PowerPollen just won the 2018 John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition for their new technology that dramatically increases farmer's ability to grow more crops. I had their CEO, Todd Krone come in to give us details of this new home grown Iowa technology.
It's always exciting to learn about new technology, but it's more exciting when this technology is home grown in our own beautiful state of Iowa to be used all over the world.
What is PowerPollen?
PowerPollen is attempting to improve ag productivity by improving how plants cross-pollinate. In the same way inbreeding isn't good for animals, farmers know the same is true for plants. Cross pollination is healthy and leads to higher productivity, but there is a big problem. It's difficult, labor intensive and time consuming. If you've ever detasseled corn, this is a form of pollination control.
Power Pollen tells us they have solved this problem with their Power Pollen technology. Their technology is said to attach to existing farm equipment and blends with a proprietary process of their making. The key is a first-in-industry and patented pollen preservation and handling method that enables farmers to retain pollen, deposit it at the right place and in time, increase seed yield and seed quality. The technology has been invented internally at Power Pollen, and if it proves effective, it's about time.
Krone told us our current process of cross pollination has not changed since the 1920s and this new approach is said to allow farmers to potentially increase seed yields by more than 20%. He also explained some fields that may have been a complete loss in the past with the traditional method can be rescued with PowerPollen and finally give high yields to their farmers. (See Photo)
We asked Krone if this same technology was limited to only corn and his answer could be exciting for the future of farming and agriculture. The Power Pollen technology, in theory, can be applied to other crops like wheat, which is key to meeting a growing demand for food.
The team of 15 right here in central Iowa has laid the groundwork over the last 3+ years and it looks like their work is finally paying off. Learn more about PowerPollen here.
The John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture CompetitionThe John Pappajohn Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture Competition contest is designed to promote and assist entrepreneurialism and create awareness to the numerous entrepreneurial resources available in the state of Iowa.
The competition is constantly looking for new and innovative ventures to jump in. The competition is judged on the basis of their written submissions first, and then judge pitches in later rounds. Winners for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place take 40k, 25k and 15k respectively.