Ohio's agriculture and food processing industry is a diverse sector that includes farming, seed supply, agrichemicals, farm machinery, wholesale and distribution, processing, marketing and retail sales. The state's strategic location between the grain belt and Eastern markets brings together all of the elements that comprise food production and underlies Ohio's strength in food processing. Over 76,500 farms cover more than 14 million acres - nearly 55 percent of the total land area. Although responsible for only 2 percent of the nation's crop and livestock production, Ohio ranks 18th in value of total agricultural products sold. The state is also a leader in the specialized nutraceutical food production industry.
Here's a snapshot of how one northwest Ohio company is leading the way in the agriculture and food processing industry:
The Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT) at EISC, Inc. in Toledo, Ohio provides technical solutions to companies involved in some of Ohio's largest and most economically significant industries: food production, processing and packaging. CIFT's mission is to help members of the agribusiness sector improve their competitive position through the development and adaptation of emerging technologies, industry best practices, and novel business approaches.
hiVelocity spoke with CIFT's Executive Vice President David Beck about new agriculture and food processing technologies taking place right here in Ohio. Click here to read more.
Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with David Dmytryka the co-founder and president of Dmytryka Jacobs Engineers, Inc. (DJE) in Toledo, Ohio. Nearly 15 years ago, David co-founded DJE and today the company is a leader in engineering instrumentation and control systems for both municipal and industrial clients. DJE specializes in water, waste systems and storm water facilities management.
David spoke with me about DJE and how it has used Ohio Third Frontier funding to provide engineering students with real-world work experience. With Ohio Third Frontier’s support, the company has developed an engineering internship program. Now, engineering students can apply their classroom learnings to project work at DJE. This experience helps students understand the critical role of engineering within larger municipal and industrial projects.
With DJE’s practice of bringing interns on staff as young engineers, the Ohio Third Frontier has helped increase the number of employment opportunities available to engineers who are just starting their careers. So, not only have the funds been used to increase the number of real-world internship opportunities available to young engineers, but they have also helped engineers land jobs after graduation.
Click here to read my full interview with David when we discussed DJE, Ohio Third Frontier support and why David decided to start and grow his business in Ohio.
Ohio has a strong history in the aerospace and aviation industry. The engineering and creative energy of the Wright Brothers working in Dayton made Ohio the "Birthplace of Aviation".
Today Ohio is leading the way for the advancement of new aerospace technologies in a wide variety of applications in aviation, space, near space, lighter-than-air, hypersonics, propulsion, sensors, instrumentation, communications, advanced materials, human effectiveness and others. In Ohio, federal, civilian and non-profit entities span the civilian and military and industrial product development spectrum in the aerospace and aviation industry.
Ohio-based Ohio Airships claims its Dynalifter will be the first new category of aircraft to fly in Ohio since the Wright Flyer more than 100 years ago. Designed to carry heavy loads over long distances, the Dynalifter isn't in production yet – but the sky’s the limit. Check out this video to find out more about the Dynalifter.
Today Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland recognized the contributions of 27 Ohio export leaders at the Ohio Global Summit, an event sharing successful strategies for global trade by Ohio-based international business experts, for their contributions to the state’s performance as a leading U.S. export economy.
Ohio's export industry grew by nearly 7 percent in 2008, to $45.5 billion. Global trade supports nearly 300,000 jobs in the state – and more than 11,000 Ohio companies distribute goods to well over 200 countries around the world. Ohio is the seventh-largest exporting state in the country, and the only state in the nation to see export growth for 10 years in a row.
Ohio’s global export prominence speaks to the state’s manufacturing strengths, logistics capabilities, skilled workforce, and competitive business environment. The state has redesigned business climate and world-class transportation infrastructure allows businesses in any industry – including international trade - to be globally successful.
By: Matt McQuade, Ohio Business Development Coalition
Today, more than ever, states, regions and communities are placing a strong emphasis on attracting advanced energy investment. In this rapidly growing industry, Ohio is in a strong position to attract new companies, expand existing ones and transition suppliers that have historically served other industries. Ohio’s success can be seen through accolades from 3rd parties such as Site Selection magazine and Pew Charitable Trust where Ohio has ranked 1st and 4th respectively for total alternative energy investments and job growth.
When telling Ohio’s alternative energy story, wind energy tends to receive much of the focus. This is understandable, given the fact that Ohio is home to over 100 active wind suppliers. The state’s concentration of bearing manufacturers, foundries, fabricators, machine shops, fasteners, controls and other components makes it an ideal location for wind suppliers and turbine manufacturers. In fact, Ohio’s existing supply chain has gained it the distinction of being the #2 state in the U.S. for wind manufacturing potential. Wind energy, however, does not exclusively tell Ohio’s advanced energy story (nor does any other individual technology). Ohio is also positioned for substantial success in solar energy.
As in the wind industry, Ohio’s manufacturing strength separates its solar potential from other locations around the world. Many of the state’s existing manufacturers that historically served other industries have been and can be retooled to also supply solar OEMs. This competitive advantage is accentuated by the skilled workforce that is already in place to produce solar components. Ohioans that previously worked in the glass industry are transitioning to producing photovoltaics.
This is perhaps most evident in Northwest Ohio, where a history of manufacturing excellence in glass technology has transformed into one of the leading regions in the nation for thin-film solar production. A leading factor in Northwest Ohio’s solar industry growth, and perhaps the area in which Ohio most separates itself from other states in, is higher education. Through initiatives such as the $1.6 billion Ohio Third Frontier, in partnership with the state’s universities, Ohio is advancing solar research. The Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization (PVIC) is a state-funded collaboration between three Ohio universities that provide a world-class science and technology platform employing second and third generation photovoltaics materials tailored primarily for applications in clean energy generation. Successful companies such as First Solar, Inc. and Xunlight Corporation were spin-offs from the University of Toledo, which has been pioneering advancement in the solar industry for years.
Ohio lawmakers worked across the aisle to create the third most aggressive advanced energy portfolio standard (AEPS) in the nation, requiring 6,000 megawatts of new renewable capacity by 2025. Ohio’s AEPS constitutes a substantial market for solar generation in Ohio, given that at least 50% of the required renewable component must come from within the state. These benchmarks may even be exceeded when considering Ohio’s distribution capabilities to large concentrations of population on the east coast and in the Midwest. If solar power is being generated in large quantities in Ohio, solar manufacturers will locate in close proximity to supply the demand for generation capacity.
Assets that make Ohio a prime investment location for other industries also lend to its attractiveness for solar energy. Such features include the state’s location, transportation infrastructure, skilled workforce, reformed tax structure and manufacturing strength. In the solar industry specifically, Ohio sets itself apart through its universities that successfully research and develop new technology, spin-off companies and place educated individuals into the workforce. Ohio’s higher education excellence is boasted by initiatives such as the $1.6 billion Ohio Third Frontier and Advanced Energy Jobs Stimulus program. Finally, Ohio’s AEPS, utilities and distribution capacity constitute a substantial solar energy demand. Although Ohio’s story in the solar industry is less known, the state is ahead of the curve and poised to capture millions in capital investment and thousands of new jobs.
Here's a snapshot of how one northwest Ohio company is leading the way in the agriculture and food processing industry:
