Officials with the state, the city of Lexington, and a globally known agriculture-based company say they’re upping their ag-tech recruitment game. The announcement came Tuesday at the annual Alltech One Conference in Lexington.
Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles said the aim is to make central Kentucky the go-to place to bring ideas in agriculture technology.
“To come here and there will be resources available, whether it’s green space on a farm, lab space at a university, mentorship through higher education. But also, a path toward commercializing good ideas,” said Quarles.
Quarles cited Kentucky’s major stake in horses, bourbon, and genetic processes in poultry as attractive selling points. In addition to traditional incentives from the state, the ag commissioner said entrepreneurs may be able to partner with existing startups.
University of Kentucky College of Ag Dean Nancy Cox noted hopefully the university can accelerate the process with more graduates staying in Kentucky.
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said there is an opportunity to make her community a thriving ag-tech cluster. Gorton added some of that could be found on 200 acres of land at the Coldstream site off Newtown Pike.
“The next piece that we’ll do is to start marketing and having a consultant with a presence here to go do that and start pulling people in,” said Gorton.
Gorton said her budget proposal calls for a million dollars to go to support the Bluegrass Ag-Tech Development Corporation.
