2026
THRIVE
Global Impact
Summit
Platinum Sponsors
THRIVE Global Impact Initiative: Driving Innovation for Global Impact and Sustainability
With 2030 fast approaching, the need for bold action in food and agriculture has never been greater. THRIVE’s Global Impact Initiative is a 10-year commitment to driving innovation that creates a more sustainable, resilient, and climate-positive future. Launched in 2020, the initiative brings together startups, scale-ups, corporations, producers, investors, and industry leaders to spark collaboration and deliver real, measurable impact across the agri-food system.
The Global Impact Initiative consists of three key pillars that sustain our vision:
Global Impact Challenge
Our global search for the most promising startups and scale-ups developing breakthrough technologies to address the world’s most pressing agri-food challenges.
Industry Roundtables
Global Impact Summit
Overview
The Premier Gathering for Agrifood Innovation
The THRIVE Global Impact Summit is the flagship gathering of the Global Impact Initiative, bringing together leaders from across the agrifood ecosystem to accelerate innovation and collaboration.
Each year in Silicon Valley, the Summit convenes startups, corporates, investors, producers, and policymakers to explore breakthrough technologies, share insights, and build the partnerships needed to address the world’s most pressing food and agriculture challenges.
Through dynamic panels, startup showcases, and strategic discussions, the Summit serves as a catalyst for ideas, investment, and action that drive measurable impact across the global agrifood system.
Agenda
Wednesday - October 14th
INVITE-ONLY: An exclusive forum for Chief Technology Officers and senior innovation leaders from leading organizations across the agricultural, food and industrial biotechnology sector. The forum focus will be “Rewiring the Innovation Engine: Rethinking R&D and Innovation in the AI Era”. The Forum will challenge conventional assumptions about R&D and look for future trends for innovation strategies across the agri-food value chain.
INVITE ONLY: A closed-door executive roundtable convening innovation, R&D, venture, and strategy leaders from global corporations to explore how organizations are redesigning innovation in an era of AI, rapid technological advancement, and increasing volatility.
INVITE ONLY: An exclusive leadership roundtable convening senior leaders from government, economic development agencies, financial institutions, investment organizations and industry to explore how we can accelerate commercialization, attract investment and talent, scale emerging technologies, and build globally competitive innovation ecosystems.
Bringing together perspectives from across international markets, the discussion will focus on what’s working, where barriers remain, and where greater cross-border collaboration can unlock new opportunities across food, agriculture, climate and energy.
Hosted in partnership with Innovate UK, the Global Incubator Showcase highlights the UK’s most promising agri-tech innovators participating in the Innovate UK Global Incubator Programme. Following an intensive Silicon Valley immersion and market-entry programme delivered by THRIVE, the showcase provides an opportunity to meet the cohort, explore their technologies, and connect with startups actively expanding into the US market.
The convergence of AI, biology, and deep technologies is unlocking unprecedented opportunities across Food, Agriculture, Climate & Energy (FACE). Hear from leading investors as they explore where capital is flowing, which technologies are poised for scale, and what it takes to build the next generation of global market leaders.
Hosted in partnership with the International Fertilizer Association, the Cultivate Challenge showcases top agtech startups tackling critical challenges in plant nutrition and the fertilizer value chain. The event features live pitches from this year’s finalists driving the next wave of sustainable innovation.
Kick off the Summit at our exclusive pre-summit networking reception, bringing together global leaders from across agriculture, food, climate, energy, innovation, and investment. Running alongside the reception, the Startup Innovation Showcase will feature the 2026 THRIVE Global Impact Challenge finalists, the Innovate UK Global Incubator Programme cohort, the IFA Cultivate Challenge finalists, and other high-potential startups from across the THRIVE ecosystem—offering unparalleled opportunities to discover breakthrough technologies and connect with the innovators shaping the future of food and agriculture.
Thursday - October 15th
Advancing America’s AgTech Innovation Agenda: From Research to Real-World Impact
As agriculture and food systems face growing economic, environmental and technological change, accelerating the path from research and innovation to real-world adoption has never been more important. Dr. Scott Hutchins, USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics and Chief Scientist, will share perspectives on USDA’s research and innovation priorities and the technologies poised to shape the future of U.S. agriculture and food systems.
Following his keynote, Dr. Hutchins will join John Hartnett, Founder & CEO of SVG Ventures | THRIVE, for a fireside conversation exploring how government, industry, researchers and innovators can work together to accelerate commercialization and adoption of new technologies. The discussion will touch on priorities including food safety, emerging technologies, and the role of National Proving Grounds in creating real-world environments to test, validate and scale agricultural innovation.
Please also add a meet the speakers button & add Scott Hutchins & John Hartnett – Scott’s details are on the speaker base I sent you earlier.
