Tom Lyons

Tom Lyons serves as a Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics (AFRE) at Michigan State University (MSU) and directs the MSU Product Center. As director since 2016, he has expanded entrepreneurial support services and led the development of the Food Processing and Innovation Center (FPIC), a state-of-the-art facility supporting food entrepreneurs. His work integrates decades of experience in public service, academia, and entrepreneurship. Lyons also runs two ventures, including a web-based entrepreneurship assessment company. His teaching focuses on agri-food value chain entrepreneurship, and he actively researches entrepreneurial ecosystems and innovation.

Lyons’ leadership has driven over 51,000 client counseling sessions and 634 venture launches since 2004. The FPIC, launched in 2021, provides advanced food product development and processing support across the Great Lakes region. Collaborating with stakeholders like Matt Birbeck and Bruce Harte, Lyons emphasizes real-world application of research to benefit Michigan’s agricultural economy. His vision aligns academic expertise with practical industry needs, fostering innovation in food systems and resource management.

Grants include a 2020 five-year $2.5M project for risk assessment training and a $7M MSU Extension initiative on vaccination education. Lyons’ contributions have been recognized through sustained institutional leadership and impactful program expansions like the FPIC, which reflects his commitment to bridging educational resources with entrepreneurial success.