Carbon: An intro to this emerging market you will wish you had sooner Heather Gieseke, BounceAg
This session will discuss carbon and its viability as a new revenue stream for the farm. BounceAg's Heather Gieseke will talk about the evolving opportunities within the carbon landscape, the nuances associated with each, and the challenges with getting them off the ground. Agribusinesses and support services will benefit from this introductory session. Topics covered include carbon offsets, insets/scope3, 45Z, transitioning farmland, maximizing benefits and more.
Heather Gieseke is an accomplished agribusiness strategist who combines high-impact sales and marketing leadership with deep technical expertise in carbon markets and grain trading. As Founder and President of BounceAg, she draws on a proven track record in revenue generation, go-to-market strategy, and integrated communications to drive innovation and sustainable growth. Her leadership experience includes roles such as Vice President of Carbon, North America at Indigo Ag, where she led the industry’s largest and fastest-growing carbon program, and Head of North America Crop Marketing Strategy and Operations.
Heather is known for bridging the gap between technical precision and practical strategy. She excels at navigating supply chain challenges and emerging sustainability markets through data-driven analysis and a deep respect for agricultural heritage. At BounceAg, she helps clients—from agribusinesses to industry groups—develop tailored strategies that align with market trends, digital innovation, and low-carbon opportunities, positioning them for long-term success in a rapidly evolving sector.
Unlocking Untapped Revenue in the Renewable Fuel Market Luis Copeland, Senior Director of Low Carbon Intensity Seeds
Looking for alternative markets? This session provides a case study for tapping into the burgeoning renewable fuel space. Luis Copeland will unpack several innovative Bunge Value Chain collaborations, revealing how they’re building a supply chain for lower carbon intensity feedstocks. Discover how winter canola and other alternative crops can generate significant revenue for U.S. farmers and agribusinesses. Learn actionable marketing strategies to forge partnerships, navigate complex frameworks, and maximize returns in the evolving landscape of renewable energy.
Luis Copeland is a global agriculture leader with decades of experience advancing innovation and sustainability in food, nutrition, and renewable energy. Before joining Bunge in 2022, he held leadership roles at Bayer, Monsanto, and Seminis, where he led global teams, developed new business units, and forged strategic partnerships.
He holds an Executive MBA from INSEAD and Tsinghua University and a bachelor’s in information systems engineering from the Monterrey Institute of Technology. Luis is active in his community and industry, serving local advisory boards, mentoring emerging leaders, and participating in international director networks. He previously served on the Board of the European Seed Association and chaired its Biotechnology Committee.
The Phygital Farm: Where Dirt Meets Data Sarah Vacek, Bayer
Agriculture sits at the intersection of tradition and technology, and nowhere is that more evident than in the rise of “phygital” farming—the blend of physical field practices with digital tools and insights. This session explores the evolution of digital agriculture, from its early days in companies like Monsanto, Bayer, and Climate FieldView, to today’s industry-wide transformation fueled by new investment, competition, and collaboration.
We’ll look at what makes agriculture’s digital journey unique compared to other industries: the complexity of farming systems, the culture of adoption, and the shift from simple push communications to integrated, value-driving solutions. With farmers at the center, the discussion will highlight how input providers, OEMs, sustainability and reporting platforms, start-ups, and growers themselves are finding new clarity around where digital tools complement rather than compete.
Finally, we’ll unpack the industry’s biggest opportunity—accelerating innovation through digital insights that not only optimize products and practices on the farm but also unlock entirely new business models. Join us to discover where dirt meets data, and how the “phygital farm” is shaping the future of agriculture.
Sarah Vacek is Vice President of Global Digital Solutions at Bayer, where she leads the creation of new digital tools and offerings for farmers in North America and beyond. Known for driving innovation and change, she combines deep industry expertise with a customer-first mindset. Her career has taken her from the U.S. to Germany, where she led global work in disease control biologics and cutting-edge crop protection.
Since starting in agricultural public relations, Sarah has worn many hats—marketing leader, product manager, sales manager, and strategist—across crops, markets, and continents. She’s helped launch major soybean and corn trait technologies, led global transformation projects, and played a key role in Bayer’s integration of Monsanto.
Raised on a farm just north of St. Louis, Sarah carries her agricultural roots into everything she does. She’s served on her local school board, led church programs, and taken on leadership roles in the National Agri-Marketing Association. Along the way, she’s earned multiple industry awards, an Executive MBA from Purdue, and a reputation for bringing people together to create solutions that last. She lives in St. Charles, Missouri.
New Opportunities: Hear It From a Producer
A farmer will join us to share firsthand experiences and insights on where new revenue streams and opportunities are emerging in agriculture today. From diversifying operations to tapping into evolving market demands, you’ll hear directly from a producer’s perspective on how these shifts are creating real opportunities on the farm.
