2024 STL April Monthly Meeting

Mike DeCamp is President, CEO and member of the Board of Directors of CoverCress, Inc., (“CCI”), an innovative startup company developing a new winter oilseed crop called CoverCress®. In 2022, he structured, negotiated, and executed a unique product offtake agreement with Bunge (NYSE: BG) to crush CoverCress® grain and extract the oil for use in the production of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. The product offtake secured a $26 million Series C-1 equity financing round for CCI and lead to a unique exit transaction for CCI’s venture investors, founders, and management. Mike structured, negotiated, and executed those transactions as well. Today, CCI is owned by three strategic partners, Bayer Bayer (OTCMKTS: BAYRY), Bunge (NYSE: BG), and Chevron (NYSE: CVX), each of which brings expertise to specific points on CCI’s value chain.

Mike is the Board Chairperson for the 39 North AgTech Innovation District, a vibrant agribusiness/agrifood/plant science ecosytem that brings together people, resources, and facilities to grow St. Louis’ economy and global reputation, as well as for Saluna, Inc., an industrial hemp start-up seeking to develop new non-THC/CBD varieties of industrial hemp to be used for products that include biofuels and animal feed.

He also serves on the board of directors for Farmers Business Network, Inc., an independent AgTech platform and farmer-to-farmer network.

Mike’s career has been dedicated to advancing innovation in agriculture and he has managed, negotiated and executed over $9 billion of value in successful mergers & acquisitions, debt & equity capital, securities, commercial finance and venture capital finance transactions as a lawyer in private practice (at Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale) and in-house (at Monsanto); a corporate strategist (at Monsanto); a strategic advisor (at GP Advisors); a private equity executive (at Teays River Investments;) and a corporate executive (at CCI).

Mike received his J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law in 1995 and a Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1989. Prior to attending law school, he spent three years as an auditor with Ernst & Young in St. Louis.

Emily Lohse-Busch is Executive Director of 39 North AgTech Innovation District, a 600-acre district located in St. Louis, MO. As Executive Director, she leads the effort to attract and support companies to build a vibrant community of agri-food tech innovators and works to expand St. Louis’ leadership role as a global epicenter for agri-food tech.

Before coming to 39 North, Emily spent much of her career in a myriad of roles within the philanthropic and social sectors. Most recently, she served as an advisor and facilitator for organizations that are working to build and sustain a thriving economy and culture that benefits all St. Louisans. She developed a passion for innovation and the future of the St. Louis region while serving as the Executive Director at Arch Grants, an economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain extraordinary entrepreneurs to help build the future economy in St. Louis. Before Arch Grants, Emily consulted for several years with national and international NGOs and nonprofit organizations in Chicago and in Washington D.C.

Emily is a proud alum of Washington University in St. Louis and earned her MBA from DePaul University in Chicago.