Agriculture may employ fewer people today than it did a century ago, and its share of the gross domestic product may have declined substantially from the 1900s. But make no mistake, the industry’s economic impact has never been greater.
With only 2% of Americans farming full-time, they are still producing more food on less land. That is largely due to advanced technologies, biotechnology and a push for greater sustainability practices. Agbioscience has become ingrained in the industry, capitalizing on the intersection of technology and biology to innovate ways of growing more food, with less waste, while minding the environment. And as tech, biology, logistics and related sectors become involved in agricultural innovation, those industries, too, continue to thrive.
According to researchers for the “Feeding the Economy” report, Indiana’s agriculture and food industries generated nearly $220 billion in economic output in 2024, supporting 968,577 indirect and direct jobs.
With such a significant position in the Hoosier economy, research and innovation remain crucial practices to ensure the industry is able to sustain its economic impact.
Power Partnerships
Indiana’s agricultural industry is strong largely due to the partnerships that bring education and advocacy to the sector. Spearheading Indiana’s ag research efforts is Purdue University, the state’s land-grant university responsible for the research and extension work that provides guidance to producers and related agribusinesses across the state.
Purdue leverages data-driven technology and precision tools that bring science into practical applications, especially in the areas of soil health, conservation and disease resistance. The university partners with industry members to put research findings into real-world solutions, using funding from several sources, largely the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In late 2024, Bayer and Purdue announced a partnership to create the Coalition for Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture, addressing soil health on a global scale.
Indiana University (IU) is another academic institution that is contributing to Indiana’s agricultural growth. The university’s Sustainable Food Systems Science program conducts research and advocacy to strengthen food sustainability by focusing on rural poverty, climate concerns and social inequity. In 2023, the university announced its researchers were joining a five-year, $10 million USDA grant project to create more equitable and sustainable food programs in the Midwest and surrounding areas. The project connects production, workforce development and community outcomes.
Together, academic research institutions illustrate how research, technology and real-world applied science are laying the foundation for tomorrow’s agricultural industry.
Why it Matters
As with most things in life, industries will continue to evolve. With technology, data and advanced science playing a role in the future of agriculture, researchers understand the need to continuously innovate to keep the industry strong.
The notable benefits of ongoing research include food security, economic resiliency, workforce growth and development, and sustainability advancements. These are crucial not only for a healthier economic bottom line, but especially for maintaining food systems in times of uncertainty due to pandemics, climate change, global conflicts and other disruptions.
Indiana is firmly rooted in collaboration among universities, farmers, advocacy organizations and industry members who work together to research and innovate. The approach positions the Hoosier state to lead in the future growth of the industry.
