Greater Omaha: A Full-Stack Agricultural Innovation Ecosystem
Greater Omaha sits at the center of one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world — and the innovation engine driving it forward. Nebraska ranks 2nd in the nation for cattle and 6th for hogs, and the region’s food manufacturing and processing sector has grown nearly 20% over the past five years. With growers, producers, and processors operating at this scale, ag innovation companies don’t pilot in theory here — they deploy into a live agricultural economy, with direct access to the end users and operational environments that compress development cycles and accelerate market validation.
The region’s workforce runs deep across every discipline the sector demands, anchored by the University of Nebraska System’s nationally recognized research programs in agricultural, biological, and engineering sciences. Greater Omaha carries significant workforce volume and above-average specialization across:
- Ag processing & production — animal slaughtering and meat processing, farm equipment manufacturing, and poultry processing, with earnings well above national averages
- Animal health & life sciences — veterinary pharmaceuticals and vaccines, diagnostics, animal nutrition, and life science R&D, with regional growth rates in pharmaceutical talent running more than triple the national pace
- Biological product & chemical manufacturing — biological product development, specialty chemical manufacturing, and industrial biotechnology
- Precision agriculture & agtech — farm management software, data analytics, GPS-guided equipment, automation and robotics, and sustainability and climate solutions
- Engineering & technical trades — biological, chemical, mechanical, and industrial engineering alongside manufacturing and industrial trades supporting ag equipment and processing operations
Greater Omaha offers the infrastructure, talent, regulatory environment, and live agricultural economy that ag innovation companies need to build, scale, and lead. Whether you are an established equipment manufacturer seeking your next production location, an animal health company developing your next product line, or an emerging agtech company ready to scale — Greater Omaha is where that next chapter belongs.
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Featured Articles
- Target Industry News: Agriculture & Biotech
Why Scoular Keeps Growing from the Center of the U.S.
For more than 130 years, Scoular has helped shape global agricultural supply chains. Today, the Omaha-based company operates around the world while continuing to grow from the center of the United States. Its longtime presence in Omaha illustrates the advantages
- Target Industry News: Agriculture & Biotech
Case Study: Why Global Agribusiness Scoular Keeps Growing from the AgWorks Corridor
For nearly 135 years, Scoular has used its Omaha base to connect agricultural producers and suppliers with customers around the world. Scoular shows how an agricultural company can remain close to the industries it serves while operating at a global
- Target Industry News: Agriculture & Biotech
How Conagra Taps Talent and Innovation in AgWorks Corridor
For food companies, the right location connects more than production inputs. It has all the right pieces: specialized workforce, research capabilities, industry relationships and talent pipeline needed to understand changing consumer preferences and turn ideas into market-ready products. Those connections
- Target Industry News: Agriculture & Biotech
Merck Animal Health Taps Specialized Talent and Global Distribution in the AgWorks Corridor
From pets at home to livestock across the globe, animal health products move through the AgWorks Corridor every day. Merck Animal Health operates two important facilites in the AgWorks Corridor: a major manufacturing site in Elkhorn and a global distribution
- Target Industry News: Agriculture & Biotech
Nebraska Innovation Campus and The Combine Help Ag Businesses Build, Test and Grow
A promising idea is only the beginning. Turning that idea into a viable business can require research expertise, development space, funding, industry connections, testing opportunities and access to talent. Nebraska Innovation Campus and The Combine bring those resources together in Lincoln, giving companies a place
- Target Industry News: Agriculture & Biotech
Case Study: How Vireo Turned University Research into U.S.-Based Production
Vireo combined university research, commercialization support, domestic manufacturing and central market access to bring innovative health products from the AgWorks Corridor to more than 60,000 retailers. Vireo shows what can happen when research and production exist within the same connected
“Nebraska is well-suited to helping us build global production for our products, not least because of the state’s green energy and renewable feedstock, well-known fermentation talent, and ample room to expand.”
Neil Goldsmith
“Our Cargill Blair campus is truly a biotechnology oasis that attracts companies… who want to join other leading-edge companies looking for a skilled workforce and other resources to grow their businesses quickly, safely and effectively.”
Christy Venne
By the Numbers
Greater Omaha’s Competitive Edge
Employers
Major AgTech Business Employers in Greater Omaha
Omaha’s Advantage
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