Bezos Earth Fund Awards Grant to Advance Yield Lab Institute’s Global Cattle Innovation Platform
Updated: 21 hours ago
Landmark support builds on successful Kansas City launch, accelerating a global, producer-driven approach to innovation across beef and dairy systems
KANSAS CITY — November 10, 2026 — The Yield Lab Institute (YLI) today announced the Bezos Earth Fund as its catalytic funder of the Global Cattle Innovation Platform (GCIP), marking a significant milestone in the development of a globally connected initiative designed to accelerate innovation across beef and dairy production systems.
The grant builds on the momentum generated by GCIP's successful June 15, 2026, launch in Kansas City, where leaders from across agriculture, industry, government, research, and investment convened around a common purpose: accelerating practical innovation across the global cattle sector. With this foundational support from the Bezos Earth Fund, YLI will move forward in building the partnerships, technical infrastructure, and innovation pathways necessary to translate that vision into meaningful, measurable outcomes for producers and the value chain.
“The launch in Kansas City demonstrated what is possible when leaders from across industry and from around the globe come together around a shared vision,” said Stephanie Regagnon, Executive Director of The Yield Lab Institute. “The Bezos Earth Fund's support is an important vote of confidence in both that vision and the collaborative model behind it. We believe the most meaningful innovations are those that work for producers - strengthening their bottom line, supporting responsible stewardship of resources, and creating lasting value across the industry. Thanks to this catalytic support we can now deliver the important work of turning that shared ambition into action.”
Building on a Proven Innovation Model
The Global Cattle Innovation Platform represents the next evolution of YLI's H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech™ program, which builds upon the internationally recognized Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) agriculture program. The H.A.R.V.E.S.T. model connects promising entrepreneurs with world-class research institutions, technical validation capabilities, industry expertise, and commercialization pathways to accelerate the adoption of breakthrough agricultural technologies.
Launched in June 2026 during Kansas City's FIFA World Cup 2026™ host city programming, GCIP extends this proven approach into beef and dairy production and recognizes the critical need for innovations that advance producer profitability, resilience, productivity, environmental sustainability, and animal health and welfare.
Kansas City will serve as the platform's home base, leveraging the region's long-recognized leadership in animal agriculture and innovation while connecting to a global network of partners and expertise.
Catalyzing Innovation with Global Impact
The Bezos Earth Fund's first-in funding will help establish the foundational elements of the platform, supporting YLI's efforts to identify high-impact innovation priorities, engage world-class technical and industry partners, and develop systems for entrepreneurs to validate and commercialize solutions in real-world production environments.
“There is enormous scientific talent working on the future of livestock, but too many good ideas struggle to reach the people raising the animals,” said Dr. Andy Jarvis, Director of Future of Food at the Bezos Earth Fund. “This platform will connect that talent with entrepreneurs and producers across Brazil and the United States, helping make cattle production more sustainable and resilient."
At the heart of GCIP is a commitment to ensuring that innovation is informed by the realities of cattle production. The platform will work across the beef and dairy value chains to identify priority challenges and connect promising technologies with the expertise, testing environments, and partnerships needed to advance toward commercial adoption.
The initiative recognizes that no single organization, technology, or region can address the complex challenges facing global cattle production. Instead, GCIP is designed to create a collaborative innovation infrastructure that connects existing capabilities, reduces barriers to commercialization, and helps promising solutions reach producers more efficiently.
“Cattle producers are some of the most innovative people I know, and they need to be at the table from the beginning as we define the challenges we're trying to solve,” said Jackie McClaskey, President of the American Royal Association and GCIP External Advisory Board member. “But even the most promising technology has to pencil out and hold up in the real world. The industry leaders around this table understand that. If it doesn't work for the producer, it doesn't work. That's the standard we intend to bring to this platform.”
From Momentum to Measurable Impact
With its foundational funding secured, GCIP is entering a critical phase of development. Guided by its industry-leading External Advisory Board, YLI will focus on defining priority innovation targets, establishing technical validation partnerships, engaging additional industry and funding partners, and designing opportunities for entrepreneurs developing technologies relevant to beef and dairy production.
The platform's success will ultimately be measured by its ability to help promising innovations move beyond the research and development stage and toward practical application - creating opportunities for producers to strengthen their operations while supporting the long-term vitality of the cattle industry.
Additional announcements regarding technical partners, innovation priorities, and opportunities for industry and entrepreneur engagement will be shared as the platform advances.
About The Yield Lab Institute
The Yield Lab Institute (YLI) is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to enabling entrepreneurs to revolutionize agrifood systems to sustainably provide for the world. Through open innovation, thought leadership, and global ecosystem connectivity, YLI programs accelerate the development and adoption of technologies addressing critical challenges in agriculture and food production.
To learn more, visit: theyieldlabinstitute.org
About the Bezos Earth Fund
The Bezos Earth Fund, guided by the belief that Earth is the best planet in this solar system, works to protect and restore the natural world. Working with partners around the globe, we are developing innovative solutions to ensure the planet remains a place we can – and want to – live on. Based in the United States, the organization is led by President and CEO Tom Taylor, under the direction of Chairman Jeff Bezos and Vice Chair Lauren Sánchez Bezos.
To learn more, visit: bezosearthfund.org
About the Global Cattle Innovation Platform
The Global Cattle Innovation Platform is a global initiative of The Yield Lab Institute, built upon the H.A.R.V.E.S.T. AgTech model to accelerate innovation across beef and dairy production systems. Based in Kansas City and connected to a global network of industry leaders, researchers, investors, and entrepreneurs, GCIP is designed to advance practical, producer-informed technologies through technical validation, ecosystem connectivity and commercialization pathways.
To learn more, visit: harvestagtech.org/cattle
Media Contact
Stephanie Regagnon
The Yield Lab Institute
(445) 545-2602
Comments