An event starting Monday at the Danforth Plant Science Center is looking to match up investors with emerging agricultural technology companies from across the globe.
The third annual Ag Innovation Showcase will draw international venture capitalists and corporate agricultural investors like Monsanto, Syngenta and Dupont.
Showcase organizer Mark Gorski says sixteen agricultural start-ups from the Netherlands, India, and a number of other countries will be vying for their attention.
“We're really trying to foster innovation and the funding of innovation through this conference by providing a stage for these high quality young companies to these potential investors,” Gorski said.
The young companies will present business plans for producing everything from genetically modified biofuels to high tech agricultural sensors.
“It's all about feeding the world more effectively and utilizing renewable sources of energy, versus the fossil fuels types of energy we currently utilize primarily,” Gorski said.
Gorski says the conference will also feature presentations by ag industry leaders, and panel discussions on global agro-economic trends and new frontiers in agricultural research.
About 300 agricultural industry representatives are expected to attend this year's event.