By: Charlee Williams

When people think of agriculture, it’s easy to picture rows of corn, a dusty tractor at sunset, or boots in the dirt—and to be honest, I love all of that. The hands-on, hard-working side of farming is what first drew me to environmental science and agriculture. But what I didn’t realize until becoming a Field Atlas Ambassador with AgriNovus Indiana is just how wide and innovative the world of agbioscience really is. It’s not a replacement for traditional ag—it’s a powerful extension of it. And that realization completely shifted how I see the future of food, farming, and my place in it.

Discovering Agbioscience with Field Atlas

As a Field Atlas Ambassador, I had the opportunity to connect with students across campus and introduce them to the world of agbioscience—a term many had never even heard before. Through conversations, presentations, and career exploration events, I got to share how agriculture is evolving far beyond what most people expect.

AgriNovus Indiana is dedicated to growing Indiana’s agbioscience economy, which brings together food, agriculture, science, and technology to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges—everything from food security and sustainability to plant genetics and precision ag. As I dove deeper into what agbioscience really is, I started to see agriculture in a whole new light.

A Broader Perspective on Agriculture

Before this experience, I saw agriculture primarily as the boots-on-the-ground side of things: crop rotations, soil health, weather patterns, and livestock management. I still have a deep respect for those areas, and I believe they form the backbone of our food system.

But through AgriNovus, I came to see how data science, biotechnology, environmental engineering, and even entrepreneurship all play a critical role in feeding the world and protecting our natural resources.

I learned about companies using AI to detect crop disease, startups engineering sustainable fertilizers, and researchers designing climate-resilient crops. Suddenly, the image of agriculture in my mind expanded to include lab coats and algorithms alongside tractors and grain bins.

It was eye-opening—and incredibly exciting.

Connecting Innovation with Purpose

One of the most impactful parts of this journey was realizing that innovation in agriculture isn’t about being high-tech just for the sake of it—it’s about solving real-world problems in meaningful ways. Agbioscience is helping farmers boost productivity while adopting more sustainable practices, offering new tools and strategies for conservation management and resource efficiency. It’s also opening doors to careers that combine a passion for science with a deep sense of purpose—careers grounded in service, stewardship, and sustainability.

The Role of Community in Agriculture

Throughout this experience, one theme that kept resurfacing was the strength of

community within agriculture. Whether it’s multi-generational farms, collaborative research teams, or statewide organizations like AgriNovus, the people behind the work matter just as much as the innovations themselves. Agriculture thrives on relationships— between farmers and the land, between producers and consumers, and among those working together to solve complex challenges. Even as the industry grows more high-tech, that sense of shared responsibility and support remains at its core. It reminded me that progress isn’t just about what we build—it’s about who we build it with.

Why This Matters for the Next Generation

I used to think I had to choose between “old-school” farming and modern science, but now I know that the two aren’t in competition—they’re part of the same story. The Field Atlas Ambassador program helped me realize that we need both the wisdom of the past and the tools of the future to build a resilient agricultural system.

If you’re a student interested in agriculture, science, sustainability, or technology—and especially if you haven’t considered how those things intersect—I highly recommend checking out Field Atlas and AgriNovus Indiana. There’s a place for every kind of thinker and doer in agbioscience.

Final Thoughts

My experience as a Field Atlas Ambassador didn’t just add a line to my resume—it gave me a new way of thinking about agriculture. It challenged me to grow, to communicate, and to see the world through a wider lens. And most of all, it reminded me that agriculture is evolving every day—and we all have a role to play in shaping its future.

Name: Cole Witmer

University: Purdue University

Major/Minor: Business Analytics and Information Management

Semesters as a Field Atlas Ambassador: This is my first!

What do you enjoy most about the role?

The opportunities to speak with students from different areas of study and talk about their interests. Many people don’t realize there is a place for them in the agbiosciences and being able to foster that connection is fulfilling.

What has surprised you the most about the agbiosciences?

I was unaware of the important role agbioscience plays in environmental sustainability. Beyond enhancing food production, its innovations have helped develop biofuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and much more, making it a key contributor to global environmental efforts.

Which agbioscience company interests you most, and why?

I’m fascinated with the advancements made by Biodyne USA. For example, they have created different sustainable bioremediation solutions using microorganisms which are super cool, and I encourage anyone interested to check them out!

How can students get in touch with you?

They can reach out to me via email or connect with me on LinkedIn.

Name: Charlee Williams

University: Purdue University

Major/Minor: Environmental Science major, Soil Science minor

Semesters as a Field Atlas Ambassador: This is my first semester as a Field Atlas Ambassador!

What do you enjoy most about the role?

I enjoy being able to connect with students in different fields of study and teaching them about the diversity of agbioscience and how it can relate to them!

What has surprised you the most about the agbiosciences?

How applicable it can be to any field! Typically, when you think of agriculture, you think “farming” but agbioscience takes the agricultural ‘roots’ and combines it with so much more in the industry. With business, food science, engineering, technology, data science and more, there are so many opportunities within agbioscience.

Which agbioscience company interests you most, and why?

I have been keeping an eye on Corteva especially because of their passion for Agriscience. I love how they are determined to help the farmer and create new opportunities to advance agriculture through ways connected to agbioscience!

How can students get in touch with you?

Students can reach out to me via email.