A collage of images showcasing the work of the Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture.

Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture

at Cornell AgriTech

Push. Pull. Grow.

The New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture at Cornell AgriTech serves as a hub connecting businesses and entrepreneurs with the services they need to succeed. The Center of Excellence works with partners across the state to increase the size and scope of the food and agriculture economy in New York by fostering the growth of new companies, new products, and existing businesses. Our Center focuses on:

  • Pushing entrepreneurs and startups to launch their businesses in New York and commercialize products and services.
  • Pulling companies into the state by connecting them with innovation resources and economic development partners.
  • Growing existing food, beverage and agriculture-related companies from across New York State through business mentoring and the myriad resources they need to succeed and thrive.

Business Mentorship

A few of the many no-cost resources we provide for our CoE member companies:

  • Cornell food, beverage and agriculture expertise.
  • Connections to business incubators and accelerators.
  • Connections to Cornell University partners for food and beverage product testing and validation.
  • Business-to-business connections within our member network.
  • Expert guidance on finding manufacturing partners, production facilities, co-packers, distributors and other resources essential for business growth.
  • Guidance on economic development resources.
  • Colocation and coworking spaces available within the CoE offices at Cornell AgriTech. 

Jumpstarting the farm and food economy

Contact us!

Are you looking to start or grow a food or agriculture business in New York? Let us help. 

What People are Saying

Play COE video

The Center of Excellence connects the dots between new and existing businesses and the tools they need to thrive.

“Cornell helped shape every decision that we made. Literally every single aspect of this has been touched and improved by the amazing, brilliant minds at Cornell.”— Tracy Luckow, Whipnotic

"We saw the tremendous potential at the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park to collaborate with other producers. It seemed like it was really electric." — John Zuccarello, Siena Development Group

“I wish we had been working with the Center of Excellence when we first started. . . It’s been so valuable having their resources, expertise and the connections that come with [the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences] – one of the most successful and well-regarded agriculture schools in the world. They helped us connect with the right people and resources on our path toward market traction with some of the largest food retailers in the U.S., and have fast-tracked our progress tremendously.”—George Zheng, Leep Foods

“The Center of Excellence has introduced us to so many opportunities and events in the region. I think the reason we’re in Wegmans right now is because the Center of Excellence brought us to last year’s Future of Food Summit, where we were able to connect with the right people.”—Jason Goodman, Antithesis

“Cornell has been fantastic. The professors don't just know their stuff, they know farmers, they have real-world connections. It's been a hugely rewarding symbiotic relationship.”— Chris Wightman, VM Agritech

“The CoE has been extremely supportive. I feel like it’d be an impossible journey without Cornell.” — Leslie Woodward, Edenesque

Four cans of Whipnotic whipped cream in a row.
A bottle of alcohol-free rum, with "Seir Hill" written on front.
A collection of mushrooms
Chocolate covered chickpeas crushed up on a white table
Hop leaf infected with powdery mildew being inspected in a lab.
A woman wearing a white lab coat and hair net holding two bottles of milk.

News + Events

Picture of Melissa Baideme

Field Note

NY's Small Business Person of the Year gets boost from Cornell AgriTech
Melissa Baideme had never worked in the food and beverage world until she jumped in the deep end and started CK Natural Fruit Juice in 2021. Four years later and she’s been named New York State Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small...
Headshot of Joe Ganley

Field Note

Meet the CoE: Joseph Ganley
Joseph Ganley joined our CoE team in July as a business development specialist. As part of our business development team, Joe works with our member entrepreneurs and businesses to help them start and grow their enterprises here in New York. Joe...
  • Center of Excellence in Food and Agriculture
  • Cornell AgriTech
A Seen Nutrition calcium chew posed next to a cup of coffee.

News

Cornell-supported startup using real food to support bone health
The friends launched Seen Nutrition, an Ithaca, NY-based startup, in June 2024 with its flagship calcium chew. The chews, which contain just four real food ingredients, each deliver 500mg of food-based, bioavailable calcium, a key nutrient in...
  • Center of Excellence in Food and Agriculture
  • Cornell AgriTech
Two bags that say "Plant-based protein" and "boom chocolata" next to a glass of chocolate milk.

Field Note

News

Cornell grads focused on fueling women launching new plant-based protein
Levelle founders Linda Alvarez, MD, and Stephanie Schrauth — both MBA '21 — are releasing a pair of plant-based protein powders formulated with the micro- and macronutrients women need through the different stages of their menstrual cycle...
  • Center of Excellence in Food and Agriculture
  • Cornell AgriTech

Ready to start and grow your business? Let the CoE help.