How AI is redefining the way organizations discover, develop, and commercialize innovation—transforming R&D operating models, accelerating scientific breakthroughs, and creating new competitive advantage.
GLP-1 therapies and the longevity movement are transforming consumer behavior, redefining nutrition, and reshaping demand across the global food system. For CTOs, this shift goes beyond market demand. It requires fundamentally new technologies, scaling protein production, AI-enabled rapid ingredient reformulation, and mastering the stability, taste, texture and label of nutrient-dense foods such as high protein foods. This session explores the technical frameworks and bio-manufacturing innovations driving the most significant shift in health-first food technology in decades.
From conflict in the Strait of Hormuz to climate-driven weather events and resource constraints, global disruptions are exposing vulnerabilities across the agrifood value chain. This session explores how industry leaders are strengthening supply chains, building resilience, and adapting their strategies to navigate an increasingly volatile world.
As AI becomes embedded in machines, infrastructure, and industrial operations, organizations must rethink how they innovate, deploy, and scale intelligent systems. This session explores the technologies, partnerships, and organizational strategies enabling Physical AI to move beyond pilots and deliver measurable impact across food, agriculture, climate, and energy.
- Category Winners
- People’s Choice Award
- Global Impact Challenge Award
- Female Founder Award
INVITE-ONLY: Exclusive to THRIVE Corporate Partners and Summit Sponsors, this signature post-summit experience convenes an exceptional group of global industry leaders, investors, and speakers for an intimate evening of connection—hosted at a private residence and featuring a live performance by Grammy-nominated artist and former INXS frontman, Ciaran Gribbin.
2025 Summit at a Glance
The 2025 THRIVE Global Impact Summit brought together leaders from across the agrifood ecosystem. Here’s a snapshot of the event as we build momentum for 2026.
400+
Global Attendees
5
Expert
Panels
40+
Industry Speakers
18
Finalist
Pitches
2
Fireside
Chats
50+
Startup Showcases
Innovation Showcase
The Innovation Showcase brings together a curated group of high-potential technology companies from across the globe. This year’s Showcase features finalists from the 2026 THRIVE Global Impact Challenge and the IFA Cultivate Challenge, alongside leading THRIVE portfolio and alumni companies and companies participating in our global programs, including the Innovate UK Global Incubator Programme, Canada Accelerator, and Quebec Go Global Program.
Running throughout the event — the Showcase offers attendees a unique opportunity to discover breakthrough technologies, meet founders, and build meaningful connections with innovators developing solutions across food, agriculture, climate and energy.
Meet the companies participating in the 2026 Innovation Showcase below.
Leaders, innovators, and investors from across the agrifood value chain come together to shape the future of food and agriculture.
What our partners are saying
“We think that THRIVE is our most important relationship in terms of understanding the ag-tech landscape. The thing we really appreciate with THRIVE is they help us bring together this whole vast landscape of tech start-ups to our industry. and thats really of great value because there is so much going on in this space, that for us it would be too much to make sense of, but THRIVE does a great job of that”
Scott Komar
DRISCOLL'S
SVP Global R&D
Speakers
Meet the visionaries shaping the future of food and agriculture. Our speakers include industry leaders, innovators, and changemakers driving sustainability and innovation across the agri-food system.
Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics & Chief Scientist for the United States Department of Agriculture
Why Sponsor?
Brand Visibility & Thought Leadership
Position Your Brand as a Sustainability Leader
Align your brand with innovation and impact in agri-food tech and highlight your company’s commitment to solving critical challenges like climate resilience, soil health, food security, and GHG reduction.
Speaking Opportunities
Feature your executives as thought leaders on panels, fireside chats, or roundtables.
High-Value Networking
Connect with Key Decision-Makers
Meet with top executives from across the agtech sector, leading investors, startups, and policymakers.
Corporate Partner Roundtables
Participate in exclusive, invite-only sessions with industry leaders.
One-on-One Meetings
Facilitated introductions to potential partners, clients, and collaborators
Access to Top Innovation
First Look at Emerging Technologies
Meet the startups reshaping the future of agriculture, food production, and sustainability.
Investment Opportunities
Gain insights into cutting-edge startups and technologies from around the world.
Exclusive Startup Pitches
Attend finalist presentations from the Global Impact Challenge — startups chosen from over 1,000 applicants across 100+ countries.
Sponsors
We offer a range of sponsorship packages tailored to suit your organization’s goals and budget. Each package includes a variety of benefits designed to maximize your impact and visibility at the summit. If you are interested in Summit Sponsorship opportunities please connect with us here.
Co-Marketing Partners
Accommodation
Santa Clara Marriott
- 2700 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054, United States
- +1 408-988-1500
- https://www.marriott.com
- Book Your Discounted Room
Join us for an incredible event in the heart of Santa Clara
October 14 & 15, 2026
