SEMO-Sikeston Welcomes Innovative Ag Startup
Southeast Missouri State University’s Sikeston campus has partnered with Saluna, a St. Louis-based agricultural technology startup, to advance hemp research and drive regional innovation in sustainable agriculture.
SEMO President Dr. Carlos Vargas said, “We are excited to welcome Saluna to the Sikeston campus. This partnership is a perfect example of how SEMO is fostering new business opportunities and creating pathways for innovation in agriculture.”
Saluna will use the campus as its primary field research site for its first business expansion, conducting seed trials and hiring SEMO students to support its research. The startup will lease space and field-testing property at the University’s Sikeston campus.
“This is exactly the kind of innovative partnership we want to attract to our regional campuses,” said Dan Presson, assistant vice president of economic and workforce development at SEMO. “With this partnership with Saluna, we’re creating space for new technologies, new ideas, and new opportunities that will benefit our students, our economy, and our agricultural communities.”
The collaboration provides SEMO students with real-world experience while giving Saluna access to one of Missouri’s most productive agricultural regions. Matt Plummer, CEO of Saluna, noted that the SEMO-Sikeston campus offers an “unrivaled combination of resources of access to land, facilities, student talent, and farmers.”
Saluna’s connection to SEMO began in 2023 after hiring a student intern from the university. The relationship has grown into a deeper commitment, with Saluna already hiring three SEMO students.
“This partnership puts us in the heart of our target geography where we can grow and foster the entrepreneurial spirit of farmers across the Mid-South,” said Dr. Mike Gerau, chief technology officer at Saluna and adjunct professor at SEMO.
The partnership highlights SEMO’s ability to bridge rural resources with urban innovation, demonstrating how the university drives workforce development, supports new businesses, and creates opportunities.
“This is a unique example of how the University can directly impact regional economic development by serving as a connector,” Presson said.
