CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (March 4, 2026) – The 11th annual AgTech Innovation Summit presented by Bayer will take place Tuesday, March 10 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Illinois Conference Center, 111 St. Mary’s Road, Champaign, hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park.
This summit brings together entrepreneurs, corporate innovators, investors, growers, producers and academics at one of the nation’s premier AgTech hubs for fireside chats, panels, award presentations and networking opportunities aimed at advancing the AgTech sector.
The event will feature fireside chats with: Linda Jing, President and CEO of Genective; Mike Graham, Head of Research and Development for the Crop Science division of Bayer; Germán Bollero, Dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences; Kristi Jones, Acting Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture; and Kaiyu Guan, Founder and Executive Chairman of HabiTerre.
Panel topics will address some of the most pressing issues facing the agricultural sector today, including Sustainable Aviation Fuel, the Future of Ag and AI in AgTech.
Two award presentations will recognize innovation across the agricultural sector. The Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism is awarded to an innovative grower or producer, and the Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Award recognizes a startup company based at the EnterpriseWorks incubator.
For the second year, the summit will host the Startup World Cup: Agriculture and Food Regional, featuring 10 startup finalists from across the country competing for a chance to advance to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in November, where finalists compete for a $1 million investment prize.
The event also includes a lunchtime University Showcase connecting external partners with university resources, a Tech Showcase and a Networking Reception following the conclusion of the AgTech Summit.
A full agenda can be found here.
The AgTech Innovation Summit is sponsored by Bayer, John Deere, AGCO, the University of Illinois College of ACES, the University of Illinois Foundation, Pixo, the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Champaign County Farm Bureau, Serra Ventures, J.P. Morgan, the Levenick Center for a Climate-Smart Circular Bioeconomy and Farm Credit Illinois.
The AgTech Summit is the cornerstone event of Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week. Find all events here.
For more information about the AgTech Summit and press opportunities, contact Laura Bleill.
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