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Our world is interconnected and constantly changing. From the cars we manufacture to the food we produce, innovation continues to define and shape how we operate as a society and impacts every industry – agriculture especially.

For centuries, Hoosiers have undertaken the vital responsibility of feeding families all across the globe, a noble cause fraught with many challenges. To meet the demands of a rapidly growing world population, today’s farmers are being asked to produce more food on less land while minimizing their environmental footprint.

The agricultural community, as it’s done for generations, has had to adapt and innovate in order to address this growing global concern, which has given rise to a high-tech, robust industry that’s pushing the limits of modern science and unlocking the full potential of Hoosier ingenuity.

Make no mistake about it, Indiana is at the center of agricultural innovation and a leader in agbiosciences – the intersection of traditional agriculture, life sciences, and science and technology. Agbiosciences contributes $16 billion to Indiana’s economy and employs 75,000 Hoosiers in good-paying jobs.

To raise awareness about this critical sector, AgriNovus Indiana, Gov. Eric Holcomb and members of the agricultural community have joined forces to tell Indiana’s agbiosciences story, which is one of innovation and research, of family-owned businesses and globally-traded companies, of entrepreneurs and researchers – all creating tomorrow’s solutions today.

It might be hard to believe that the technology coming from Indiana is addressing problems on a global scale, but it’s true. Our life sciences industry alone produces $10 billion in exports and is ranked in the top five nationally.

We are leading the way with more than 80 innovative companies and more than 740 patents in the agbiosciences sector. Many of these patents are developing from agricultural programs at universities or at cutting-edge agriculture companies that are commercializing new technologies daily. This includes major players like AgReliant Genetics in Westfield, Dow AgroSciences in Indianapolis and Elanco Animal Health in Greenfield, but it’s also small, family-owned businesses like Whiteshire Hamroc in Albion and Farbest Foods in Huntingburg.

These businesses and many others have launched and grown rapidly in Indiana as a result of our world-class business climate, high-tech assets, natural resources and transportation infrastructure. We also have strong collaboration – something not all states share. Entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders and local and state government come together daily to collaborate on building the optimum environment for businesses to grow and add Hoosier jobs.

Indiana will continue our leadership in agbiosciences because, under the Holcomb-Crouch administration, our state is taking innovation, technology and entrepreneurship to the next level. We do that by focusing on Hoosiers, the ideas they’re developing and the resources they need to make those ideas a reality.As Indiana enters its third century, Hoosiers are advancing the latest technology and innovation to continue to face the global challenges of tomorrow. We’ve got the environment, the institutions, and the talent, and we are open for business.

Indiana is done being modest. Agbiosciences is part of our state’s identity and a fundamental part of our future – and the future of the world. Now is the time to tell: If you’re looking for the future of agriculture, you’ve found it in Indiana.

Jim Schellinger

Indiana Secretary of Commerce

Courtesy of the IndyStar, Published October, 24, 2017