Office of Community and Economic Development

Food & Agriculture Key Industry Network

In partnership with the Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT) and the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), our office is leading the effort to transform the Colorado Blueprint work into an actionable business plan.  A food and agriculture key industry working group has been assembled with representation from food associations and businesses to develop and implement the business plan.  The goals of the plan are to align people, economic development organizations, communities, ideas and resources to focus on the strategies and tactics to create jobs, attract new businesses, and increase the competitiveness.

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The Colorado Agriculture Value Chain Analysis

Dr. Greg Graff of the Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics at Colorado State University is leading a benchmark study to characterize Colorado's food and agriculture industry, linkages, and potential.  The scope of the study involves:

• Understanding agriculture across all sectors of the state;
• Identifying the value chain of assets, inputs, services, and sources of income to Colorado farms, ranches, and agriculture-related businesses.
• Understanding how the Colorado Blueprint's six core objectives can be met within the Food & Agriculture Key Industry Network.

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For more information about these initiatives:

• OEDIT Key Industries

Please feel free to contact us if you would like to be more involved:

martha.bender@colostate.edu or 970-491-2319

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Press

Some of the country’s leading influencers and thinkers in agriculture met at Colorado State University to explore creative and collaborative responses to the challenge of feeding an additional 2 billion people by 2050, and how Colorado farmers, ranchers and business leaders could help meet that demand in innovative, profitable and sustainable ways.

Community & Economic Development Projects Archive

Related: 

• Colorado Agriculture Innovation Cluster

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Colorado Agriculture Innovation Cluster

The Emergence of an Innovation Cluster in the Agricultural Value Chain along Colorado’s Front Range

By Gregory D. Graff, Annabelle Berklund, and Kathay Rennels

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics and the Office of Engagement, Colorado State University, November 2014.

Colorado has long embraced agriculture as central to its economy and innovation as an essential driver of economic growth. This study proposes that a number of geographic, demographic, and economic factors are driving investment and engagement in innovation in the agricultural and food system, and that the essential elements are in place along Colorado’s Front Range for the emergence and growth of an innovation-led industry cluster in agriculture and food.

Drawing upon a landscape analysis of innovation data, this study empirically derives the geographic footprint of this emergent innovation cluster and provides an inventory of Colorado companies and organizations actively innovating in a dozen interrelated technology categories. It closes by discussing next steps for cultivating growth of this innovation cluster, to bring it to a level of maturity and dynamism such that Colorado is recognized globally for creating next-generation technologies and business models that nourish, refresh, and energize the world.

• Colorado Ag Innovation Cluster: Full Report
• Colorado Ag Innovation Cluster: Executive Summary
• News release: The forefront of agriculture and food innovation

Advancing the Agriculture Economy Through Innovation

The Ag Innovation Summit connects food, innovation and problem-solving. If you eat, you are a part of agriculture. That theme was echoed at the inaugural “Advancing the Agriculture Economy Through Innovation” summit held at the Lory Student Center, March 18-20. Read more about the summit.

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This project was made possible by support from the CSU System Venture Capital Fund.

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The Value Chain of Colorado Agriculture

By Gregory Graff, Ryan Mortenson, Rebecca Goldbach, Dawn Thilmany, Stephen Davies, Stephen Koontz, Geniphyr Ponce-Pore, and Kathay Rennels

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics and the Office of Engagement, Colorado State University, February 2013.

This analysis of the value chain of Colorado agriculture is intended to serve as a common starting point for new conversations about the full range of economic activities in the state of Colorado that are anchored in its agricultural sector. The analysis illustrates the web of connections amongst more than 125 separate markets and industry sub-sectors ranging from farm inputs to consumer retail that nonetheless share common resources, opportunities, and constraints. Drawing together data from multiple federal, state, and private sources, this encyclopedic reference to Colorado's agriculture, food, and beverage industries can aid in the formulation of both commercial strategy and public policy.

• Value Chain: Next Steps - Report to the President's Agricultural Advisory Council  (pdf)
• Value Chain of Colorado Agriculture – Executive Summary (pdf)
• Value Chain of Colorado Agriculture – Insight Briefs (pdf)

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Related

• Colorado Agriculture Innovation Cluster

This project was made possible by support from Colorado State University Office of Engagement and the Colorado Department of Agriculture.