KIRPC Ag Strategy
Agriculture, as a leading Indiana economic sector, is shaped by world-renowned agribusiness firms, strong trade and membership organizations, productive farmers and soil, thoughtful and skilled leaders in public and private arenas, and innovative entrepreneurs. In 2021-2022 a regional task force convened to develop strategies to leverage the agricultural assets in the KIRPC region. The Task Force’s goal in developing the Regional Ag Strategy was to identify the ag assets (raw materials) and resources that would help leaders to develop the policies, infrastructure, sites, and support needed to create long-term improvements in their rural economies.
Analysis of current data and trends within the existing agri-business economic cluster was key to selecting prime targets for the KIRPC Ag Region. The regional team interviewed existing businesses to identify key “barometers” of the clusters’ economic health. The process was intentionally focused on identifying gaps in the supply chain and regional leakages for the purpose of understanding and proactively responding to the threats limiting growth and, sometimes, even survival in today’s economic climate.
Through the data analysis and company interviews, the Task Force identified four key strategies:
Analysis of current data and trends within the existing agri-business economic cluster was key to selecting prime targets for the KIRPC Ag Region. The regional team interviewed existing businesses to identify key “barometers” of the clusters’ economic health. The process was intentionally focused on identifying gaps in the supply chain and regional leakages for the purpose of understanding and proactively responding to the threats limiting growth and, sometimes, even survival in today’s economic climate.
Through the data analysis and company interviews, the Task Force identified four key strategies:
- · regional food systems,
- · food supply chain,
- · ag workforce, and
- · regulatory streamlining.