Agriculture is at a crossroads. With growing demands for food and dwindling resources like arable land, water, and energy, there’s an urgent need to rethink how we produce food. Enter the Regen AgriFood Coalition in the Heartland (ReACH)—a bold initiative bringing together innovators, industry leaders, and farmers to revolutionize regenerative agriculture (regen ag).
ReACH is an initiative aimed at transforming how the AgriFood industry collaborates, innovates, and grows. But what exactly is ReACH, why is it important, and why does it matter so much to St. Louis? Let’s dig in.
The Regen AgriFood Coalition in the Heartland is a groundbreaking collaboration hub dedicated to advancing regenerative agriculture practices. Led by BioSTL, ReACH bridges the gap between startups, established AgriFood companies, and farmers to scale practical innovations that restore soil health, reduce environmental impact, and boost agricultural productivity.
ReACH goes beyond just discussing challenges. Its mission is action-oriented:
Innovator Playbooks: A roadmap for startups and companies to bring regen ag technologies to life.
Industry Partnerships: Connecting global innovators with farmers and AgriFood corporations to test, refine, and scale solutions.
Innovation Test Bed: A real-world proving ground to validate new technologies and ideas on farms and research sites.
With a clear goal to fast-track innovation, ReACH aims to make regenerative agriculture not just a concept, but the standard.
Let’s face it: the AgriFood industry is facing challenges like never before. Diminishing resources, climate change, and increasing consumer demand for sustainable practices make regenerative agriculture an absolute necessity.
Despite these pressures, progress has been slow. Why? Because many companies have tried to tackle these challenges alone. ReACH flips the script by fostering collaboration across the entire agricultural value chain—from farm to fork. And here’s the key: farmers have a seat at the table. Their insights and experience are critical to ensuring that innovations are both practical and impactful.
Through partnerships, ReACH is solving real-world problems faster than any one company could on its own. This coalition is driving progress in a way that could shape the future of agriculture for generations.
Located within a day’s drive of 80% of the country’s corn and soybean crops, the St. Louis region is uniquely positioned to lead the charge in regenerative agriculture. This area is home to some of the largest AgriFood companies in the world, offering nearly $280 billion in annual purchasing power.
But it’s not just proximity to crops that makes St. Louis special. The city boasts an ecosystem like no other. Here are just a handful of organizations unique to our region:
BioGenerator, BioSTL’s startup arm is one of America’s most successful bioscience accelerators. It supports early-stage startups with lab space, investment capital, expert advisors and more.
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, the world’s largest nonprofit plant research institute.
GlobalSTL Since 2014, connecting our region’s ag ecosystem to global innovation from 16 countries.
39 North, an agtech innovation district, connects startups, venture capital, and research organizations to drive innovation.
Taylor Geospatial Institute applies advanced geospatial technology and data analysis to drive ag innovation and enhance resource management.
By hosting the ReACH AgriFood Innovation Summit, St. Louis is cementing its role as the global hub for regenerative agriculture. This is where the future of food is being built—one partnership at a time.
The ReACH AgriFood Innovation Summit brings together cutting-edge startups and global AgriFood companies to tackle the most pressing challenges in regenerative agriculture.
This is where partnerships are formed, innovations are tested, and the future of agriculture takes shape.
ReACH isn’t just important for the AgriFood industry—it’s critical for everyone who eats. By fast-tracking regenerative agriculture, the coalition is building a sustainable food system that can meet global needs while protecting our planet.
Whether you’re a farmer, startup, researcher, or corporate leader, ReACH needs your voice. This is your chance to be part of something transformative.
St. Louis is shaping the future of regenerative agriculture, and you can be part of it. Discover how the Regen AgriFood Coalition in the Heartland is driving innovation, collaboration, and real-world impact in agriculture.
Learn more about ReACH here or register for the ReACH AgriFood Innovation Summit here.
Together, we can grow a better future.
Search
