August 12, 2020

Cargill becomes founding partner of animal health innovation campus in Kansas

Global innovation platform and accelerator Plug and Play has announced that Cargill will be a founding partner for establishing its first accelerator programme focused on animal health and agriculture technology in the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor in Topeka, Kansas Farmer reported.

Cargill will work with Plug and Play to help startups become successful food and agriculture businesses, with the aim of setting Topeka as a prime location in the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor.

Katrin Bridges, senior vice president of innovation for Greater Topeka Partnership, says three or four more founding partners will be announced in the coming weeks.

She adds that startups can now apply to join the accelerator programme, expected to launch in September, and 10 startups would make it to the final shortlist.

"We are thrilled to welcome Cargill as the first founding member of the Topeka Animal Health and Agtech focused innovation platform. Cargill has made significant investments in innovation throughout Kansas over the last decade and we are proud to collaborate with this organisation and help shape the future of agriculture for our State," she says.

"Cargill is partnering with Plug and Play to bring together some of the brightest minds and boldest ideas in agriculture and protein production," says Rob Stewart, president of growth ventures and emerging markets in Cargill's North America protein business. "Together we will leverage our unique expertise to help new companies across the food supply chain identify market opportunities, attract customers and accelerate growth."

There are no geographic restrictions for applicants. Bridges says the goal is to match startups with resources that can help them use the three-month accelerator programme to scale their technology. The accelerator will provide mentorship, resources and office space. There is a 70% average success rate for companies that go through a Plug and Play accelerator programme, measured in follow-on capital raised.

"Our goal is to see at least one or two of each cohort of startups become established in Topeka, but we will also work with partner communities in the Animal Health Corridor if Topeka initially cannot meet all their needs," Bridges says. "Some of them will do pilot programs with the corporate partner, with the goal to have either a supplier-customer relationship or to attract investments from the corporate partners or venture funds.

Some could even be an acquisition target for the corporate partner. The idea is to create wins for everybody."

Companies and startups interested in Plug and Play's Animal Health and Agtechprogramme in Topeka can apply online at: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/join/