MEDP along with Local Partners Host Agriculture focused Pub Talk In McMinnville on June 23, 2021

(MCMINNVILLE, OR) MEDP, SEDCOR, Buildable and Launch Mid-Valley have partnered to bring an exciting conversation surrounding innovation and technology in agriculture to McMinnville, OR. This informal Pub Talk, taking place from 5-7 PM at Foreland Beer on June 23rd, will feature updates on the Northwest Ag Innovation Hub from Alex Paraskevas, an in-depth look at bio-diversity from Pat Crowley, the founder and CEO of Chapul Farms, and Miles Oliveira will be sharing an exciting update from Buildable on Enterprise Resource Planning for the Ag industry.

Alex Paraskevas is the Polk County Business Retention and Expansion Manager at the Strategic Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR), serving businesses and communities as a strategist, connector, and partner. As a nonprofit regional economic development organization, SEDCOR serves Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties and works with businesses to make sure they’re happy, healthy, and growing. Alex serves on a variety of boards and advisory committees including Oregon State University’s Extension Citizens Advisory Network; the city of Independence Planning Commission; Indy Idea Hub and soon starts a three-year term on the Oregon Beef Council.

Pat Crowley is founder and CEO of Chapul Farms, building and scaling modular insect farms. His diverse career path has had a singular focus of ensuring the food and water availability to future generations, with previous positions as a climate modeler, hydrologist, and agronomist for state and federal agencies. He founded Chapul (the first edible cricket protein company in the US) in 2012 as a way to create a pull-through demand for the growth of the insect agriculture industry. This path led him to an appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank, securing an investment from Mark Cuban, into a brand that reached national distribution as the first of its kind. Addressing today’s growth needs of the industry, Chapul Farms’ mission is to increase biodiversity within agriculture, leveraging insects as a gateway to beneficial microbial ecosystems that are essential to regenerative farming, and most terrestrial ecosystems on the planet. More information can be found at chapulfarms.com/

Miles Oliveira is the Business Development Manager for Buildable, a Custom Software Development firm based in McMinnville, Oregon. He is passionate about solving problems through technology enablement for companies large and small. He is always looking for new ways to solve problems, new technologies to implement, and the next big idea that leads to the best return on investment for his clients.

“We are excited to hear from these local and regional partners and learn more about what’s next in agriculture, and how our local companies are helping to setting the pace in tech and innovation in the Ag industry” says Heather Hadley Blank the Interim Executive Director of the McMinnville Economic Development Partnership (MEDP). “One of our strategic goals for 2021 and beyond is Innovation Development, and we are looking forward to seeing a wide range of business ideas and connections come to life during this event.”

This event is free and open to the public, but due to Covid-19 and County guidelines we are asking that attendees RSVP at the following link so we can get an accurate headcount. https://medp-pubtalk-innovation-in-ag.eventbrite.com

Pub Talk: Innovation in Agriculture

Wednesday, June 23rd

5-7PM

Foreland Beer

777 SE 4th Street.

McMinnville, OR 97128

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About MEDP: The Partnership includes the City of McMinnville, McMinnville Water & Light, McMinnville Industrial Promotions, the McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce, and area businesses. To learn more about the McMinnville Economic Development Partnership, visit www.McMinnvilleBusiness.com or find us at facebook.com/McMinnvilleBusiness.

LAUNCH Mid-Valley is a regional collaborative unearthing innovative resources to help launch startups and support growth businesses. The LAUNCH Mid-Valley partners are Marion, Polk, & Yamhill Counties, City of Dallas, City of Independence, City of Newberg, City of Salem, City of Woodburn, Chemeketa Small Business Development Center (SBDC), McMinnville Economic Development Partnership (MEDP), and SEDCOR.

About SEDCOR: The Strategic Economic Development Corporation SEDCOR supports the Willamette Valley's most unique and vital industry so that families, communities, and cities all over our region can thrive. We work with local governments and state agencies to attract businesses to and keep business in our region who will provide good jobs and stable tax revenue for decades. www.sedcor.com