ST. LOUIS, MO, September 15, 2020 - Dr. Pat Brown, founder and CEO of Impossible Foods will share his belief that plant-based protein will match the sensory, nutritional value and price requirements consumers desire, and replace meat protein sooner than people think at the opening keynote of AgTech NEXT^TM on September, 22, 2020 at 12 PM CST. The conversation with Jim Carrington, president of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center will address the impact of plant-based protein on the current agriculture model, climate change and opportunities and risks for scientists and entrepreneurs.

The inaugural AgTech NEXT virtual summit will be held on Tuesdays, September 22 through November 10, with a break on November 3, election day.  The series of seven, 60-minute live sessions have been organized around the theme of Risks & Rewards featuring innovators, investors and industry experts.

In addition to the content sessions, the unique online event platform will also offer attendees the opportunity to share their perspective, and engage with our partners who can assist in growing their business during complimentary TableTalks that will follow each virtual conference session from 1:30 – 2:15 PM CST.

A variety of conference packages are available. Register Now!

Media passes are available, please contact Karla Roeber to secure yours!

The robust lineup of speakers and panelists include:

• Patrick O. Brown, Founder M.D. Ph.D., and CEO Impossible Foods
• Jim Carrington, Ph.D., President, Danforth Plant Science Center
• Chris Chinn, Director, Missouri Department of Agriculture
• Matt Crisp, President and CEO, Benson Hill
• Robb Fraley, Ph.D., Former CTO, Monsanto
• Scott Bernard Fullen, Owner, Mid-South Family Farms
• Ingrid Fung, Investor, Finistere
• The Honorable Richard Gephardt, President and CEO, Gephardt Public Affairs
• Cris Handel, Ph.D., SVP, Marketing and Sustainability, CoverCress inc.
• Brendan Johnson, Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
• Jake Joraanstad, Cofounder and CEO, Bushel
• Claire Kinlaw, Ph.D., Director of Innovation Commercialization, Danforth Center
• Sanjeev Krishnan, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director, S2G
• Mao Li, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist, Danforth Center
• Mick Messman, Chief Commercial Officer, Greenlight Biosciences
• Larry Page, Ph.D., Principal, Lewis & Clark AgriFood
• Jobst von Petersdorff, Business Venture, KWS Group
• Stephanie Regagnon, Executive Director Innovation Partnerships, Danforth Center
• Orlando Saez, Cofounder & CEO, Aker Technologies, Inc.
• Mary Shelman, Founder, The Shelman Group
• Naveen Sikka, CEO, TerViva
• Chris Topp, Ph.D., Associate Member, Danforth Center
  Renée Vassilos, Agriculture Innovation Director, The Nature Conservancy
• Bala Venkata, Ph.D. Cofounder, RNAissance Ag & Senior Research Scientist, Danforth Center
• Tony White, Founder & CEO Tony’s Family Farms
• Olga Yermolenko, Partner, OY Group

1:1 Meetings
We know it’s the personal connections that deliver the most value and AgTech NEXT will provide the information participants need to maximize attendee’s opportunity to connect directly with other conference attendees.

Virtual Exhibit Hall
During AgTech NEXT attendees will also be able to visit with our partners in our Virtual Exhibit Hall and learn how they can impact their organizations.

We are grateful to our Partners for their support of AgTech NEXT including: Bayer Crop Science, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Thompson Coburn, KWS, Wells Fargo, Alliance STL, Benson Hill, Aon, Ameren Missouri, Clayco, Lewis & Clark Agrifood, Missouri Technology Corporation, Open Prairie, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, Bank of America, Polsinelli, BioSTL, CoBank, Missouri Department of Agriculture, and Ventas Wexford Science + Technology.

About the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit research institute with a mission to improve the human condition through plant science. Research, education and outreach aim to have impact at the nexus of food security and the environment, and position the St. Louis region as a world center for plant science. The Center’s work is funded through competitive grants from many sources, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Follow us on Twitter at @DanforthCenter.

Karla J. Roeber
Vice President Public and Government Affairs
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
314.406.4287  |  Mobile