

    AgWired Precision, Precision Agriculture, Tech Hub LIVE, Technology

    MAHA Creates Concerns for Farmers

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Ag Secretary Rollins, President Trump and HHS Sec. Kennedy

    President Donald Trump’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission issued its first report on childhood health Thursday, creating concerns in the agriculture community about what it could mean for the future of crop protection tools.

    Making the announcement at the White House with President Trump, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy said the report is a call to action for common sense. “It’s common sense that we can celebrate the innovations of modern life while also demanding fearless inquiry into ameliorating the negative effects of medication, agriculture and farming practices,” said Kennedy.

    Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins stressed the role of farmers and ranchers in the MAHA movement. “We all know that at the center of making America healthy again is making American agriculture great again,” said Rollins.

    “I have to say we have the greatest farmers in the world and we love our farmers and we want to pay respect to our farmers and we always will,” said President Trump as he introduced Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), who also stressed the farmers’ role.

    “It does start with the farmer, it starts with soil health and I just want you to know that our farmers are so committed to this as well and and so many of them are already doing great things,” said Marshall. “They’re making the soil healthier, they’re using less pesticides, they’re doing all the right things. It’s going to take a little bit more effort and time to get everybody with those practices. But the American farmer and rancher were the original environmentalists, the original conservationists.”

    Listen to the announcement here:
    MAHA Report Announcement 19:54

    The report itself talks about the potential health issues in children exposed to chemicals such as pesticides, but makes it clear that food production needs must be weighed. “American farmers rely on these products, and actions that further regulate or restrict crop protection tools beyond risk-based and scientific processes set forth by Congress must involve thoughtful consideration of what is necessary for adequate protection, alternatives, and cost of production. Precipitous changes in agricultural practices could have an adverse impact on American agriculture and the domestic and global food supply. The federal government will continue to regularly review the safety of these important crop protection tools.”

    Despite such assurances, agricultural groups have been unanimous in raising concerns about the report. Read More

    Audio, Farming, Food, USDA