In the heart of the country, Greater Omaha is proving itself as a powerhouse for innovation in the bioeconomy. A prime example is Bluestem Biosciences, a fast-growing Omaha startup leveraging the region’s unique assets to develop renewable chemicals.
Founded in 2022, Bluestem’s mission is simple: create renewable chemicals that are cost-competitive with petroleum-based products. The company has already zeroed in on acrylic acid, a chemical widely used in products such as the super-absorbent polymers in baby diapers.
It’s made from corn, utilizing existing ethanol infrastructure to create a price-competitive chemical.
That led Bluestem to Omaha, and the city has proven to be the right choice. With 92 million acres of corn across the Midwest, more than 200 ethanol plants, and deep agricultural expertise, Nebraska offers a strategic location few regions can match.
“We’re right in the middle of the Corn Belt,” said Cameron Rylance, Vice President of Government Affairs and Business Development at Bluestem. “In addition to corn availability, there’s incredible rail infrastructure, affordable electricity, and a strong water supply thanks to the Ogallala Aquifer. It’s incredibly strategic for us.”
Beyond infrastructure, Greater Omaha offers something many biotech founders won’t find in larger, coastal ecosystems: A deeply connected business community and strong public support. Rylance emphasized how quickly Bluestem was able to gain traction thanks to local investors and champions.
“We have thankfully been able to say no to the venture capital markets because of the grassroots nature of the Omaha business community,” he explained. “Our team focused on building relationships in Nebraska so that help has always been a phone call away.”
Government support has been equally significant. Nebraska leaders have embraced the Ag Bio Industry as central to the state’s future.
“Here, we’ve had support from both Governor Pillen and Nebraska’s federal delegation,” Rylance said.
That combination of abundant resources, infrastructure, talent, and state buy-in is creating fertile ground for biotech startups, especially those in service of agriculture.
Workforce advantages are also clear. Nebraska’s established ethanol industry provides highly skilled fermentation talent, while institutions such as the University of Nebraska–Lincoln are developing the next generation of biotech expertise.
Bluestem is already building its next stage: A demonstration facility, expected in 2027, to move its renewable acrylic acid process closer to commercial scale. The company’s success is proof of the growing momentum of Omaha’s biotech ecosystem.
“Being away from the groupthink of the East Coast and West Coast, really in the middle with folks that understand agriculture, biology, fermentation, and commodity scale manufacturing, has been instrumental in our progress.”
For biotech founders weighing their options, Bluestem’s journey illustrates a powerful truth: In Omaha, the resources, support, and collaborative spirit needed to thrive in the Ag Bio Industry are already here. “We are so lucky to be building in Omaha, Nebraska.”