Pivot Bio CEO Featured at '25 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue

MINNEAPOLIS – Pivot Bio, a global agtech company, was represented this week at the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, part of the 2025 World Food Prize events in Des Moines, Iowa.

Pivot Bio's Chief Executive Officer Chris Abbott joined global thought leaders for the session "Innovating the Future Now," moderated by Isis Almeida, Chicago bureau chief at Bloomberg, alongside others who are redefining the future of food and agriculture, said the company. Abbott is also a featured judge in the inaugural Innovate for Impact Challenge, a new competition that attracted 380 global submissions, with the final three early-stage startups making their final presentations on high-impact solutions to advance food security, said Pivot Bio.

This year's Borlaug Dialogue theme, "SOILutions for Security," underscores a growing global consensus of the importance of soil as a living, dynamic ecosystem vital to food security, climate resilience and economic stability, said Pivot Bio. This year's Borlaug Dialogue recognizes Dr. Mariangela Hungria, senior researcher at the Embrapa National Soybean Center in Brazil, who has been named the 2025 World Food Prize Laureate for her pioneering work in biological nitrogen fixation, said Pivot Bio.

"It's an honor to participate in this year's Borlaug Dialogue and to celebrate leaders driving real, science-based change for farmers and the planet," said Chris Abbott, CEO of Pivot Bio. "I want to extend my warmest congratulations to Dr. Mariangela Hungria, this year's World Food Prize Laureate. Her decades of pioneering research in biological nitrogen fixation have transformed how the world thinks about soil microbiology, empowering farmers and pushing the boundaries of science in service of sustainable food production. We look forward to being in Brazil soon, sharing our technology with growers who are embracing microbial innovation.

Farmers are counting on us all to bring much-needed innovation to agriculture, the world's most important industry. As harvest results come in, we know our products are making a meaningful difference, with improved yields, stronger crops, and more predictable nitrogen performance across diverse climates and regions. Our technology is helping farmers everywhere grow more with less, creating innovation that is advancing the global food supply in powerful, lasting ways. Ag innovation is needed now more than ever, and we're proud to be among those leading the way."

Following his panel discussion, Abbott will serve as a judge for the inaugural Innovate for Impact Challenge, a new global competition designed to identify and support early-stage, tech-driven startups revolutionizing agriculture and advancing global food security.

The World Food Prize Foundation's top three finalists for the inaugural Impact Challenge are: APOLO Biotech (Argentina), Capsber Agriscience (India) and Vet Konect (Nigeria). The finalists were selected from nearly 400 applications across 65 countries.

The finalists pitched their ventures live at the Borlaug Dialogue on Oct. 22, before a global audience and a panel of judges that includes Abbott and other industry leaders. The winner will receive a $50,000 grand prize, presented by Pivot Bio Founder and Chief Innovation Officer Karsten Temme, with second and third place awards of $10,000 and $5,000, respectively, said Pivot Bio.

"Congratulations to the World Food Prize Foundation team for creating this inaugural innovation challenge," Abbott said. "Innovators like these are shaping the next era of agriculture. As a judge, I was very impressed with all of the submissions coming from around the world. It was certainly hard to narrow the list to the top 3, and I couldn't be more excited to meet these entrepreneurs and hear their final pitches. The breakthroughs we're seeing show what's possible when some of the world's brightest minds focus on building a resilient food system."