The Yield Lab Institute (YLI) is entering an exciting new chapter—new leadership, sharpened focus, and exciting momentum. What we’re building is fully aligned with St. Louis’s innovation assets, yet distinct in scope: YLI carries an international mandate and a unique affiliation with The Yield Lab Group's global venture funds, giving us reach and credibility unmatched in this region and around the world.

Our mission to enable entrepreneurs to revolutionize food systems to sustainably feed the world remains rooted in three strategic pillars: Open Innovation, Thought Leadership, and Global Ecosystem Connectivity.

Today, we’re executing this strategy through two cornerstone programs:

HARVEST AgTech – the next generation of the proven Wells Fargo IN2 accelerator. Under YLI’s leadership, HARVEST is now headquartered in St. Louis and will meaningfully expand beyond early-stage research to also include field trials and global commercialization pathways. With 17 innovation hubs engaged—from St. Louis’s 39 North and BioGenerator to partners across Latin America, Europe, and beyond—HARVEST will attract and validate the most promising technologies globally.

Cultivar – an initiative connecting St. Louis and other U.S. ecosystems with leading agtech clusters in Latin America, positioning our city as a true gateway for international collaboration and innovation flow across the Americas. Cultivar seeks to unlock new technologies in the most important growing regions of the world.

YLI’s programs will directly advance St. Louis’s inclusive growth and business attraction strategy and continue to showcase STL as an innovation powerhouse: aligning with the STL 2030 Jobs Plan in agtech, geospatial and fintech; filling space in 39 North, Cortex, AMIC and Downtown North; and strengthening the region’s global visibility.

This is a defining moment for YLI and the global agtech ecosystem we serve.

Your tax-deductible contribution will help us:

• Launch the next generation of agtech innovators through HARVEST AgTech

• Catalyze global collaboration that supports local economic development through Cultivar

• Keep St. Louis at the center of agricultural innovation for years to come

Help us write this next chapter. Donate today to fuel innovation that feeds the world and grows our community here at home.