Economic Sectors

AgBIOSCIENCE

Download an Agbioscience infographic and map

Sector Information

  • There are more than 1,600 businesses and 10,000 unincorporated farms in central Ohio
  • 51,530 people are employed in the agbioscience sector within the 11-county area
  • Agbioscience accounts for $17.7 billion in economic output, 11% of the regional economy
  •  Value-added output per employee is $74,491, compared to the national average
  • of $67,525

Workforce & Education

  • The Columbus Region has seen dramatic growth in agricultural and food science technicians and scientists
  • OSU’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center is home to researchers of every department touching on agriculture, with focus areas of advanced bioenergy and biobased products; environmental quality and sustainability; and food security, production and human health

Business Advantages

  • More than 95% of all agbioscience research in Ohio is conducted at The Ohio State University
  • Battelle is a leading technology and service provider to the agrochemical and food industry, with services in agrochemical product development, animal health product development, and food quality and safety

Notable Agbioscience Employers

Company   Operations Employment
Battelle    Independent non-profit research and development 2,201
Abbott Nutrition   Nutritional products, medical products, pharmaceuticals 2,200

Boehringer Ingelheim Roxane, Inc. / Roxane
Laboratories, Inc.

   Pharmaceuticals 1,250
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company   Consumer lawn and garden products, professional horticulture products 1,165
Ashland Inc.   Specialty chemical products, services and solutions 900
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.   Beer manufacturing, packing and shipping 580
DuPont   Films used in photovoltaics 560
ConAgra Foods, Inc.   Microwave popcorn production 294
Nestle USA   Research and development for nutrition, health and wellness products  243
Select Sires, Inc.   Livestock genetics 186