Last week 39 North hosted a “Meet the Founders” gathering as was part of St. Louis-area wide Startup Week activities. Proceedings were held in the building occupied by NewLeaf Symbiotics across the parking lot from the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, the BioResearch & Development Growth (BRDG) Park, and other Innovation District enterprises.

A lively gathering including networking opportunities as well as guest entrepreneur speakers, Meet the Founders drew participation from both the AgTech and MedTech innovation ecosystems, as well as from local agricultural producers (a cattle ranch). The speakers addressed some developments in renal cancer therapy, the use of plant-based proteins for artificial meat products, and conducting cattle ranching via the techniques of regenerative agriculture.

A common theme was how science is connecting disparate activities, such as the above businesses, to produce better outcomes for producers, consumers, patients, physicians, and the global community. For example, regenerative agriculture promises to make ranching a net carbon sink, with atmospheric carbon being absorbed via healthy soil food webs including plants, animals, fungi, and beneficial bacteria. It will also reduce dependence on expensive chemical inputs, thereby potentially stabilizing rural incomes and making agriculture more resilient to market fluctuations and extreme weather events.

Conversations before and after the speakers reinforced that AgTech and MedTech build on longstanding St. Louis area regional strengths, and will help make our region more prosperous for all who live here.