Pivot Bio Advances Global Agricultural Innovation and Food Security at 2026 World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue

Company returns for second year supporting Innovate for Impact Challenge, and its Chief Technology Officer, Travis Frey, joins global leaders to explore water resilience and farmer-focused solutions

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pivot Bio, one of the world's leading agricultural technology companies, is helping advance conversations and solutions critical to the future of global agriculture through its participation in the 2026 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation.

For the second consecutive year, Pivot Bio is supporting the Innovate for Impact Challenge, an initiative designed to accelerate breakthrough agricultural technologies addressing global food security and sustainability. The company's continued involvement reflects its commitment to advancing scientific discovery, supporting emerging innovators and ensuring farmers remain at the center of solutions to agriculture's most pressing challenges.

For Pivot Bio, supporting the Borlaug Dialogue is about keeping farmers at the center of agricultural conversations and finding practical solutions that make a difference on the farm.

During the event, Pivot Bio Chief Technology Officer Travis Frey, Ph.D., led a panel discussion titled “What If the Water Runs Out?” The panel brought together leaders from agriculture, ag impact capital investment, technology and humanitarian development to discuss how farmers, communities and food systems can adapt as water becomes less predictable.

“The challenges facing agriculture are too big for any one industry or organization to solve alone,” Frey said. “That's why conversations like the Borlaug Dialogue are so important. They bring different perspectives together around a shared goal of strengthening our food systems and accelerating the innovation needed to sustainably feed a growing world.”

The panel discussion explored water resilience, purification, technology and community access, with an emphasis on connecting innovation to practical solutions. Panelists also examined the role of investment and infrastructure in expanding access to technologies and approaches that improve water management.

Joining Frey for the discussion were:

• Surender Makhija, Strategic Advisor, Jain Irrigation Systems
• Edgar Sandoval, President and CEO, World Vision
• Amit Trikha, Vice President, Global Sustainability Partnerships & Strategy, Bayer AG

As facilitator, Frey guided the discussion connecting water management and agricultural productivity with the needs of communities around the world. Panelists also commented on how challenges differ across regions and what it takes to make promising solutions economically viable and accessible to farmers.

“The value of agricultural innovation is ultimately measured by what farmers can put into practice,” Frey said. “Farmers need solutions that work for their operations and make economic sense. We have to think about what it takes to put those solutions into practice, whether that's demonstrating value, building the right partnerships or improving access to technology. That's how we turn scientific progress into meaningful impact.”

Supporting the Next Generation of Agricultural Innovation

Pivot Bio's commitment to agricultural innovation extends beyond the Dialogue through its continued support of the Innovate for Impact Challenge, presented by the World Food Prize Foundation and America's Cultivation Corridor.

Now in its second year of involvement, Pivot Bio is helping elevate early-stage, technology-driven companies developing transformative solutions to global food security and sustainability challenges.

Frey will also serve as a judge for Wednesday evening's live pitch competition, joining other industry leaders in evaluating finalists and selecting the top three companies based on their innovations and potential impact.

“Some of the most important breakthroughs in agriculture will come from bringing new ideas and different perspectives together,” Frey said. “Supporting emerging innovators is an investment in the future of agriculture and in the farm communities who will ultimately benefit from these discoveries.”

The Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue convenes leaders from around the world to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping global food security. The 2026 gathering examined what's at stake for the world's food systems and how collaboration across agriculture, science, business and global development can help build a more resilient future.

About Pivot Bio

Pivot Bio is an agricultural technology company developing microbial nitrogen solutions that help farmers improve productivity, profitability and predictability. Using advanced biotechnology, Pivot Bio develops nitrogen-producing microbes designed to deliver nitrogen directly to crop roots throughout the growing season, complementing existing fertility programs and helping farmers reduce their reliance on synthetic fertilizer. The company's purpose is to improve the lives of farmers and the health of the planet. Learn more at PivotBio.com.