Innovation is at work across America’s Cultivation Corridor, with entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes investing and advancing ideas to improve productivity, efficiency and sustainability of agriculture.
“The pathway to an abundant and affordable supplies of food and energy is through agricultural innovation and productivity, and there is no better place to locate a new business or grow existing operations than Iowa,” said Billi Hunt, executive director of America’s Cultivation Corridor. “Whether it is bringing a new idea to life, taking a family-owned or regional business to the next level, or expansion of a global leader, the resources and expertise are here to make it happen.”
While uncertainty in the economy and marketplaces have an impact on businesses of all sizes, a focus on constant improvement for agriculture, food and renewable energy production and the development of new technologies are still critical to the sector, said Hunt.
Italian manufacturer A.D.R Axles USA, Inc., Affiliate of A.D.R. S.p.A recently announced plans to establish its North American headquarters with the construction of a 54,000-square-foot fabrication and assembly facility located on the certified site within the Perry Industrial Park.
Funding opportunities for entrepreneurs and startups
In January, Next Level Ventures announced its Next Level Ventures Fund 3 that will be dedicated to investing in Iowa startups.
The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and Genvax Technologies are investing into a Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant to develop an H5N1 vaccine for dairy cows. Genvax also closed a Series Seed Plus funding round to accelerate the company’s path toward USDA approval of its vaccines, enabling rapid response to foreign animal disease outbreaks and improving livestock health and profitability.
Ag Startup Engine launched an Early Stage Cultivator Grant Program to provide the boost necessary for food and ag startups to move ideas forward.
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is investing in programs to increase local food production and processing and boost vitality of rural communities, including awarding 15 Choose Iowa Dairy innovation grants and 33 Choose Iowa value-added grants in 2025.
Expansion and construction plans across the state
John Deere has installed 5G technology in its Waterloo Works plant, developing the expertise to build, install and manage private cellular networks to enhance manufacturing. In fact, John Deere invests roughly $2.5M per day in research and development (R&D), half of that is invested in Iowa.
Sukup Manufacturing Co., the world’s largest family-owned and operated manufacturer of grain storage, drying, and handling equipment, has expanded its presence in Ames with a larger space in the ISU Research Park.
In Ankeny, Mrs. Clark’s Foods plans to construct a 90,000-square-foot building and purchase new equipment to accommodate an additional line for its liquid food processing lines, representing a $25.7 million capital investment.
KENT Corporation, a worldwide manufacturer and marketer of food, beverage, ingredients and pet care brands, continues to progress on its new litter plant in Muscatine, Iowa as announced in 2023. The new facility is expected to open later this fall and will expand production capacity of the family company's World's Best Cat Litter brand.
Ingredion, an ingredients solution company that makes sweeteners, starches, nutrition ingredients and biomaterials used in everyday products, plans to construct a new 9,000-square-foot facility in Cedar Rapids with electrical upgrades and additional equipment for a corn starch dryer, storage and bulk loading process that will serve to meet the growing demand for plant-based products. The project represents a $47 million capital investment.
Frontier Natural Products Co-op in Belle Plaine is a cooperatively owned wholesaler of natural and organic herbs, spices and essential oil products that will expand with the construction of a 90,000-square-foot $30 million facility for additional production and warehouse capacity to support continued growth, including service to larger multinational retail corporations.
Peoples Co. launched a corporate services division to assist owners with large, diverse agricultural portfolios. Since launching, the new division has served multinational corporations on land deals to build, site or liquidate major data centers, renewable energy projects, warehouses, and commercial buildings.
Students, faculty and alumni of Iowa State University are also advancing startup businesses, including Rise Energy, Upcycling +, Bovi-Jet and more. Read the Innovation at Work series for details.
Prairie and wetland restoration
Corteva Agriscience has joined forces with Polk County, the Great Outdoors Foundation, IDALS Water Quality Initiative, Polk Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority (WMA) and Boone SWCD, restoring a native prairie, constructing wetlands, and making floodplain improvements on Corteva’s 1,100-acre global business center along Beaver Creek in Johnston, Iowa. This initiative aims to treat both urban and agricultural drainage, enhancing local water quality and supporting native habitats.
Published April 2025.