412. Primient’s Jim Stutelberg on a fast-growing bioeconomy, the important role of the farmer + partnerships with Sustainea, acquisition of Primient Covation

From sweeteners and starches to sustainable packaging, the bioeconomy is on the move. At the helm is Primient, a leading producer of food and industrial ingredients made from plant-based, renewable sources – corn being its primary feedstock. Today we are joined by CEO Jim Stutelberg to talk about the $4 trillion global bioeconomy and the rapid innovative trajectory shaping its future. 

Highlights include: 

• The Primient story and who they aim to serve through innovation 
• How Jim has seen the bioinnovation market evolve and what the competitive landscape looks like for bioinnovators like Primient today 
• The collective headwinds facing the industry 
• Primient’s market differentiation 
• Consumer behaviors influencing company priorities and how they set the tone for R&D and product pipelines 
• The critical role of corn and other feedstocks in the work Primient does and how Jim sees that relationship evolving over the next decade 
• Acquiring Primient Covation and what integrating them into their portfolio will enable their team to do 
• The power of partnerships for the Primient team, how they approach collaboration and what it means to their business 
• Jim’s approach to the business of people, his belief in team culture and how he sees building a talent pipeline for the future 
• What Jim believes to be Primient’s biggest areas of untapped potential 
• What’s ahead for Primient in 2026