In a major move to accelerate innovation within agricultural finance, American AgCredit (AAC), Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica), Frontier Farm Credit, AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit East, and CoBank have partnered with global innovation platform Plug and Play to launch Seed4Growth, a new cross-sector innovation initiative. This collaborative program is designed to bridge the gap between agriculture and financial services, while spotlighting cutting-edge digital solutions shaping the industry.
Seed4Growth will serve as a strategic conduit for emerging technologies, providing participating institutions with early access to transformative innovations that enhance productivity, efficiency, and long-term sustainability across the agri-finance ecosystem.
“We are thrilled to expand our partnership and launch the Seed4Growth program. This initiative will drive innovation and collaboration, ultimately benefiting the agricultural community,” said Mark Jensen, Chief Executive Officer, AgCountry, FCSAmerica, Frontier Farm Credit.
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Krista McDonald, EVP Chief Strategy Officer, AgCountry, FCSAmerica, Frontier Farm Credit added, “We are excited to be a part of the Seed4Growth program that is evolving the Farm Credit innovation ecosystem in a collaborative way. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to working together to become more future-focused.”
Driving Impact Across the Ag-Finance Landscape
The strategic expansion of relationships within the Farm Credit System and with Plug and Play is already yielding promising results. By fostering collaboration and driving engagement with startups and technology pioneers, Seed4Growth enables participants to stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing digital environment.
“The collaboration provides significant insights into technological disruptions, helping us gain direct insights into the investment and commercialization of emerging technology. Plug and Play facilitates the comprehension of next-generation advancements in technology and innovation that are critical to the core business of Farm Credit organizations. The introduction of Seed4Growth will drive a better future for the entire System,” said Alp Basol, Head of Innovation and Center of Excellence at CoBank.
“Working with Plug and Play has been eye-opening for our organization. The expertise offered in tech scouting and the ability to connect us with external innovators who operate at the speed of disruptors has meaningfully informed our innovation journey. Plug and Play’s proactive approach and deep industry insights have been instrumental in enhancing our strategic vision,” said Mike Lancaster, Chief Customer Value Officer at American AgCredit.