St. Louis is one of the world's leading AgTech innovation centers. For Riley Consulting clients, that geography is a working asset — warm introductions, regulatory proximity, and real-time market intelligence.
The density of the St. Louis AgTech ecosystem is built, not accidental. Decades of investment in research infrastructure, venture building, and corporate presence have made the region the gravitational center of North American ag innovation.
Within a short drive of 39 North you'll find the global headquarters of Bayer Crop Science, one of the world's top plant science research institutions, active AgTech venture builders, and dedicated ag and food tech VCs — all alongside two major research universities feeding talent into the system.
Even more importantly: eighty percent of the US corn and soy production base sits within five hundred miles. The farms that decide whether new technology succeeds are close enough to visit on a weekday.
These are the neighbors — not distant contacts. Active working relationships are part of how Riley Consulting engagements get done.
Being embedded here isn't a marketing line. It's what makes day one productive.
Decades of relationships open doors with investors, corporates, co-ops, and ecosystem players that cold outreach never could. Two degrees of separation from virtually every relevant Midwest ag player.
Proximity to USDA, EPA, and state regulatory networks that matter for ag biotech and crop protection. The people who decide whether your technology can be sold.
On-the-ground intelligence from an active ecosystem — what's being funded, who's hiring, what problems are being solved, and where the next wave of opportunity is building.
No ramp-up. I already know the players, the history, and the context from decades of active participation. Day one of your engagement, I'm already in the room.
My practice is built around direct, senior engagement — you work with me. But agriculture is a broad discipline, and some commercialization problems span areas beyond any single advisor's focus.
For engagements that require broader coverage — ag communications, policy and government relations, brand storytelling, economics, or other specialized domains — I collaborate with a small group of senior independent practitioners across the St. Louis ecosystem. All seasoned operators with 20+ years of hands-on experience. One point of contact, broader coverage when the scope calls for it.
When a client need extends beyond my direct focus areas, I'll tell you. We can either scope the engagement to what I do best, or I can bring in a trusted collaborator — with transparency on who does what and how fees are structured. Nothing opaque.
If you're building AgTech, entering a new Midwest channel, or evaluating a trait or technology — the ecosystem can accelerate you. Start with a conversation.
Send a message →No commitment. No pitch. Just a conversation.