In this interview, Paul MacDonald, Head of Community at World Bio Market Insights speaks to Heath Mello, President and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber, ahead of Bio Innovations Midwest on 24-25 September in Omaha.
Paul MacDonald (PM): Welcome to 5 Minutes With…why are you excited about Omaha hosting the inaugural Bio Innovations Midwest Conference?
Omaha, a metropolitan area of over 1 million people, is the center of America’s Biotechnology industry. Biotech and Bio-processing is not new to Omaha, in fact we have been supporting this sector for over 30 years. Omaha and the State of Nebraska are connected to the land and turning the bounty of the land into value-added products is in our DNA. Our region is home to a growing mass of agricultural-based companies whose operations span from plant-based fuel, enzyme production for food and production purposes, to plant-based dairy products.
Located at the 500-acre Cargill campus we have a hefty co-location presence with NatureWorks producing biodegradable plastics, Novonesis producing a variety of enzymes, Evonik, producing lysine, and Veramaris, a joint venture between DSM and Evonik, which produces an algae-based Omega-3. Other major players in the bio-tech world headquartered in Omaha include Green Plains Energy, AGP, and Scoular.
We also have a major presence with Bunge North America and Viterra, which houses their US and Mexico headquarters in Omaha and is one of the largest marketer and handler of grain and oilseeds in the world.
We also have a growing entrepreneurial and start-up community around biotech, such as Bluestem Biosciences, which are looking to create the next wave of innovation in precision fermentation. So we are excited to showcase Omaha and our many advantages to the world during Bio Innovations Midwest. Thank you to World Bio Markets for selecting Omaha for your first venture into the United States.
Why is Omaha uniquely positioned for the bio processing industry?
Omaha provides a unique value proposition for biotech/bio-processing companies. First and foremost is access to feedstock. Nebraska is a top 3 producer of corn, ethanol, and cattle in the country, and a top 4 producer of soybeans. Immediate access to these products along with their starches, sugars and oils is a huge advantage.
Second is our workforce. You have heard of the Midwest work ethic—well it is alive and well in Omaha! We have an existing and highly skilled workforce in bio-processing and partnerships such as the Fermentation Collaborative Initiative between the State of Nebraska and Bio Nebraska will add to that workforce pool. Omaha has the potential to become the national leader in precision fermentation technology.
Third is our low cost of total operations. Nebraska consistently ranks both as one of the best states to do business as well as lowest cost of doing business. Our region is blessed with plentiful natural resources such as water and our cost of energy is 20-30% below the national average. Our business-friendly regulatory environment also means you can get your project off the ground and producing product in record time. In fact, the Governor of the Great State of Nebraska, Jim Pillen, has created the Nebraska Bioeconomy Initiative to ensure that Nebraska retains its leadership in this sector.
And last, but not least, is Omaha’s quality of life. To attract the top talent in this industry you need a place that offers the amenities and benefits of a metropolitan city. Omaha provides that. The Bio Innovations Midwest conference will be held in the heart of Omaha, next to our $340 million newly redesigned downtown park system. Families moving to Omaha can choose from a bustling urban core next to museums, nightlife and concert venues, to the suburban single-family home, to the scenic and secluded acreages in the hills. Once you come to Omaha, you know it’s right! It is no wonder why Forbes magazine named Omaha the Best Place to Move in 2024.
What do you hope attendees from the conference take away about Omaha?
I hope that people take away that Omaha and the State of Nebraska is a welcoming place for biotechnology to flourish. We have the ingredients for success and the community is there to support you. From the farmer-producer, to the community colleges and universities, to the Department of Economic Development and the Greater Omaha Chamber, we have a stake in seeing biotechnology expand in the region. We continue to see strong interest in the Omaha region from SAF, alternative proteins, and other precision fermentation projects.
If your company is considering a new facility location, please reach out to us. The Greater Omaha Chamber and our 8-county Economic Development Partnership can assist with site location assistance, incentive and workforce analysis, guidance through state and local entitlements, and becoming an employer of choice for the region. We will have our Chamber staff and our economic development partners from across the region available to visit.
Lastly, I hope people have the opportunity to spend some time out in the Omaha community. Our people is what really makes our region so special. I think you will be very pleased with what you find.