Jackson Kimle grew up on an acreage in Ames, Iowa, where he became involved in agriculture from a young age. His family operated a sheep farming business, raising and selling lambs to restaurants. This entrepreneurial spirit stuck with Jackson, who continued managing the operation through high school and college. Jackson pursued a degree in Agricultural Business at Iowa State University, which laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial ventures and led to the founding of Midland Co. Seafood.
Midland Co. Seafood provides farmers in Iowa with turnkey shrimp production systems, enabling them to diversify their agricultural operations. The company focuses on providing sustainable, land-based shrimp farming solutions through advanced, innovative technology. These systems allow farmers to raise shrimp in controlled indoor environments using advanced water filtration and nutrient recycling systems powered by patented algae-based technology.
These systems are designed to be more cost-effective, sustainable, and scalable than traditional aquaculture technologies, enabling farmers to produce high-quality shrimp with lower capital investment and operational costs.
The demand for high-quality, domestically-raised shrimp in the U.S. is growing. Imported shrimp—often lower in quality—dominates the market, leaving a gap for sustainable domestic options. Midland Co. aims to fill that void, where its first farm is already operational in Northern Iowa. Construction is also underway on additional farms in Eastern and Western Iowa, with plans to scale production and refine the technology further.
By 2025, the company plans to scale its operations to full-scale farms capable of producing up to 4,000 pounds of shrimp per month. Midland’s long-term vision includes expanding to million-dollar facilities to meet the rising demand for premium shrimp across the Midwest.
The Midland Co. team consists of co-founder and CEO, Jackson Kimle, co-founder and CTO, Matthew Ellis, and Business Development & Sales lead Sarah Kimle.
As the company has continued to grow, they have leveraged resources in Iowa, including Ag Startup Engine. “Ag Startup Engine has been transformative for Midland,” shares Jackson. “Their strategic feedback has refined everything from our pitch deck to our financial projections, making us more investor-ready. Their guidance has given us the tools to clearly communicate our value to stakeholders.” This network of founders and investors has provided Midland a platform for sharing lessons, from wins to setbacks, solving challenges, and accelerating growth.
Through Midland Co., Jackson is not just providing farmers with a new income stream; he’s helping to revolutionize the seafood industry with sustainable, innovative technology. To learn more about Midland Co. visit their website here: https://www.midlandseafood.com/
Comments