IBI Ag to Establish Headquarters in Indiana

IBI-Ag, a company developing next-generation biological insecticides, will establish its North American headquarters in Indiana, Gov. Mike Braun announced Wednesday. The move makes IBI Ag the first Israeli company to establish Indiana operations through the new Iron Nation–Indiana initiative and could give Indiana farmers a front-row seat to emerging biological crop-protection technologies.

The company is developing bioinsecticides designed to provide alternatives to conventional chemical insecticides. Its technology combines validated biological targets, protein engineering and artificial intelligence-driven protein design to develop highly targeted products with new modes of action.

New biological insecticides could eventually give growers additional tools for managing insect pests, particularly as concerns grow over resistance to existing chemistries, the need for more targeted pest control and pressure to improve the environmental profile of crop-production systems.

But those benefits remain on the horizon. IBI Ag’s products still must move through field development, regulatory review and the U.S. registration process before they can be commercially available to growers.

That makes the company’s decision to locate its North American headquarters in Indiana particularly important.

IBI Ag plans to use its Indiana operation as the hub for U.S. field trials and product development, regulatory activities, strategic partnerships, market development and preparations for commercialization.

As IBI Ag develops its products for the U.S. market, Indiana farmers and agricultural organizations could become increasingly involved in field development and evaluation. The company’s plans call for collaboration with Indiana research institutions and agricultural organizations as its products move through the development and regulatory process.

The company already has a relationship with Indianapolis-based Corteva Agriscience, providing an established connection to one of the world’s largest agricultural technology companies.

IBI Ag has also hired Indiana-based Tenton Lindeman as its chief operating officer.

IBI Ag’s arrival is the first tangible result of Iron Nation–Indiana, a $60 million-plus initiative launched in April to connect Indiana with Israel’s technology ecosystem.

The initiative includes a $15 million investment from the State of Indiana and more than $30 million committed through the Iron Nation partnership. The goal is to attract high-growth Israeli technology companies to establish U.S. operations in Indiana while connecting those companies with the state’s corporations, universities, research institutions and other economic assets.

The full article was publiced by Hoosier Ag Today.