Today, Landus and DEFENSEWERX- the world?s largest innovation ecosystem intermediary serving the nation?s leading national security, defense, and intelligence communities- announced the launch of LANDWERX, a first-of-its-kind ag innovation hub and the latest addition to the DEFENSEWERX network. That means farmers throughout Iowa and the Midwest will soon have access to a new producer-focused approach to ag innovation that will deliver in-demand solutions directly to operators themselves and help to ensure the nation?s food and national security. Landus President and CEO Matt Carstens said this a rare and unique partnership between two industries.
Unlike other ag innovations, Carstens said that LANDWERX will bring solutions directly to farmers and keep them at the center of innovation.
The LANDWERX innovation hub, based out of the Landus Innovation Connector in Des Moines, will open new doors to civilian innovation, granting farmers unprecedented access to problem solvers and solutions within the DEFENSEWERX ecosystem, and bringing together nontraditional collaborators to more rapidly address the biggest on-farm challenges. Although it may seem like Landus and DEFENSEWERX have many differences on the surface, Carstens said they are both ultimately focused on serving their operators.
Since 2012, DEFENSEWERX has been trusted to deliver its proven impact-focused processes and help partners leverage the most expansive innovator network curated for national security, defense, and intelligence. The firm?s government partners have developed or accessed countless innovative solutions addressing the most pressing issues facing soldiers and front-line operators in organizations such as U.S. Special Operations Forces, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Central Intelligence Agency, among others. Landus, Iowa?s largest farmer-owned cooperative, has now become its first non-government innovation hub partner. Brad Chedister, chief technology and innovation officer of DEFENSEWERX, will serve LANDWERX as principal innovation advisor, bringing almost 20 years of military engineering, research, and technical expertise to the logistical center of food and fuel production in the United States.
Chedister also asked farmers and other ag leaders to get involved in the process of ag innovation.
For more information or to connect with the innovation ecosystem, visit landwerx.org.
