Our membership consistently ranks this event--along with our excellent advocacy efforts--as one of the top reasons they are members of IowaBio. To those of you who have attended each year, I want to thank you for your support and participation. For those of you who have never made it, I urge you to be there this year to be a part of the conversation.

The 2025 theme thoughtfully selected by our IBSC Steering Committee—the dedicated group of members lead by our Board Chair Emily Fuerst of Kemin—is “Nurturing Iowa’s Biotech Ecosystem.” The enthusiasm around this theme has been palpable, among our membership.

Agenda highlights are almost too numerous to mention, but Kemin will host our kickoff with opening words from CEO Dr. Chris Nelson and tours of their amazing headquarters in Des Moines. This portion is capped and nearly full already! Day two will kick off with the ever-popular Showcase Pitch Competition, where eight companies will compete for a $10,000 prize and a chance at a $25,000 investment from the Ag Startup Engine.

Iowa Economic Development Authority/Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham will be our policy keynote speaker, and the rest of our content will stir interaction, thought, and conversation about the status and future of our biotech ecosystem.

The opportunities for networking also abound, and to me, that’s the part I love the most—seeing our members meet and connect.

Please, join us to share in the experience March 4-5 at the FFA Enrichment Center!