Ag tech

The Technology2030 report commissioned by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce shows the state ranks just 30th in tech job growth over the past five years, but that’s higher than all neighboring states.

Lincoln University in Jefferson City and Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla are two of the 33 campuses nationwide that will be part of a $262 million effort to recruit and train the next generation of agriculture workers.

“If you want to attract economic development to the area, one of the selling points is that we have talent for you to bring whatever your respective business, industry here,” one expert said.

Over the next five days more than 40 events at dozens of venues in both Missouri and Illinois will cover sectors like ag tech, geospatial, extended reality, robotics and others.

The new facility will combine workforce development, advanced manufacturing research and development and production capabilities.

Some business leaders in the St. Louis region have seen this success, and now their sights are set on replicating it with a nonstop route to South America.

Benson Hill says the merger will speed up the development of more sustainable and healthier plants to help address the increasing global demand for food.

Opposition to electronic tracking is bringing together an unusual group of interests in the agriculture community, but its use overseas may make it an inevitability in time.

Edison Agrosciences is the St. Louis based agricultural biotechnology company working to develop alternative rubber crops. It’s found a product that it believes can become a source of homegrown rubber: sunflowers.

Foodshed.io is testing its technology in the region through a deal with Schnucks Markets. It also has agreements with more than two dozen area farms with plans to add more.