Leadership insights from Billi Hunt, executive director of America's Cultivation Corridor
As students across Iowa head back to school this month, I’ve been thinking about some of the basics of Iowa agriculture. Iowa is well-known for our leadership in agricultural production, but that leadership is made possible by an infrastructure of education and extension along with the support of business, government and organizations across the state.
We’ve been celebrating this leadership as part of our 10-year anniversary celebration by highlighting the 10 ways that Iowa innovation makes the world better. One of the most fun parts of this project is compiling all the numbers behind that innovation and the impact on Iowa’s communities, resources and economy.
- For example, we know that Iowa is the nation’s largest fuel ethanol and biodiesel producer. It accounts for about 30% of U.S. fuel ethanol production capacity and 21% of biodiesel production capacity. In fact, the renewable fuels industry supports nearly 52,000 jobs across Iowa and contributes more than $6.5 billion to our economy, which is about 3% of the state’s GDP.
- State-of-the-art innovation is happening in a diverse range of agricultural industries. In fact, more than 9,500 patents have been awarded for Iowa-based food and agriculture innovation in the last decade and Iowa is in the top five for patents in novel plant varieties and in the top 10 for genetics.
- Iowa farmers lead the nation in corn production and are second in soybean production. They are also leading the way in conservation practices to protect soil and water resources. For the third year in a row, Iowa farmers have set a record for the quantity of conservation practices adopted in the state.
- Not only does Iowa lead the nation in pork and egg production, the state is a hub of animal health and vaccine development. Five global brands in the animal health sector have operations here, in addition to the cutting-edge research at Iowa State University, Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine and USDA’s National Animal Disease Center, National Veterinary Services Laboratory and the Center for Veterinary Biologics.
- In 2014, less than 30% of Iowa’s energy production was from renewable sources but today, more than 65% of the state’s electricity production is derived from renewable energy – a 117% increase in the last 10 years. Iowa gets 64% of its energy from wind – the highest percentage of any state. Iowa consumers, farmers and businesses benefit, as Iowa ranks among the 10 states with the lowest average electricity price.
In August, we focused on ways that innovation delivers stronger communities and boosts economic development, and enjoyed hearing stories from communities of all sizes, including Nevada, Sheffield and Muscatine. I’d love to hear stories of innovation impacting your farm, business or community, too.
Please mark your calendars for an Innovation Celebration hosted by America’s Cultivation Corridor at the World Food Prize on Wednesday, October 30. Learn more and RSVP here and watch for more details about the reception soon.
Published August 2024.