CAN PLANT-BASED PROTEIN REPLACE ANIMAL PROTEIN IN THE FOOD SYSTEM?

Provocative discussion about the risks and opportunities involved in plant-based protein and the future of agriculture to kick off AgTech NEXT

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. 

For additional information, contact: Karla Roeber, 314.406.4287
kroeber@danforthcenter.org