Leadership insights from Billi Hunt, executive director of America's Cultivation Corridor
Iowa has long been recognized as an agricultural powerhouse. From plant science to animal science, biorenewables to advanced manufacturing, food processing to digital agriculture, you will find the people and organizations leading the way right here. However, Iowa’s leadership in global agriculture isn’t just in producing, it is in connecting.
Agriculture here isn’t siloed, it is integrated.
It is just a short drive from a world-class research lab at Iowa State University to a farmer’s field trial or livestock barn, to a processing facility or to the headquarters of a multinational agribusiness. That proximity drives innovation: researchers talk directly with producers; startups test technology in real-world environments; and established companies partner with emerging entrepreneurs to solve shared challenges.
Iowa agriculture competes on a global scale, but locally we collaborate. We heard this from a recent panel discussion of startup leaders, and I’m looking forward to seeing that network expand with the launch of Cultivate 360, a new statewide industry education and professional development program designed for established professionals to deepen their understanding of Iowa’s food and agriculture sector, polish leadership skills and expand professional networks.
We see collaboration happening every day with mentorships, research partnerships and the growing innovation ecosystem. Companies from around the world are choosing Iowa not just for its production capacity, but for our community willing to share knowledge, open doors and solve problems together.
Interested in learning about the opportunities for your company in Iowa? Reach out!
Published February 2026