Over the last two years, AgNext has brought together a team of world-renowned experts, developed a state-of-the-art research facility, shared our research with policymakers, hosted high-profile events, and presented our research to thousands around the world. All of our accomplishments have helped us get closer to our goal of advancing the science of animal agriculture to ensure a continued safe, secure, and nutritious food supply.

This year, AgNext hired six world-renowned experts in animal agriculture to join our team. These researchers are working collaboratively with Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson toward generating sustainable solutions for animal agriculture and elevating the research done at AgNext. We are looking forward to what AgNext will be able to achieve with this additional support.

AgNext received more than $1 million in donated equipment from Five Rivers Cattle, Midwest PMS, C-Lock Inc., and a cash gift from Rabo AgriFinance to develop the Climate-Smart Research Facility at the Agricultural Research, Development, and Education Center. This facility is the largest university research facility dedicated to climate-smart research in the country. This new facility is equipped with the best emissions measurement technology to evaluate greenhouse gasses from cattle in a feedlot and grazing setting. This new research facility will be integral to AgNext’s research.

AgNext is working on a number of concurrent research studies. What sets AgNext apart from other research groups is the collaborative nature of our research between faculty and students. Currently, AgNext is working on research projects with USDA-ARS, Merck Animal Health, Tyson Foods, the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, and the American Hereford Project. We look forward to sharing results from these various research projects in the coming months. 

In AgNext’s short tenure, we have had the opportunity to host a number of high-profile events. We are proud to have hosted policymakers at ARDEC to teach them about our new climate-smart research facility. These policymakers include State Representative Andrew Boesnecker, Senator John Hickenlooper, Senator Michael Bennet, and Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Agency Janet McCabe. Last December, we hosted our first AgNext Research Summit where 150 attendees – representing 90% of cattle on feed – came to discuss innovative research avenues. This event was so successful that AgNext is already making arrangements for it to be an annual event. Additionally, AgNext hosts the Beef Alliance board meeting each quarter. We also hosted the Beef Alliance Startup Challenge at Canvas Stadium this fall where agriculture start-ups presented to the Beef Alliance with the winning start-up earning $50,000 to help accelerate their business.

In addition to high-profile events, AgNext has been on the road sharing our innovative research. Over the past two years, AgNext has presented for over 100 industry partners, trade groups, NGO’s, State livestock associations, conferences, and classrooms. With our growing team, we are looking forward to presenting at even more events in the future.

AgNext has been featured in over 30 publications including a number of high-profile publications such as Food Business News, The Denver Post, The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, and National Geographic. In these articles, AgNext has been featured as a one-of-a-kind research collaborative focused on sustainable solutions for animal agriculture. 

The future is bright for AgNext with a team of experts, a world-class facility, and a foundation of industry connections. We look forward to sharing more of our accomplishments in the near future.