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By Agroempresario.com
Christy Wright, the new CEO of AgriNovus Indiana, stepped into her role on August 18 with a clear understanding of the challenges facing the global agriculture and food systems. As a former director of global food systems at Corteva Agriscience, Wright is no stranger to the complexities of supply chains, regulatory changes, technological advances, and market volatility.
“Ag is navigating right now a perfect storm of global, economic, environmental, and tech-driven pressures,” Wright observes. “There’s fluctuating commodity prices, extreme weather events that make crop production increasingly difficult, new technologies impacting diets such as GLP-1 drugs, and federal policy shifts. Disruption is coming from all sides—but disruption can also be a powerful engine for breakthrough innovation.”
Wright emphasizes that this environment compels both startups and multinational corporations to rethink processes, from product design to sourcing strategies, and to build resilient, flexible supply chains. “Science, innovation, and collaboration across companies are driving progress more than ever,” she says. “This moment is about doing more by working together.”
Wright, who began her career in public affairs and later held leadership roles at Dow AgroSciences and Corteva Agriscience, is a lifelong advocate for Indiana’s agbioscience ecosystem. She notes that the state is uniquely positioned to lead innovation, thanks to the convergence of top-tier universities, major agtech and pharmaceutical companies, and seed industry leaders.
Key institutions include Purdue University, Indiana University, Notre Dame, and the Rose–Hulman Institute of Technology, while corporate players include Corteva, Elanco, Eli Lilly, and Beck’s Hybrids. In addition, the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) brings together executives from corporations, foundations, and universities to foster cross-sector collaboration.
“This network provides startups with access to resources, expertise, and opportunities to collaborate across sectors,” Wright explains. “Organizations like AgriNovus, operating under the CICP umbrella, amplify that potential and accelerate innovation.”
While AgriNovus is known for initiatives like the Velocity Accelerator, which nurtures early-stage startups, Wright highlights how large corporations also benefit from the ecosystem. Corteva, for example, uses its Corteva Catalyst platform to engage with startups, providing R&D expertise and pathways to market that smaller companies would not otherwise access.
“Connecting startups and corporations creates a win-win scenario,” Wright notes. “Startups gain access to resources and markets, while corporations benefit from emerging technologies and new approaches to food and agriculture challenges.”
In her first 100 days, Wright plans to focus on understanding AgriNovus’ momentum and expanding initiatives that have proven successful. These include Quadrant networking events, the Velocity Accelerator, and the Agbioscience Podcast.
She is also prioritizing Accelerate 2050, AgriNovus Indiana’s strategic plan, which identifies opportunities to differentiate the state through three pillars: farmer-focused innovation, bioinnovation, and food is health.
The concept of “food is health” is central to Wright’s vision. She cites the OneHealth Innovation District in Indianapolis, a collaboration among Elanco, Purdue University, and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, as an example of how AgriNovus can catalyze cross-sector partnerships.
“With leading academic institutions, major pharmaceutical companies, and a robust agrifood sector, Indiana has the resources to bring together expertise from startups to multinationals,” Wright says. “This convergence can unlock innovative solutions in human and animal health, agriculture, and food production.”
Wright identifies several technologies with transformative potential. She is particularly enthusiastic about gene editing, which promises to create crops that are more nutritious, resilient, and aligned with consumer preferences. “Gene editing allows us to address challenges such as climate change, nutritional quality, and crop yields,” she explains.
She also highlights biologicals, decision science, AI, precision fermentation, and other emerging technologies as opportunities for innovation across the value chain. These tools enable companies to develop better ingredients, optimize production processes, and respond to changing consumer demands.
AgriNovus’ role as a convener is critical in facilitating collaboration. Wright emphasizes that cross-sector partnerships—spanning universities, startups, and large corporations—are essential to tackle complex problems like labor shortages, extreme weather, and trade uncertainty.
“Collaboration is not just a buzzword; it’s the foundation for doing more with less and achieving breakthrough innovations,” Wright says. “AgriNovus provides a platform where ideas can be shared, resources aligned, and solutions accelerated.”
Developing human capital is another focus area. Wright believes that connecting students, researchers, and entrepreneurs with industry leaders will strengthen Indiana’s workforce in agbioscience. Programs such as Velocity Accelerator and partnerships with universities provide training, mentorship, and access to cutting-edge technologies, creating a pipeline of talent ready to drive innovation.
Wright’s leadership reflects a long-term perspective on innovation. “Disruption is inevitable, but it also creates an opportunity to reimagine the food and agriculture system,” she explains. “Our goal is to build resilience, promote sustainable practices, and foster innovations that improve human and animal health while driving economic growth in Indiana.”
She stresses that AgriNovus’ initiatives are designed to create measurable impact across the ecosystem, from improving farm productivity and food quality to enabling startups to scale and enter new markets.
Indiana’s strengths—research institutions, corporate partners, and a collaborative ecosystem—position it as a national leader in agbioscience. Wright plans to leverage these assets to accelerate innovation and create opportunities for startups and corporations alike.
“The state has everything needed to lead: top universities, innovative companies, and collaborative networks,” she says. “By connecting these resources, AgriNovus can help Indiana emerge as a hub for food and agricultural innovation, driving solutions that benefit the state, the nation, and the global food system.”
