Clean resumes. Companies with strong values. Transparency and communication. These are a few things running through the minds of gen-z talent as they search for internships or early-career opportunities. This week, Gerry Dick from Inside INdiana Business is joined by Field Atlas Ambassadors - Baylee Dwenger from Hanover College and Sriya Nagubani of Purdue University for a panel episode about agbioscience, challenges in their search and what they look for in companies while on the job hunt.

Happy Earth Week! Sustainability continues to be a critical focus in agbioscience and the industry’s job market is proof of that. On a broad scale, the fastest growing “green jobs” in the United States include EHS (Environmental, Health and Safety) Specialists and Engineers, Agronomists, Foresters and more. To learn more about these opportunities, click the Career Profiles section at the top of this page.

Companies and institutions around the globe are applying a critical lens to their Carbon footprint and its impact on our planet. Ag+bio+sci is no different and farmers have longstanding practices that support sustainability while feeding the world. For industries that cannot reduce their emissions or sequester Carbon, though, an offset market has been developed. That means farmers can now sell Carbon credits and emitters can purchase them to offset their negative impact on the environment.

The food system - from farming to transportation and disposal - accounts for 1/5 of greenhouses gases and 1/3 of global emissions. With opportunities to mitigate this footprint through sustainable practices like no-till and cover cropping, farmers are able to sequester Carbon in their soil and sell credits to companies working in Carbon markets. As these markets gain popularity, it is urgent that agriculture and the climate community collaborate in order to create a marketplace that creates a true environmental impact.

No one is in a hurry to re-live the thick of COVID-19 or even think about another pandemic. However, it's critical we be prepared for the future. Look no further than modern farming! When facing zoonotic diseases, assessing the management of livestock health on farms can provide key insights. Scaling up an emphasis on animal health in other countries can go a long way towards preventing other pandemics from occurring in the future.

California's grape crop is valued at nearly $6 billion annually, yet fewer people are working in the industry than once before. Robots to the rescue! Research shows that mechanically maintained crops come out tasting better. Through the use of robots to harvest grapes, labor overhead has gone down, production has gone up and - might we say - the wine is tasting better.

Moleaer has already grown plants in outer space. Now the company has raised $9 million to advance nanobubble technology, extremely tiny bubbles that increase oxygen levels in water. Why, you ask? Great question. Nanobubbles can disinfect surfaces, destroy algae and reduce the presence of pathogens in our water supply. It also reduces the chemical consumption for produced water treatment, bettering water quality and making our food supply more sustainable.

Food security continues to be a critical issue globally; but with the help of technology, many have been saved from starvation. Data analytics and AI-backed crop intelligence is the latest innovation to help farmers improve crop yield through more precise decision-making. With the use of quantum computing, we are even closer to tackling the issue of food insecurity.

A Purdue University-based agbioscience startup is bringing its research-grade sensing data to market. GRYFN uses an unmanned aerial vehicle platform with a coaligned sensor package to collect data on phenotyping and other applications farmers can use in their operation. As part of its continued work in 2021, GRYFN is focused on infrared hyperspectral technologies.

To combat global hunger, we must examine all factors that create the problem. In the United States, 40% of food produced never gets eaten. When you consider 50 million Americans struggle with hunger, tackling this challenge is a great place to start. Grocery chain, Kroger, is reaching for this low-hanging fruit (pun intended) by investing in startups that can help solve food waste issues.

Agbioscience startups recorded nearly $31 billion in investments in 2020. The percentage of that total belonging to women? None. Nada. Zero. Introducing the Women in AgTech Directory, a listing designed to highlight the names and social media platforms of female founders and leaders in agtech.

In a market that's expected to reach $450 billion in value, it's safe to say the coffee craze is real. So what would you do if you never had to taste a bad cup of coffee again? Aritifical Intelligence (AI) and java collide at Demetria, a Columbia-based startup, that has the first data cloud to identify and track coffee quality with complete traceability.

The agbiosciences and allied industries account for roughly 50 percent of India’s workforce, but persistent challenges have limited workers’ abilities to stay financially afloat. With data science already being an integral part of the country’s banking and healthcare industries, it’s an actionable way for India’s farmers to make informed decision and enhance their profitability.

Growing crops in the ocean? This concept could become reality as the agbioscience sector looks for innovative ways to grow more food with less resources. Seaweed, ocean vegetables, underwater fruits and flowers and the addition of breakthrough technologies could help in the fight towards climate change while providing an abundant food supply and restoring the health of our oceans.

By now you've heard that crickets are a great source of protein, right? While you might not be quick to add them to your grocery list, perhaps you should consider them for your furry friends. Dog food makers are creating recipes that opt for the use of crickets in lieu of meat, creating a more sustainable and protein-friendly alternative.

Ellie Symes took her passion for beekeeping in college and turned it into a fast-growing agtech startup, The Bee Corp, a platform that develops solutions for commercial pollination. As an entrepreneur and CEO of the company, Ellie sees room for growth in this space and welcomes more passionate beekeepers who want to preserve the planet and stabilize our food supply.

A New Jersey warehouse is home to Bowery Farming, a 21st-century vertical operation that grows food year-round - regardless of weather - while using 95% less water. Setting out to solve major problems relating to climate change, the company is hoping to change the approach of growing food for urban populations by controlling the environment in which they are grown.

Robot's don't take sick days, and in areas of persistent labor shortages they may make way for a new era of automation. Robotics already play a role in the planting and maintenance of crops. Now the industry is working toward a scalable, cost-efficient robotic model for harvesting. New technology is being developed to pick even the most bruisable of crops by emulating the human grip.

While the COVID-19 pandemic may have slowed other industries, the agbiosciences are hard at work solving pressing issues brought to light by the virus. How do we repair a broken food system and use innovation for the nutritional betterment of people to prevent diet-related vulnerabilities to the virus? Innovation in agtech is thriving and so is investment. Will our food systems change?

Artificial Inteligence (AI) is becoming a vital function of agricultural operations. Recent innovations now allow us to holistically track issues in the field, from irrigation to nutrients and pests. Seeing how COVID-19 has affected our food supply means that agtech is more important now than ever. Our supply chain is fragile and this is one powerful step toward mitigating risk.

While some companies are talking about their environmental impact, Indianapolis-based Corteva is taking action and making an impactful difference on our planet. The company has announced their 10-year plan to advance sustainability throughout the global food system and everyone is accountable - from employees and company operations to farmers and the communities they serve.

The agbioscience sector is always innovating and solutions on the market this year aim to increase productivity, sustainability and scalability for farms of all sizes. From smart sensors to self-driving tractors, these technologies help farmers step up to feed a growing population.