Corteva Agriscience brings a global presence, deep knowledge, and diverse resources so that farms can flourish. Corteva is building their portfolio around the world as an innovator in agriculture. As the sponsor of this year’s Indianapolis-Make48 event, they have collaborated with the United Way of Central Indiana and determined the challenge theme to be Food at the Right Place at the Right Time.
Food security, at its core, means having access to healthy food and optimal nutrition at all times. This means consumption of food, distribution, process and production. Over 700M+ faced hunger in 2020 and nearly 1 in 3 people in the world did not have access to adequate food in 2020, an increase of 320 million people in just one year. [UN.org]
Dr. Ronda Hamm, Global Academic Relations Leader at Corteva Agriscience, had a hand in bringing the 48-hour challenge to Fishers Maker Playground. Dr. Hamm spoke to our team on the importance of the challenge theme and bringing food innovation to the forefront.
M48: Why did you decide to participate as the Indianapolis-Make48 Challenge Sponsor this year?
Dr. Hamm: Corteva Agriscience believes that innovation is a key to solving some of the most complex challenges facing the world today. Food security is one of those challenges. We will be required to feed more people than ever before, preferably on the same amount of land using less water. We constantly innovate to create solutions and want to share in the excitement of creating a solution that can be put to use in communities around the country and world.
M48: How did you come up with the challenge theme and why is it an important issue to your company?
Dr. Hamm: Corteva Agriscience is intimately involved in the food and agriculture industry. We wanted a challenge that would ensure that the products produced by farmers end up on a plate where it is needed versus a landfill. We also know that there are too many in our community that do not have access to healthy nutritious foods. This challenge brings all that together to find solutions.
M48: How is The United Way of Central Indiana playing a role in the upcoming event?
Dr. Hamm: The United Way of Central Indiana has been a key collaborator for Corteva Agriscience for many years. We’re proud to partner with them in the work they do to meet the needs of individuals and families living in or near poverty. We worked together to identify areas of greatest need that this Make48 competition could impact. The insights from United Way allowed us to develop a challenge that could change lives in our community.
M48: How is your company bringing innovation to the forefront?
Dr. Hamm: Corteva Agriscience uses innovation to help produce the food the world needs. The world population is growing, and we need innovation to ensure that food resources can keep up with that growth. Innovation is integrated in our globally diverse mix of seed, crop protection, and digital products and services.
M48: What are you and your team excited about for this upcoming event?
Dr. Hamm: We are eager to see what the teams create in only 48 hours to address food security for areas considered ‘food deserts.’ We’re excited to meet the talented members of the teams who are participating and empowering them to make a difference in their community.
To learn more about the Corteva Agriscience competition this year visit https://www.make48.com/indianapolis
Make48 is a nationwide invention-competition docuseries that gives teams a challenge at the start of a two-day event. With just 48 hours, teams must create a prototype, promotional video, sales sheet, and present their idea to a panel of judges. The teams have access to a makerspace and numerous Tool Techs that can make almost anything. Teams receive a hint about the challenge theme, but specific details are revealed at the start of each competition, allowing everyone to have a level playing field and the chance to win.
Fishers Maker Playground in Fishers, Indiana will host the Make48 event, scheduled for September 9-11, 2022. A 15,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art, public makespace located in west Fishers, Indiana, just off the Nickel Plate Trail. Fishers Maker Playground offers a space of tools, technology, and arts and encourages imagination, curiosity, engineering, building and more. The Maker Playground features several zones throughout the space for those to tinker and create, including a community workshop. At the Maker Playground, members and visitors will find a wood shop, welding and metal shop, CNC routers, 3D printer, laser cutters, computers, and supplies to cut, form and create. Complementing this space are three classrooms with S.T.E.A.M. experiential learning, and a large gathering and collaboration space.
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