On May 21, 2026, Saul Ewing LLP hosted its fourth annual Connectors Conference: Focus on Food, Beverage and Agribusiness at the Minneapolis Club in downtown Minneapolis. The conference brought together agribusiness leaders, operators, investors, lenders, legal professionals and technology innovators to discuss current trends, challenges and opportunities across the food, beverage and agribusiness sectors.
The conference featured a keynote presentation by Joe Mahon, Economist and Regional Outreach Director for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, followed by three speaker panels of industry leaders and legal professionals. The panels covered Hot Topics in the Headlines, the State of the Deal Market, and Trends and Tech in Food, Beverage and Agribusiness.
In his keynote address, Mr. Mahon provided an economic outlook focused on the regional and national economic conditions affecting the food, beverage and agribusiness industries. His remarks addressed current macroeconomic trends, market conditions and business considerations relevant to producers, processors, investors and other stakeholders in the industry.
Following the keynote, the conference continued with the first speaker panel — "Hot Topics in the Headlines: What You Need To Know" — which focused on current developments and business issues affecting the agribusiness sector. The panel was moderated by Kermit Nash, Partner at Saul Ewing LLP, and featured Brock Jenkins, Principal at AGR Partners; Chris Abbott, CEO of Pivot Bio; and Erik Tone, Vice President, Business Development at RD Offutt Companies. The panel discussed industry conditions, operator priorities, investment considerations, initiatives focused on farming, ways to attract and retain America’s next generation of farmers, the evolving business landscape for food and agribusiness companies — and AI.
The second speaker panel — "State of the Deal Market" — focused on current conditions in the food, beverage and agribusiness transaction market. The panel was moderated by Max Bremer, Partner at Saul Ewing LLP, and included Nancy Ervin, Partner at Harrison Co. LLC; Scott DeVos, Managing Director at Proterra Investment Partners; and Aaron Knewtson, Vice President of Commercial Financing at Compeer Financial. The panel addressed the current M&A and financing environment, buyer and seller expectations, capital availability, diligence trends, the impact of market uncertainty on transaction timing and structure — and AI.
The third speaker panel — "Trends and Tech in Food, Beverage & Agribusiness" — was moderated by David Sartorio, Partner at Saul Ewing LLP, and featured Ali Wing, CEO of Oobli; Chuck Tryon, Founder of Tryon Advisory; and Clare Doyle, CEO of Verdesian Life Sciences. The discussion focused on innovation, technology, consumer trends and strategic growth opportunities in the food, beverage and agribusiness industries, including the trend toward healthier products, reducing sugar, the continued growth of protein-focused products, and how companies are using technology to respond to changing market demands, drive efficiency and reduce costs for farmers — plus, AI.
The conference concluded with closing remarks from Max Bremer, followed by a cocktail reception that provided attendees with additional opportunities for networking and relationship-building.
About the event organizer: Saul Ewing LLP attorneys assist food, beverage and agribusiness enterprises in responding to today’s global, economic and environmental challenges by bringing innovative and practical advice to the industry. With deep industry experience and comprehensive legal capabilities, our team helps clients address the complexities of modern food, beverage and agricultural production, manufacturing, distribution, financing and investment. From family farms to large agribusiness companies, start-up food and beverage companies to mature businesses, and the many companies that service these industries, Saul Ewing represents clients across the food, beverage and agribusiness sectors.
A special thank you to our keynote speaker, Joe Mahon, and each of our panelists and attendees for making the fourth annual Connectors Conference: Focus on Food, Beverage and Agribusiness a success.
