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Future of Agrifood - Turning Insight into Impact for Winning Value Propositions

Unlock the Future of Agrifood Innovation at
The DIAL Ventures Innovation Studio

🌱 Future of Agrifood - Turning Insight into Impact for Winning Value Propositions

‍📅 October 15–16, 2025

‍📍 Purdue University Campus, Beck Agricultural Center, 4550 US 52 West, West Lafayette, IN 47906

This exclusive, invite-only workshop brings together senior leaders across the agrifood value chain to collaborate on developing innovation opportunity areas that address the current and future demands of U.S. consumers. Using DIAL Ventures’ proven startup sprint methodology, you’ll engage in hands-on, collaborative sessions that transform emerging insights into strategic pathways for innovation growth within your own company.

Designed for leaders ready to drive real change, this session provides a unique opportunity to uncover future food demands, collectively explore innovation trends, and shape actionable strategies that enhance efficiency, unlock growth, and prepare for the evolving marketplace.

By the end of the workshop, you will have tangible, actionable insights and a shared innovation toolkit that can be immediately implemented to propel your business forward. This is not just an opportunity to learn, but a chance to shape the future of agrifood with strategic, impactful outcomes.

Interested in attending? This invite-only workshop has limited capacity.

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This invite-only workshop has limited capacity. Be the first to know when registration goes live.

Contact Donna Steele at steeledl@purdue.edu for more information.

What you’ll gain:

  • Collaborative identification of innovation value opportunities that align with your customers
  • Insights into applying DIAL Ventures’ startup sprint methodology to drive your own internal innovation processes
  • Exposure to cutting-edge trends that are shaping the future of food and agriculture
  • Tools to translate consumer insights into strategic action, guiding R&D and innovation efforts across your organization
  • Direct access to Purdue’s leading faculty and thought leaders in agrifood innovation
  • An exclusive environment fostering connections with key decision-makers across the agrifood value chain
  • Opportunities to engage with customers of your customers and suppliers of your suppliers
  • Peer-driven collaboration and benchmarking, sparking creativity and strategic alignment

Who This Is For — and What You’ll Get Out of It

Agricultural Input Manufacturers (Fertilizer, crop protection, seed, animal health, equipment)

Reasons to Attend: Translate consumer and farmer market shifts into upstream product design and go-to-market plans. Gain direct insights from food manufacturers and farmers to better align R&D investments. Identify cross-sector partnerships for integrated solutions.

Why This Matters: Product innovation cycles in inputs are long and expensive. Understanding demand drivers early—before investing millions in development—reduces risk, accelerates ROI, and strengthens competitive advantage in a tightening market.

Input Distributors (Retailers, co-ops, wholesalers, equipment dealers)

Reasons to Attend: Learn how evolving food and farm trends will change what your customers need—and when they need it. Build value propositions that go beyond price, positioning your business as a trusted advisor. Connect with upstream and downstream partners to secure preferred supplier status.

Why This Matter: Margins in distribution are under pressure. Offering solutions that are demand-driven and future-proofed builds loyalty, deepens accounts, and helps you capture wallet share before competitors react.

Farming Operations (Mid- to large-scale growers, integrated livestock operations)

Reasons to Attend: Hear how major food companies are thinking about their supply chains and product requirements. Explore how macro drivers like consolidation, geopolitical risk, and environmental accountability impact your farm strategy. Identify opportunities to differentiate your production and capture premium markets.

Why This Matters: Farms that anticipate market shifts—from input needs to contract specs—are better positioned for profitability and resilience. This is a chance to get ahead of changes rather than react after margins are squeezed.

Agricultural Product Processors & Handlers (Grain elevators, feed manufacturers, soybean processors, ethanol plants)

Reasons to Attend: Understand how consumer and farmer drivers translate into handling, storage, and processing requirements. Explore innovations that add value and reduce waste in your operations. Network with supply chain partners to co-develop new offerings.

Why This Matters: Processors sit at the nexus of supply and demand. Anticipating shifts lets you adapt infrastructure, secure strategic contracts, and develop new service lines before market dynamics force change.

Food Manufacturers (CPG, branded and private label food companies)

Reasons to Attend: Hear directly from farmers about what’s realistic and what’s aspirational in sourcing and production. Test your innovation ideas with real-time feedback from upstream supply partners. Build supplier relationships that can accelerate product launches and scale.

Why This Matters: Product success hinges on the alignment of consumer demand with feasible sourcing and production. Engaging directly with the upstream value chain ensures you can deliver on promises—faster and with fewer surprises.

Support Services (Finance, consulting, advocacy, technology providers)

Reasons to Attend: Gain a full-spectrum view of the agrifood system to better advise, finance, or represent your clients and members. Identify market drivers that will shape investment thesis, client strategies, and policy priorities. Build cross-sector networks that strengthen your value proposition.

Why This Matters: Trusted advisors win when they see the whole chessboard. Understanding interconnected drivers across consumers, manufacturers, farmers, and supply chains positions you as a more strategic and indispensable partner.