“St. Louis, unlike other competitor plant and life science regions, has an established leadership position in biomedical-related research and development, plant science, and agriculture-related biotechnology research and development upon which to build a highly robust and diversified plant and life sciences industry base.”

Battelle Memorial Institute, 2000

St. Louis Is a Dynamic Hub for Scientific Enterprises

Suburban St. Louis County, situated in the center of the nation’s agricultural heartland, is a national and international center for plant and life sciences research, thought and action. Located in the heart of the St. Louis “Biobelt,” BRDG Park is just minutes away from dynamic centers of science innovation and excellence at Washington and St. Louis Universities, the Missouri Botanical Garden and leading science companies, such as Pfizer, Covidien, Sigma-Aldrich and Bunge North America. BRDG Park’s suburban campus provides a cosmopolitan environment in a park-like setting.

Nearly 400 plant and life sciences companies – with about 16,500 employees.
More plant science PhDs than anywhere else in the world.
$500 million in venture capital devoted to biotech – and home to 16 venture capital funds with nearly $1.7 billion under management.
Leading world scientific companies – Monsanto, a global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality – located across the street from BRDG Park. Pfizer, the world’s largest research-based pharmaceutical company, has one of its six worldwide research centers in St. Louis, where the lab facility currently is undergoing a $250 million expansion
A history of scientific leadership – from the St. Louis Academy of Science founded more than 150 years ago to 20 current St. Louis scientists who are members of the National Academy of Science.
The St. Louis Science Center – ranked as one of the nation’s top five science centers, it welcomes more than 1.25 million visitors a year and was chosen to host SciFest ’08, the U.S. version of an internationally renowned science festival, after beating out competitors New York, Boston and San Francisco.
Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit research institute with a global vision to improve the human condition. Research at the Danforth Center is focused on:
- Enhancing the nutritional content of plants to improve human health; increasing agricultural production to create a sustainable food supply; and building scientific capacity to generate economic growth in the St. Louis region and throughout Missouri.
- Being an employer of choice. The Danforth Center currently employs more than 200 individuals. Of these, 170 are scientists and scientific staff; more than 90 hold PhDs. In recent years, the Danforth Center has been voted one of the “Best Places to Work in Academia” by The Scientist magazine.
- Continuing its presence in the scientific community. Established just 10 years ago, Danforth Center scientists have been increasingly successful at securing research funding from federal as well as private and industry sources. In 2007, the Danforth Center received more than $10 million in grants and contracts from sources such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Monsanto Company and the National Science Foundation.
- Being a leader in the area of clean technology. Dr. Richard Sayre, a plant scientist who studies the use of algae to produce commercially viable biofuels, recently was appointed the first director of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Much of the work to be done by Dr. Sayre and his team of 10 researchers focuses on using algae to produce “third-generation” biofuels that someday could be used on a large scale to power cars, trucks and aircraft.
Nidus is an investment partnership aligned with regional business interests to attract and grow early-stage technology-based companies in agriculture, energy, and animal and human health. As a collaboration of corporations and experienced entrepreneurs, the partnership helps:
- Advance early-stage technologies toward commercialization
- Leverage both risk capital and entrepreneurial talent to help meet market needs of potential buyers by providing the funding, experience and market input necessary to improve prospects for near-term return on investment and reduce exit risk
St. Louis Community College is the largest community college district in Missouri and one of the largest in the nation. The college’s program for bio-technician training has been recognized for excellence by the Missouri Biotechnology Industry Organization (MOBIO).
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of the world's natural resources, such as water and energy. More information is available at http://www.monsanto.com.

In addition, St. Louis is home to two major agricultural organizations and an agricultural forum with global scope:

American Soybean Association represents U.S. soybean farmers through policy advocacy and international market development. More information is available at www.soygrowers.com.
National Corn Growers Association advocates the interests of its members in such areas as ethanol and co-products, biotechnology, research and business development, farm and rural development, trade and transportation. More information is available at www.ncga.com.
World Agricultural Forum provides a forum to foster the development of action plans that meet the world’s growing need for food, fiber, fuel and water. Bi-annual conferences draw hundreds of top leaders in agriculture policy, research, and implementation from across the globe. More information is available at www.worldagforum.org.