Purdue hosts hybrid summit on technology, America’s foreign interests

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. − The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition's 2022 Heartland Summit, held earlier this week, featured the intersectionality between Purdue, advancing technology and America's foreign interest policies.

The Heartland Summit was a hybrid event that took place simultaneously in Minnetonka, MN; West Lafayette, IN; and Wichita, KS. Community, government, and educational leaders spoke at their respective events.

Glick was joined by Kimberly Reed, former chairmen and president of Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of the U.S. and John Ellenberger, executive director of Land O'Lakes Venture37 to discuss the future of technology and the U.S.'s foreign policy interests.

The West Lafayette panelists were introduced to the stage by Purdue president-elect Mung Chiang. Glick started out the panel by discussing how technology, especially Purdue-based tech, can be used in food security all over the world.

"One of the things that we've seen that's so important for the United States is to remain engaged throughout the world, and that includes all of us here in Indiana," Glick said. "...They used to call us 'fly-over states,' now they can't live without us...

"One of the things we see here at Purdue and the college of agriculture is innovation and how it relates to food security all over the world. We have one of our fellows, Haley Oliver, who leads the food safety innovation lab."

Glick went on to explain that this project is in partnership with the United States' government and a consortium of America universities that deploy food safety and security solutions around the world.

"I'd like to refer to the developing world as 'emerging markets,'" Glick said. "It elevates the role that countries play in the global market place. But in order to emerge, emerging market have to be playing on the same playing field as developed markets. And the way to get to that place is through technology solutions."

Ellenberger added onto Glick's points about reaching and supporting developing countries through technology, especially agriculture technology.

"There's a broad range of technologies that American farmers, and by extension, really all farmers are focusing on," Ellenberger said. "Within Land O'Lakes...we're known for dairy foods, but our largest business is actually something called WinField United; that reaches a quarter of all corn and soy growers in the U.S. and half of all the harvested acres.

"Through those connection points, we're able to really bring innovative, information-based solutions to help farmers make smarter decisions. Because they are the ones who have their capital and their livelihoods at risk."

Reed addressed how "heartland states" can use development and diplomacy to work with developing countries.

"Bonnie and I had the pleasure of traveling all over the world, visiting these emerging market countries," Reed said. "We really need to be focused on having America compete and win in the world. And when I led EXIM, I said all the time...'Economic security is national security.' And you want the world buying American."

Reed further explained how the People's Republic of China (PRC) does what's called debt-trap diplomacy wherein goods are made affordable, and "When the country can't pay up...(China) acquires the asset. And that is possibly to our national security detriment," as Reed said.

In response to this, EXIM established the China and Transformational Exports Program (CTEP), which is a mandate for EXIM to support U.S. exporters who face competition from PRC, according to EXIM's website.

"You can come to EXIM if you are competing with China, because we want the world buying your goods and services," Reed said. "Congress said 'If you're competing with China, you can manage the rate terms and conditions that the Chinese may be offering the foreign purchaser.'"

Reed provided the example of the largest approved deal in the history of EXIM, a $4 billion deal in the country of Mozambique which allowed its government to buy Pennsylvanian products for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) exchange facility.

To read more on Indiana's part in the 2022 Heartland Summit, visit www.heartland.usglc.org/states/indiana.

Margaret Christopherson is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email her at mchristopherson@jconline.com and follow her on Twitter @MargaretJC2.

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