Consumers are demanding more bio-based products and governments are increasingly looking to alternative fuel options to enable transportation and energy sector transitions. There is no question the bioeconomy is growing in both the United States and globally – quickly. Research from AgriNovus Indiana shows high potential for the state to become the premiere destination for bioinnovators and manufacturers to research, commercialize and scale biotechnology processes, platforms and products. 

And it all starts with leveraging the strength of Indiana’s agbioscience sector (where food, agriculture, science and technology converge).  

AgriNovus president and CEO Christy Wright says the assets are in place to enable full-scale success in Indiana. “When you consider the state’s abundant feedstocks, unique mix of established leaders (like Corteva Agriscience) with new innovators and emerging investment in infrastructure and workforce development, all of the tools are here for Indiana to compete at a high level, right now.” 

Creating a bioeconomy with a boon of innovation takes several strengths to build upon. Let’s examine the ecosystem. 

1. Abundant feedstocks. Indiana is home to nearly 14.5 million acres of farmland, a statistic that when given consideration, creates a realization of production agriculture’s vast economic contribution to the state’s economy. As the fourth largest producer of soybeans and fifth largest producer of corn in the United States, Indiana produces important biomanufacturing feedstocks that can serve commercial interests. 

2. Healthy mix of established leaders and emerging innovators. The Indiana agbioscience ecosystem is home to global industry leaders like Corteva Agriscience in tandem with new entrants to the market, such as Liberation Bioindustries, BioBond, FiberX and more.  

3. Regional Technology and Innovation Tech Hub designation focused on United States-based bioproduction. In 2023, the U.S. Economic Development Administration recognized Indiana as a region poised to ensure U.S. global competitiveness in domestic bioproduction. Led by Heartland BioWorks, the effort unites partners such as Purdue University, Indiana University and BioCrossroads (a sister initiative to AgriNovus) to grow Indiana’s biotechnology manufacturing ecosystem. 

4. Investment in precision fermentation infrastructure. Liberation Bioindustries broke ground on their precision fermentation facility in Indiana in 2023, aiming to fill a pressing need among food companies for animal-alternative ingredients. 

Wright says while the long-term potential of the bioeconomy’s growth is clear, exploring the near-term requires focus and definition. “The bioinnovation opportunity is quite broad and it’s critical that we assess our unique advantage in commercialization and scaling industrial biomanufacturing. We want to position Indiana companies, innovators, universities and farmers for the long haul, and we believe that being strategic and leveraging strength on strength is the best way to achieve that.” 

Some of that strength will come by leveraging cross-sector innovation via Indiana’s food, agriculture, health and bioinnovation economies. Wright notes there is tremendous opportunity for startups and scale-ups to become engaged with the state’s corporate ecosystem to drive outcomes in this space forward. 

Dedicated efforts to grow place-based innovation and talent development for bioinnovation companies are already in place, as well, linking the state’s leading research institutions to initiatives like The Applied Research Institute’s new Heartland BioWorks headquarters at the 16 Tech Innovation District in Indianapolis. 

The 20,000 square-foot facility will house state-of-the-art classroom, benchtop, and pilot scale infrastructure to provide first-in-class hands-on training and upskilling opportunities to rapidly grow Indiana’s biomanufacturing workforce. Beyond training, the facility will serve as a collaboration hub, uniting innovators across sectors to strengthen the Midwest’s role in America’s bioeconomy. 

Heartland BioWorks also penned an agreement with the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) in Ireland, making Indiana the exclusive Midwest provider of NIBRT’s biomanufacturing training programs. These programs are widely recognized for their efforts in education, research and workforce training. 

As infrastructure, workforce and new markets continue to open for farmers in the bioeconomy, stay in this BioInnovation conversation with AgriNovus. Contact their team or subscribe to their podcast, Agbioscience, which is released each Monday at 6 AM ET.